How to Layer Skincare Products in the Right Order
You have seven products on your bathroom counter. You use most of them most days. And yet your skin isn’t responding the way you thought it would when you bought them.
The culprit might not be the products themselves. It might be the order.
Layering skincare incorrectly doesn’t just reduce effectiveness—it can prevent products from absorbing at all. That serum you spent good money on might be sitting on top of your skin, doing nothing, because the moisturizer you applied first created a barrier.
The good news: the rules are simple. Once you understand them, they become second nature.
The One Rule That Governs Everything
Thin to thick. Water to oil.
That’s it. That’s the principle that determines everything else.
Thin, watery products go first because they can’t penetrate through thicker ones. Oil-based products go last because they create a seal. Anything that needs to penetrate your skin must go on before anything that sits on top.
Think of it like getting dressed: you can’t put your sweater on before your shirt. Skincare works the same way.
The Complete Order (Morning)
Step 1: Cleanser
Start with a clean canvas. A gentle cleanser removes overnight buildup, excess oil, and any products that didn’t fully absorb while you slept.
For morning, you don’t need a heavy-duty cleanse. A gentle, hydrating cleanser—or even just water if your skin is dry—is enough.
Step 2: Toner (Optional)
Toners prepare skin to absorb what comes next. They’re not essential, but if you use one, now’s the time.
Look for hydrating toners (with hyaluronic acid, glycerin) rather than astringent ones. The goal is to add moisture, not strip it.
Apply to slightly damp skin with your hands or a cotton pad.
Step 3: Serums (Thinnest First)
This is where the order gets precise. If you use multiple serums, apply the thinnest, most watery one first.
Common morning serums:
– Vitamin C (antioxidant protection, brightening)
– Niacinamide (oil control, pore minimizing)
– Hyaluronic acid (hydration)
The order if using multiple:
1. Vitamin C (most active, needs direct skin contact)
2. Niacinamide or other treatment serums
3. Hyaluronic acid (best on damp skin, draws in moisture)
Note: Apply hyaluronic acid to damp skin—it pulls moisture from its environment. If your skin and the air are both dry, it can actually draw moisture OUT of your skin.
Step 4: Eye Cream (If Using)
Eye creams go on before moisturizer. The skin around your eyes is thinner and absorbs differently.
Tap gently with your ring finger—it applies the least pressure. Never rub or drag.
Step 5: Moisturizer
Moisturizer seals everything in. Even oily skin needs moisturizer—it prevents your skin from overproducing oil to compensate for dehydration.
For morning, choose something lightweight that sits well under sunscreen and makeup.
Step 6: Sunscreen (Non-Negotiable)
Always last in your skincare routine, always before makeup. This isn’t optional—it’s the single most effective anti-aging product you’ll ever use.
Wait 1-2 minutes for your moisturizer to absorb before applying sunscreen. Apply generously—most people use half the amount they need.
The Complete Order (Evening)
Evenings are for treatment. This is when you use your active ingredients, because sunlight can deactivate some (like retinol) or increase sensitivity (like acids).
Step 1: First Cleanse (Oil or Balm)
If you wore makeup or sunscreen, start with an oil-based cleanser. Oil dissolves oil—it’s the most effective way to break down makeup, sunscreen, and the pollution that’s been sitting on your face all day.
Massage onto dry skin, then emulsify with water and rinse.
Step 2: Second Cleanse (Water-Based)
Follow with a gentle, water-based cleanser to remove any remaining residue.
Yes, two cleansers. This is called double cleansing, and it’s why your skin finally feels actually clean.
Step 3: Exfoliant (2-3x Per Week, Not Daily)
If you use chemical exfoliants (AHAs, BHAs), this is when they go. They need direct contact with skin to work.
– AHAs (glycolic, lactic): Water-soluble, work on skin’s surface. Good for dullness, texture.
– BHAs (salicylic): Oil-soluble, penetrate pores. Good for blackheads, congestion.
Don’t use exfoliants every night. Your skin needs time to recover.
Important: On nights you exfoliate, skip retinol. They don’t play well together.
Step 4: Toner (Optional)
Same as morning—hydrating, not stripping.
Step 5: Serums/Treatments (Thinnest First)
Common evening serums:
– Retinol/retinoid (cell turnover, anti-aging)—if you’re new to retinol, read my beginner’s guide to retinol
– Peptides (collagen support)
– Hyaluronic acid (hydration)
The order:
1. Water-based treatments (hyaluronic acid, niacinamide)
2. Oil-based treatments (retinol is often in an oil base)
If using retinol, some people prefer the “sandwich” method: moisturizer, retinol, moisturizer. This buffers irritation for sensitive skin.
Step 6: Eye Cream
Same as morning. Gentle application, ring finger.
Step 7: Moisturizer or Night Cream
Evening is the time for richer moisturizers. Your skin repairs itself overnight—give it the moisture it needs.
Step 8: Face Oil (Optional)
If you use face oils, they go last. Oil is occlusive—it sits on top and seals everything in. Nothing can penetrate through it.
Wait Times: Do They Matter?
Short answer: mostly not.
Long answer: Some products benefit from a minute or two before the next step, but you don’t need to set timers.
When waiting helps:
– After vitamin C (1-2 minutes lets it absorb before potentially interacting with other products)
– After exfoliating acids (let them work before buffering with moisturizer)
– Before sunscreen (let moisturizer absorb so sunscreen doesn’t pill)
When it doesn’t matter:
– Between most hydrating products
– Between light serums
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Oil Before Water
A very common error: applying a face oil, then wondering why your serum isn’t absorbing. Oil creates a barrier. Water-based products can’t penetrate it.
Fix: Oil always goes last in your routine.
Mistake 2: Too Many Active Ingredients at Once
Vitamin C, retinol, AHA, BHA—all excellent. All irritating if used together.
Fix: Separate your actives. Vitamin C in the morning, retinol at night. Acids and retinol on different nights. More isn’t better if your skin is screaming.
Mistake 3: Applying Hyaluronic Acid to Dry Skin
Hyaluronic acid draws in moisture from its environment. If your skin and the air are dry, it may pull moisture from deeper layers of your skin.
Fix: Always apply hyaluronic acid to damp skin, then seal with moisturizer.
Mistake 4: Skipping Moisturizer Because “I’m Oily”
Oily skin is not necessarily hydrated skin. When you skip moisturizer, your skin may produce MORE oil to compensate.
Fix: Use a lightweight, oil-free moisturizer. Yes, even if you’re oily.
Mistake 5: Not Giving Products Time to Work
Switching products or order every week because you don’t see results yet.
Fix: Most products need 4-8 weeks to show results. Be patient. Consistency matters more than complexity.
The Simplified Versions
Not everyone needs ten steps. Here’s what actually matters:
Morning absolute minimums:
1. Cleanser (or water)
2. Moisturizer
3. Sunscreen
Evening absolute minimums:
1. Cleanser (double cleanse if wearing makeup)
2. One treatment (retinol OR acid, not both)
3. Moisturizer
Everything else is enhancement. Get the basics right first.
A Note on Your Face vs. Someone Else’s Routine
The elaborate ten-step routines you see online work for those specific people. They may not work for you.
Your skin’s needs are different. Your environment is different. Your genetics, your stress levels, your diet—all different.
Use the layering principles, but build YOUR routine. Start simple. Add one product at a time. Pay attention to what your skin actually responds to.
The best routine isn’t the one with the most steps. It’s the one you’ll actually do, consistently, with products that work for your specific face.
Frequently Asked Questions
What order should I apply my skincare products?
The general rule is thinnest to thickest consistency: cleanser, toner, essence, serum, eye cream, moisturizer, oil, then SPF in morning. Actives like vitamin C go before moisturizer.
Should I wait between skincare layers?
Wait 30-60 seconds between active serums to let them absorb. For basic hydrating products, you can layer immediately while skin is still damp to lock in moisture.
Can I use vitamin C and retinol together?
Yes, but separate them: vitamin C in the morning (enhances sun protection) and retinol at night (destabilized by UV light).
The Quick Reference
Morning: Cleanser → Toner → Serum(s) → Eye Cream → Moisturizer → Sunscreen
Evening: Oil Cleanser → Water Cleanser → Exfoliant (if using) → Toner → Serum(s) → Eye Cream → Moisturizer → Face Oil (if using)
The rule: Thin to thick. Water to oil. Always.
Still confused about where a specific product fits? Tell me what you’re working with and I’ll help you sort it out.
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