Yes, Your Skincare Routine Order Matters—The Correct Way, According To Experts
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When it comes to our face, most of us know that having a regular skin care routine is important. What we don’t always know, is which steps to do and in what order. According to Licensed Esthetician Jenny Leazer, this is a common skincare query.
“A lot of my clients sometimes feel like it’s a silly question, but it’s actually super important,” she explained. “Once you learn the steps of a good routine that supports your skin, everything really starts to fall into place and you’ll see even better results from your products.”
As a simple rule of thumb, Leazer recommends applying products thickest to thinnest. She explains that thinner products, such as toners and water-based serums, are formulated to penetrate the skin faster than thicker creams and oil-based serums. Applying them by order of thickness ensures that each layer is properly absorbed and that your skin is able to metabolize all of the nutrition from your skincare.
Additionally, your morning skincare needs will be different from nighttime, so the steps of your routine will vary according to time of day. Read on for a step-by-step breakdown of the best skincare routine order for AM and PM, according to a licensed esthetician.
Here’s The Best Skincare Routine Order to Apply Products (And Why It Matters!)
How to: Morning Skincare Routine Steps
Step One: Cleansing
Why it’s important: Gentle cleansing in the morning removes excess sweat, oils and bacteria that may have accumulated while sleeping.
How to cleanse: For best results, spend about two minutes gently massaging your face as you cleanse. This stimulates circulation, which is naturally rejuvenating and promotes a healthy glow!
Other recommendations: If your skin is sensitive or dry, an oil-based or creamy cleanser is best for daily use. If you have combination or oily skin, look for a gel-based cleanser but avoid active ingredients such as benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid, as these can be too harsh for everyday use.
Our Picks:
Image: Sephora
Splurge Worthy
Image: Amazon
Budget Friendly
Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Cleanser
La Roche-Posay
Step Two: Exfoliation (1-3x weekly)
Why it’s important: Exfoliating is helpful to keep skin rejuvenating and ridding itself of dead skin cells, which can accumulate and contribute to a buildup on the skin’s surface.
How to exfoliate: Exfoliation is something that should not be done daily, as too much exfoliation can damage the skin. Instead, make it a goal to exfoliate 1-3 times per week with a gentle scrub or chemical exfoliant, such as a mask containing alpha-hydroxy acids.
Other recommendations: If you are new to exfoliation, start slow and work your way up to multiple times weekly. If you notice signs of redness or flaking skin, skip exfoliation and resume only after your skin is no longer irritated.
Our Picks:
Image: Sephora
Splurge Worthy
Daily Microfoliant Refillable Exfoliator
Dermalogica
Image: Amazon
Budget Friendly
Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant
Paula’s Choice
Step Three: Toner
Why it’s important: Toner works as an extension of the cleansing process, removing anything your cleanser missed and rebalancing the skin’s natural pH so that it is prepped to absorb other products.
How to apply toner: Toner works best when applied to a cotton round or reusable wipe. Swipe the product over your whole face and neck.
Other recommendations: Most skin types can benefit from a hydrating toner. Look for a toner that is alcohol-free or one that contains hydrating ingredients, such as hyaluronic acid. Toner also works great to prep the skin before makeup.
Our Picks:
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Splurge Worthy
Watermelon Glow PHA +BHA Pore-Tight Toner
Glow Recipe
Image: Ulta
Budget Friendly
Clear Start Micro Pore Mist
Dermalogica
Step Four: Serums
Why it’s important: Serums provide super-concentrated active ingredients that do much of the work to transform our skin.
How to use serums: For best results, apply serums about thirty seconds after cleansing and toning. Apply to clean, dry skin and allow each layer to absorb before applying the next. This prevents buildup on the skin and wasted product.
Other recommendations: For the morning, vitamin C is a daily must as it helps protect the skin and boost its immunity. It works to repair, boost collagen-synthesis, and naturally brighten the skin. If you have time for two serums, a hydrating serum, such pure hyaluronic acid, is also beneficial.
Our Picks:
Image: Dermstore
Splurge Worthy
C E Ferulic
Skinceuticals
Image: Sephora
Budget Friendly
Step Five: Moisturizer
Why it’s important: Hydration is critical for all skin types. Lack of moisture can exacerbate issues such as acne and inflammation and can also accelerate signs of aging. By hydrating the skin in the morning, you help protect it from the elements throughout the day.
How to moisturize: Apply a light layer of moisturizer after your serums to really lock in all the layers of your skincare.
Other recommendations: For acne-prone or combination skin, it’s still important to moisturize, even during a breakout. Look for products that are oil-free and labeled “non-comedogenic,” as these are designed to hydrate the skin without clogging pores.
Our Picks:
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Splurge Worthy
Protini Polypeptide Cream
Drunk Elephant
Image: Amazon
Budget Friendly
Daily Hydrating Lotion
Cetaphil
Step Six: Sun Protection
Why it’s important: Use of an SPF product is probably the most important step in any skincare routine. Sunscreens and other SPF products protect the skin against UV damage, which can cause hyperpigmentation, premature aging, inflammation, and increased risk of skin cancer.
How to use SPF: Apply your sun protection as the last step in the AM. Use a generous amount to cover the entire face and neck. Also be sure to re-apply every two hours if you will be in the sun.
Other recommendations: If you use exfoliating ingredients or retinol products, it is especially important to incorporate an SPF, as these ingredients can make your skin more sun sensitive.
Our Picks:
Image: Dermstore
Splurge Worthy
Image: Sephora
Budget Friendly
Mineral Sunscreen Zinc Oxide Broad Spectrum SPF 30
First Aid Beauty
How to: Evening Skincare Routine Steps
Step One: Cleansing
Why it’s important: Cleansing at night is even more important than in the AM, to remove any makeup, dirt, pollution, or other impurities that may stick to the skin throughout the day.
How to cleanse: Similar to in the morning, spend about two minutes thoroughly cleansing and massaging the skin, before removing your cleanser with a washcloth and lukewarm water.
Other recommendations: Creamy cleansers work best for makeup removal. However, if you prefer a gel cleanser, you can also do a double cleanse with a gentle gel cleanser to remove excess makeup.
Our Picks:
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Splurge Worthy
Image: Sephora
Budget Friendly
Step Two: Serums
Why it’s important: The skin is very receptive to absorbing products overnight while we rest, so nighttime is a great time to infuse a little more nutrition into your routine. For the PM, retinol serums are ideal for most skin types. These products help boost the skin’s natural turnover to rejuvenate aging skin, as well as repair damage from acne and hyperpigmentation.
How to use serums: Just as you would in the morning, apply your serum to clean, dry skin. Pat it in gently, giving it time to absorb.
Other recommendations: If you are new to retinol, start slow with a low percentage, and work your way up. Retinol should be avoided while pregnant or breastfeeding, but you can use a gentle alternative, such as Vitamin A, as a substitute in the interim.
Our Picks:
Image: Ulta
Splurge Worthy
Ageless 10% Phyto-Retinol Night Concentrate
bareMinerals
Image: Sephora
Budget Friendly
Retinol Anti-Aging Serum
The INKEY List
Step Three: Moisturizer
Why it’s important: Even if you moisturize during the day, the skin can still benefit from a second boost of hydration before bedtime.
How to moisturize: After letting serums absorb, gently massage your moisturizer into the skin. Don’t forget to apply to the neck as well!
Other recommendations: Apply a thin layer if you are oily or have combination skin. For dry or aging skin, you can apply a thicker layer or even use a thicker cream at night, if you like.
Our Picks:
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Splurge Worthy
Jet Lag Mask
Summer Fridays
Image: Amazon
Budget Friendly
Step Four: Facial Oil
Why it’s important: Although many people fear adding oil to their skin, the truth is that all skin types can benefit from incorporating a facial oil, as these help to repair and soothe the skin.
How to use facial oil: Facial oil can be applied before or after moisturizer. You can also experiment with adding a few drops of oil into your moisturizer to start. Apply and allow it to absorb overnight.
Other recommendations: Facial oils come in many varieties. If you are new to facial oil, start with a pure oil such as squalane or jojoba. These are very similar to our skin’s natural sebum and help to rebalance the skin’s natural oil production.
Our Picks:
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Splurge Worthy
Santal Face Treatment Oil
Clarins
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Budget Friendly
Squalane Facial Oil
Indie Lee
Skincare Ingredient Combinations to Avoid:
While layering products is part of any good routine, it’s important to know that not all ingredients play well together. Here are a few you’ll want to avoid mixing:
Vitamin C + Copper Peptides or Alpha-Hydroxy Acids
While all of these powerhouse ingredients are amazing by themselves, together they equal too much of a good thing and can overwhelm the skin. Instead, alternate days that you use these ingredients or pick just one at a time to focus on.
Vitamin C + Vitamin A
These two ingredients both belong in your daily routine, just not at the same time. Vitamin C should always be used in the morning to protect the skin from the sun. Vitamin A can make this skin more sun sensitive, so save it for nighttime only.
Alpha-Hydroxy Acids + Retinol
Similar to vitamin C and AHAs, the combination of retinol with other actives can be too much for the skin to handle at once, leaving it more vulnerable to sun damage. To avoid this, use retinol only at night and only exfoliate with AHAs in the AM, several times weekly.
Alpha-Hydroxy Acids + Salicylic Acid or Benzoyl Peroxide
When treating acne, it can be tempting to load up on these active exfoliants. However, too many harsh or drying ingredients can actually irritate acne and cause the skin to overproduce oil to compensate. Stick to one treatment at a time and give the skin a day or two to repair in between.
Creating a Beginner-Friendly Skincare Routine
If you’re new to skincare, on-the-go, or just want to cover all your bases using minimal steps, Leazer says you can absolutely simplify your skincare by paring it down to just a few products.
For daily skincare in just three steps, Leazer-Ragolia recommends the following:
For the Morning:
Step One: Cleanse
Step Two: Vitamin C Serum
Step Three: Hydrating SPF
For the Evening:
Step One: Cleanse
Step Two: Retinol or Vitamin A Serum
Step Three: Moisturizer
“For my minimalist clients, it’s all about zeroing in on your goals, while also keeping the bigger picture of your skin health in mind. We want to make sure we are choosing products that do a bit of both,” she said. “Luckily, skincare technology is making more and more products that multitask. It’s very doable to use just 3 or 4 products and cover all of your bases.”