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Have you ever found yourself wishing for your own personal genie in a bottle to help guide you through the order of skincare products? Perhaps someday someone will write a book about a skincare routine for beginners. Maybe someone already has! If not, here is my best attempt at the start of one. 🙂
Anyway, my point is that if you have ever found yourself wondering which skincare product should I use first you are far from alone, my friend, and you are definitely not silly to ask this question.
This is a common question that I get asked ALL of the time and even find myself asking still after 3 years of sharing safer skincare and makeup. We’re all particularly curious about the right order of face products specifically which isn’t surprising since skincare in your 30s and 40s is now a hot topic for many of us aging millennials.
What do they call us on TikTok these days? “Geriatric” millennials? 🙂
Your girl has been there, too. I’ve learned a lot in the last few years but it was not always that way. Between us, I actually used to feel a lot of shame around not knowing what to do with my makeup or how to arrange skin care products. Isn’t a girl just supposed to KNOW this? Nope, apparently the order of skincare products isn’t something we’re born knowing, especially when your skincare routine consists of a splash of water on your face. Yes, it’s true.
You obviously can’t see me right now but I am physically cringing thinking about those days of feeling like a lost Linda in the world of beauty.
All of this to say, fear not! I got you, boo. We’re breaking down the exact order of skincare products with a focus on the order of face products right now to get your skin glowing, hydrated, and thriving!
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What is the correct order of skincare products?
So, you’ve got all the right (and hopefully clean and safe!) skincare products—fancy serums, hydrating creams, and SPF (we’ll get to that). But before you dive in and start slathering them on in a frenzy, let’s pump the brakes for a hot minute. The order of skincare products is just as important as what’s in the bottle. Bestie real talk, if you’re applying products in the wrong order, you might be pouring your money right down the drain which of course we don’t want that to happen!
Here’s a 5 step skincare routine in the right order to get you moving and grooving in the right direction! If 5 steps feels like too much in the beginning, prioritize cleansing and moisturizing to start.
Which skincare product should I use first?
1. Cleanse – The Foundation of Your Routine
Start with a clean slate, literally. No matter your skin type or concerns, your skincare routine should always begin with a thorough cleanse. Cleansing is how you get rid of dirt, oil, makeup, the pizza sauce your child wiped on your face, and other impurities that accumulate on your skin throughout the day. Without a proper cleanse, the rest of your order of skincare products won’t be nearly as effective, as leftover grime can prevent other products from properly absorbing into your skin. Not great.
Choose a cleanser based on your skin type. Got oily skin? Grab a foaming or gel cleanser. Dry skin? You’ll want something creamy or oil-based like this one.
This first step in your order of skin care gets rid of the gunk so the good stuff can actually get to work. Plus, a freshly cleaned and refreshed face is truly the best feeling, wouldn’t you agree?
2. Toner or Essence – Prepping Your Skin for Greatness
Next up in the order of skincare products: toner or essence. After cleansing, your skin needs to be prepped to fully absorb the active ingredients that will follow in the next steps. This is where toner or essence comes in. This is definitely one of the most underrated steps in the order of skincare products.
I know, toners have a reputation from back in the day for being harsh and stripping, but modern formulas are more like a refreshing drink for your skin.
They balance your skin’s pH, gently exfoliate, and prep it for everything that follows.
Essences, on the other hand, are more hydrating and designed to boost moisture while preparing the skin to receive subsequent treatments. I’ve used both and I tend to learn more towards a simple toner right now.
You can pour a little toner or essence into your hands (or on a cotton pad, if you’re feeling fancy) and gently press it into your skin.
When deciding the right order for skin care, always apply toner or essence right after cleansing. Whether you’re combating oiliness or dryness, adding a toner or essence to your routine makes a noticeable difference in the hydration and health of your skin.
3. Serums – Targeted Treatments for Your Skin Concerns
Now for the fun part—serums! Once your skin is clean and prepped, it’s time to apply serums. Serums are concentrated formulas packed with active ingredients like vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, peptides and bakuchiol (a safer alternative to retinol) just to name a few. These products target specific skin concerns, from brightening dull skin to smoothing fine lines and wrinkles. Think of this as your “treatment” step.
Here’s the deal: Serums are lightweight and should always go before heavier creams in the order of skincare products. They’re designed to penetrate deeper, so if you put a moisturizer on first, you’re just blocking their path. You will want to choose a serum based on your individual needs—vitamin C is great for brightening, hyaluronic acid for hydration, and bakuchiol for anti-aging.
Apply your chosen serum by patting it onto the skin—don’t rub, as this can reduce the efficacy of the product. If you’re using multiple serums be sure to apply them in order of texture, from thinnest to thickest. For example, I use 2 serums regularly, a Vitamin C serum and a hydrating serum. I apply the hydrating serum first because it is thinner than my current Vitamin C serum.
Always allow each serum to fully absorb before moving to the next step. I usually brush my teeth while my serum is settling in before I apply moisturizer.
If you want to use an eye cream, then you would insert it here after serums and before your overall face moisturizer. Eye creams are formulated to target puffiness, fine lines, and dark circles. The skin around the eyes is super delicate so you’ll want to handle it with care and gently tap your eye cream under your eyes. I recently discovered an eye cream that I absolutely love because it has a cooling applicator, making it like a massage whenever I use it!
In the order of skincare products, eye cream comes before your heavier moisturizers because the skin around your eyes absorbs things faster.
4. Moisturizer – Locking in Hydration
We are now locking it down! Once your serums and eye creams are absorbed, it’s time to lock in all that hydration with a good moisturizer. Moisturizers form a protective barrier over the skin, sealing in moisture and preventing it from evaporating throughout the day. When it comes to the order of skincare products, moisturizers are essential in maintaining the health of your skin barrier. Consider it the protective top coat of your skin.
For daytime, it is good to use a lightweight lotion or gel that won’t feel too heavy under makeup or sunscreen. At night, you can go for a richer cream to repair and hydrate your skin while you sleep. Be sure to choose a moisturizer that suits your skin type, as using a product that’s too heavy or too light can disrupt your skin’s natural balance.
5. Sunscreen – Your Final Protective Layer (Daytime Only)
If you’re serious about protecting your skin from aging and environmental damage, which you are since you’re reading this, sunscreen is a non-negotiable step in your morning routine. The order of face products always ends with sunscreen in the daytime, as it needs to sit on top of your moisturizer to effectively block harmful UV rays.
When choosing a sunscreen it is important to stay away from ingredients like Oxybenzone, Octinoxate, and other chemicals that are harmful to your health. Look for a sunscreen with Zinc Oxide as its active ingredient.
Make sure to apply your sunscreen generously as the final step in your order for skin care routine before heading out for the day.
Hopefully you are now feeling a bit better about the order of your skincare and which skincare product to use first. Using your products in this order will ensure you get the most out of each product. Cleanse, tone, treat, moisturize, and protect like a pro, and watch your skin transform from blah to brilliant.
Trust me, when you layer products in the right order, your skin will thank you by looking fabulous, healthy, and oh-so-glowy. The best skincare routine is the one you will actually stick to so if you adopt even 2 or 3 of these steps you’ll be in great shape! I used to see my skincare as a chore that I wasn’t excited about but I have come to truly love it and look forward to taking that time just for me.
Let me know how it goes for you in the comments!
