What Is the Correct Order to Apply Skincare Products?

Why Do You Need a Skincare Routine?

Maintaining a consistent skincare routine is important for a number of reasons. For one, your skin is an organ—your body’s largest, in fact. Each day, it’s exposed to countless stressors (think: sunlight and air pollution) that can affect how it looks and feels. A proper routine can help support your skin’s natural moisture barrier and protect your skin against these potentially harmful stressors.

Skincare can be beneficial for your confidence, too. The right routine can help address skin concerns, such as acne, dryness, or discoloration, that may affect your self-esteem. Of course, you’ll want to choose products designed for your specific skin type and concerns. If you have oily or acne-prone skin, for example, you’ll typically want to opt for lightweight, non-comedogenic products that won’t clog your pores. Those with dry skin will want to prioritize hydration to help keep their skin feeling balanced. If you’re not sure what your skin type is—or how to figure it out—we suggest checking out our article How To Determine Your Skin Type, According To a Derm.

What Is The Correct Skincare Routine Order?

Choosing the right products for your skin type is only part of building an effective skincare routine. The other half is knowing how to layer those products properly. As a general rule of thumb, products should be layered in order of consistency, from thinnest to thickest. We’ll explain more ahead and break down the proper skincare order for both your morning and evening routines.

Morning skincare routine steps

1. Cleanse: Your morning skincare routine should always start with a gentle cleanse to help remove sweat, excess oil, and other impurities. The cleanser you choose should be dictated by your skin type and concerns. Foam and gel formulas tend to be well-suited for those with oily and combination skin types while moisturizing cream cleansers can be great for those with dry skin.
2. Tone: Toners can do a lot of things, but their primary purpose is to help remove any lingering debris or residue and prep your skin for the rest of your skincare routine. In the past, toners often featured alcohol or harsh astringents that stripped the skin of oil, but that isn’t always the case anymore. There are hydrating toners, exfoliating toners, brightening toners—the list goes on and on. As with everything else in your routine, you’ll get the best results if you select one that’s designed for your skin type and concerns.
3. Apply serum: Facial serums are typically slightly thicker and more viscous in consistency than a toner, but more fluid than a moisturizer. Depending on the formula, these targeted treatments can help address an array of skin concerns, from dryness to blemishes and just about anything in between. Many people stick with one serum, but you can layer your serums, too. If you choose to use more than one serum, be sure to apply the thinnest formula first and allow each serum to absorb fully before applying the next.
4. Moisturize: Moisturizing is a must, no matter your skin type. Applying moisturizer can help hydrate your skin, trap water in to fend off dryness, and ensure your skin has the moisture it needs to look and feel its best. If you have an oilier skin type and are wary of making your skin look greasy, we suggest opting for an oil-free, water-based moisturizer. Those with drier skin typically do best with richer, creamier formulas.
5. Finish with sunscreen: It doesn’t matter if it’s sunny or cloudy, rainy or snowy, August or December—you need to wear sunscreen every day to keep your skin protected from the sun’s harmful UV rays. Follow the advice of the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and opt for a broad-spectrum formula with an SPF of at l. For lasting protection, you’ll also need to reapply your SPF at least every two hours, or after sweating, swimming, or toweling off.

Evening skincare routine steps

1. Remove makeup: If you wear makeup, you’ll want to remove it before getting started on your nighttime skincare routine. There are a few different ways you can do this: with a dedicated makeup remover, with micellar water, or via a double cleanse. The latter involves first washing your face with an oil-based cleanser or cleansing balm to remove makeup, then lathering up again with a traditional cleanser to remove any lingering impurities.
2. Cleanse: After removing your makeup, you can go ahead and cleanse your face as normal. When washing your face, do so with lukewarm water—according to the Mayo Clinic, hot water can strip your skin of essential oils and may leave it feeling dry or tight.
3. Tone: As with your morning skincare routine, toning comes after cleansing. Here, you can use the same toner you used in the morning, either patting it onto your damp skin or swiping it over your face with a clean cotton round, depending on what the directions on your chosen toner instruct.
4. Apply treatments and serums: While your skin is still damp from your toner, you’ll want to apply your serum (or serums, as the case may be). In the morning, we typically suggest opting for gentle serums, but if you’re looking to tackle specific skin concerns—like unevenness or blemishes—nighttime is a great time to do that. Serums with retinol can be useful for those seeking to address the visible signs of aging, while exfoliating serums can be helpful for those with acne-prone skin. Keep in mind that you don’t want to overload your skin with too many strong ingredients. If you want to use a retinol serum, for example, make sure to pair it with a gentle hydrating toner rather than an exfoliating toner.
5. Moisturize: Last but not least, moisturize to help lock in hydration. You can use the same moisturizer you used in the morning or reach for a slightly richer one to give your skin a bit more nourishment while you sleep. If you really want to level up your nighttime skincare routine, consider swapping out your moisturizer for a hydrating overnight mask—because you’ll be sleeping, you don’t have to worry about your skin looking greasy or shiny.

15 of Our Favorite Products for Each Step of Your Skincare Routine

Now that you know the right skincare routine order to follow, keep scrolling for a look at some of our favorite products to use for healthy-looking skin.

Cleansers

CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser

Start your routine on a high note with this gentle hydrating cleanser from CeraVe. It’s fragrance-free, non-comedogenic (meaning it won’t clog your pores), and accepted by the National Eczema Association, making it a smart pick for those with even highly sensitive skin. It provides a gentle yet thorough cleanse and leaves the skin feeling hydrated and comfortable.

Youth to the People Superberry Dream Cleansing Balm

Kick off your evening double cleanse with this luxurious-feeling balm. Apply the rich formula to dry skin, massage thoroughly to break up makeup, oil, and sunscreen, then add warm water. The oil-based cleanser will emulsify into a milky wash that leaves your skin feeling soft and hydrated—never greasy.

La Roche-Posay Toleriane Purifying Foaming Facial Wash

Those with more oily skin will appreciate this foaming face wash, which removes excess oil without disrupting the skin’s natural moisture barrier. It’s pH-balanced, made with niacinamide and ceramides, and rinses clean with no pore-clogging residue.

Toners

Thayer’s Alcohol-Free Witch Hazel Facial Toner with Rose Petal

This affordable pick is among our favorite facial toners for all skin types. The alcohol-free formula helps renew and refresh the skin, provides up to eight hours of hydration, and helps maintain the skin barrier. Plus, with regular use, it helps to minimize the appearance of large pores—a common concern for those with oily skin. We suggest using a clean cotton ball to sweep the soothing formula over your face after cleansing to help prep it for the rest of your routine.

Kiehl’s Calendula Herbal-Extract Alcohol-Free Toner

When a skincare product has been around for more than 80 years, we think it’s worth trying. That’s definitely the case with this iconic facial cleanser from Kiehl’s, which features both calendula flower extract and whole petals in its formula. The alcohol-free toner instantly helps cleanse and refresh the skin, while continued use helps improve the appearance of both skin texture and tone.

SkinCeuticals Equalizing Toner

If you’re looking for an exfoliating toner to add to your skincare routine, we suggest giving this option from SkinCeuticals a try. It contains a blend of fruit-derived alpha-hydroxy acids and gently removes dead skin cells to help reveal a brighter, fresher-looking complexion over time.

Serums

SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic % L-Ascorbic Acid

This luxe vitamin C serum helps improve eight visible signs of skin aging, including wrinkles, discoloration, dullness, and unevenness. Plus, it helps protect the skin from environmental stressors—such as air pollution—that can cause or exacerbate skin concerns. We suggest using it in the morning to help prep your skin for the day ahead.

IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Lines Hyaluronic Acid Serum

If fine lines, dryness, and dehydration are your primary skin concerns, this serum has you covered. The dermatologist-approved formula is packed with peptides, vitamin B5, and 1.5% hyaluronic acid and deeply hydrates the skin, leaving it smoother and plumper over time. Plus, it’s suitable for all skin types, from oily to sensitive.

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Salicylic Acid Acne Treatment Serum

This powerful facial serum is a great pick for those with blemish-prone skin. It’s made with a trio of effective yet gentle exfoliating acids and helps both diminish the appearance of active acne and prevent new blemishes from forming. It also helps improve the look of post-acne marks, a type of dark spot that can develop after a breakout clears.

Moisturizers

L’Oréal Paris RevitaLift Pressed Night Cream with Retinol + Niacinamide

Retinol can be drying, especially if you’re new to it, but incorporating it into your moisturizing step can help counteract that effect. This night cream contains a 12% emollient complex alongside retinol and niacinamide and deeply moisturizes the skin while helping to improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. If it’s your first ever time using retinol, we suggest applying this moisturizer once or twice per week (at night) to start. You can gradually work up to nightly usage as your skin acclimates.

Youth to the People Polypeptide-121 Future Cream

Prioritize barrier support with this cushiony moisturizer, which contains plant-based proteins, ceramides, and peptides in its formula. The moisturizer’s lightweight, fast-absorbing texture feels lovely on the skin and boasts a fresh, dewy-looking finish that leaves your skin looking healthy and rejuvenated.

CeraVe Oil Control Moisturizing Gel-Cream

It can be tempting to forgo moisturizer if your skin is oily or shiny, but we urge you to resist the temptation—doing so can actually make your skin oilier, according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). To avoid weighing down your skin, the AAD recommends opting for an oil-free, non-comedogenic moisturizer made for oily skin types. We love this pick from CeraVe because it provides much-needed hydration while helping to mattify unwanted shine for a balanced-looking complexion.

Sunscreens

Vichy Capital Soleil Ultra Light Face Sunscreen SPF 50

Sunscreen sometimes gets a bad rap for feeling heavy on the skin or being challenging to blend in, but that’s not the case with this featherlight lotion. It boasts broad-spectrum SPF 50 protection against the sun’s harmful rays and absorbs easily on all skin types. The antioxidant-infused formula also helps protect the skin from damaging external stressors that can contribute to age-related skin concerns.

Kiehl’s Better Screen UV Serum SPF 50+ Facial Sunscreen with Collagen Peptide

This serum sunscreen is another excellent choice for those who don’t like the feel of traditional cream formulas. The ultra-light fluid provides SPF 50+ protection against UVA and UVB rays, boosts skin’s radiance, and blends seamlessly on a range of skin tones without leaving a white cast. Plus, it layers beautifully under makeup—so you don’t have to worry about your SPF messing with your glam.

IT Cosmetics Hello Sunshine Invisible Sunscreen for Face SPF 50

We love a multi-tasker, and this three-in-one sunscreen from IT Cosmetics definitely fits the bill. The hyaluronic acid and vitamin B5-infused formula hydrates like a serum, protects against damaging UVA and UVB rays, and helps prime the skin for makeup. Swap it out for your go-to makeup primer to help protect your skin while readying it for a seamless makeup application.

Next Up: How Much of Each Skincare Product Should I Apply?