If you’re anything like me, your For You page is filled with creators sharing their favorite beauty products.
While I love that we live in a world with seemingly unlimited options of candidates for our daily skincare routines, it can be easy to get overwhelmed.
I remember when I was first building a skincare routine not only was I discovering all of the different types of products out there, but I also knew I needed to be mindful about how I was choosing to apply them.
Now I’m super confident about the best order to apply skincare products and I’m going to share more details about my morning and evening routines in today’s post.
I’ve also consulted an expert for this piece to get some insights from a professional in the skincare space.
Dr. Gabriella Vasile is a board-certified dermatologist and the founder of Réforme Dermatology in South Carolina.
Now let’s get into it.
Morning skincare order:
Dr. Vasile confirmed something that I have heard before regarding which product to start with in your skincare routine.
“In general, the rule of thumb is to layer your products from thinnest to thickest,” she says.
This makes sense because if you think about trying to apply something super thin on top of a thicker product, you can see how it may not absorb properly.
With that in mind, here is the recommended order of application for your morning routine:
Cleanser
A cleanser removes dirt, makeup, and impurities to leave your skin fresh and ready for the next steps.
Serum
Serums are concentrated formulas designed to target specific skin concerns such as hydration, brightening, or anti-aging with active ingredients.
In the morning I like to use a vitamin C serum to brighten my skin.
Eye cream
Eye cream hydrates the delicate skin around your eyes and addresses concerns like puffiness, dark circles, and fine lines.I love this one from Sunday Riley.
Dr. Vasile says eye cream can move around in the routine, so I’m adding it in here where I usually apply it.
Moisturizer
A moisturizer locks in hydration and strengthens your skin’s barrier to keep it soft and supple throughout the day.
If you have oily skin, you may prefer a gel cream moisturizer whereas those with dry skin may prefer a thicker cream.
Sunscreen
Last but certainly not least, sunscreen protects your skin from harmful UV rays and helps prevent premature aging, sunburn, and skin cancer.
Pro tip: One important thing Dr. Vasile pointed out is to leave enough time for a product to really sink into your skin. She says, “make sure you allow about 30 to 60 seconds for products to absorb before moving onto the next step.”
Evening skincare order:
So does the same thin to thick rule apply for your nighttime skincare routine? Dr. Vasile says yes, with one modification for the evenings:
“I recommend double cleansing to ensure you are removing dirt, oil, and pollution from the day,” she says.
I was first introduced to the idea of double cleansing through K-Beauty brands like Then I Met You and now I double cleanse pretty much every evening.
Double cleanse
When we talk about double cleansing, often you’ll want to use two different types of cleansers to really ensure you’re removing all of the bad stuff.
- Oil-based cleanser
- Water-based cleanser
An oil-based cleanser is designed to dissolve impurities like makeup, sunscreen, and excess sebum.
It works by binding to these oils and breaking them down, making it especially effective for removing stubborn products like waterproof makeup.
Water-based cleansers are better for targeting water-based impurities such as sweat or dirt.
This type of cleanser typically produces a lather or foam and is often used as the second step in a double-cleansing routine to thoroughly clean the skin after using an oil-based cleanser.
Toner
Toner balances your skin’s pH, removes leftover residue, and prepares it to better absorb treatments.I like this one from Paula’s Choice.
Eye cream
As mentioned earlier, eye cream helps hydrate one of the most sensitive parts of your skin.
Spot treatment
Spot treatment targets individual blemishes with concentrated ingredients like salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide.
Personally, this is when I like to apply spot treatments like pimple patches so I can apply serum/moisturizer around them and don’t have to worry about them slipping off.
However, if the spot treatment is a thicker cream, I may slot it in a little later.
Serum
We discussed serums already, but in the evenings I usually rotate between different types of serums:
- Hydrating serum
- Retinol serum
According to Dr. Vasile, Retinol can be used nightly, but it depends on a person’s skin type. “My patients with dry or sensitive skin can usually only tolerate it a few nights a week,” she mentions.
I fall into the dry skin category so as a result I will do a gentle serum containing retinol once or twice a week, opting for a more hydrating serum on the other nights.
Moisturizer
A moisturizer in the evening can help add hydration back into your skin.
Face oil or overnight mask
As the final step in my evening skincare routine, I often rotate between one of these two options:
Face oil provides intense hydration, seals in moisture, and nourishes the skin with fatty acids and antioxidants.
An overnight mask delivers deep hydration and targeted treatments while you sleep, leaving your skin refreshed by morning.
Pro tip: Dr. Vasile acknowledges that retinol may not be for everyone: “For those who cannot tolerate retinol/retinoids or have continual irritation from it, you can apply moisturizer before applying your retinoid,” she says. “This will decrease absorption and help lessen side effects.”
Skincare testing period
One of the top questions I get from friends of mine who want to try new skincare products is how long should they test a new product to make sure it really works for them?
I posed this question to Dr. Vasile and she says, “in general, it takes at least a few weeks to see if a skincare product is working. I tell patients to plan to use a product consistently for about 8-12 weeks before ditching it.”
You may even want to keep a little note in your phone to see how your skin feels after week 1, week 2, and so on.
In summary
When in doubt remember the thin to thick rule and make adjustments to this list based on your own skincare needs.
Lastly, Dr. Vasile left me with this reminder. “With skincare, simple is better,” she says, “and using too many products on your face at once can cause redness or irritation and disrupt your skin barrier.”
yours,
Austen
About the expert:
Special thanks to Dr. Gabriella Vasile for sharing insights for this story!
Dr. Vasile achieved double board-certification by the American Academy of Dermatology in Dermatology and Mohs Micrographic Surgery.
Follow Dr. Vasile and her practice on Instagram.
