A proper skincare routine is crucial for maintaining healthy and glowing skin.
But with so many products available in the market, it’s overwhelming to choose the right ones and put them in the correct order.
In this blog post, I’ll break down a simple skincare routine in order to help you achieve your best skin yet.
Let’s dive right in!
What is a skincare routine order?
A skincare routine order is a step-by-step sequence of applying skincare products on your face to achieve healthy and glowing skin.
Following a skincare routine order is important because it ensures that each product is applied correctly, allowing them to work effectively and achieve the desired result.
For example, if you apply a moisturizer before a serum, the serum may not penetrate the skin correctly, reducing its effectiveness. Or, if you apply an oil-based product before a water-based one, the water-based product may not be able to penetrate the skin properly, leading to a buildup of product on the skin’s surface.
Here is a general order of applying skincare products:
Skincare products list for daytime skincare routine:
- Cleanser
- Hydrating Toner or Calming Toner Antioxidant Toner
- Antioxidant Serum
- Moisturizer
- Sunscreen
- Eye Cream
Skincare products list for night skincare routine:
- Cleanser
- Exfoliating Toner or Hydrating Toner Calming Toner
- Target Treatment Serum (if needed)
- Moisturizer or Night Cream
- Eye Cream
- Facial oil (optional)
- Sleeping mask (optional, 1-2 times a week)
- Spot Treatment (if using)
Daily Morning Skincare Routine in Order:
Step 1: Cleanser
Step 2: Toner (optional)
Step 3: Treatment (daytime specific)
Step 4: Moisturizer (daytime specific)
Step 5: Sunblock
Pro-tip: If your daytime moisturizer has SPF, you can skip the sunblock step.
Daily Night Skincare Routine:
Step 1: Cleanser
Step 2: Double cleanse (optional)
Step 3: Toner (optional)
Step 4: Treatment (nighttime specific)
Step 4: Moisturizer
Night Skincare Routine with Night Cream:
Step 1: Cleanse your face with a cleanser.
Step 2: Apply a facial toner (optional).
Step 3: Apply any treatment products you want to use.
Step 4: Apply a night cream with active ingredients to give your skin an extra boost.
Pro-tip: You can choose a night cream with active ingredients to avoid using extra treatment products.
Nighttime Skincare Routine with Sleeping Mask:
Step 1: Cleanse your face with a cleanser.
Step 2: Apply a facial toner (optional).
Step 3: Apply any optional treatment products you want to use.
Step 4: Moisturize your skin to keep it hydrated (day and night).
Step 5: Apply a sleeping mask once a week to give the skin an extra boost of hydration.
Pro-tip: If your sleeping mask is hydrating enough, you can simply apply it after cleansing and skip the other treatment products. If your sleeping mask has exfoliating ingredients, apply it over the moisturizer as the last step.
Night Skincare Routine with Night Cream:
Step 1: Cleanse your face with a cleanser.
Step 2: Apply a facial toner (optional).
Step 3: Apply any treatment products you want to use.
Step 4: Apply a night cream with active ingredients to give your skin an extra boost.
Pro-tip: You can choose a night cream with active ingredients to avoid using extra treatment products.
Night Skincare Routine with Facial Oil
Step 1: Cleanse your face with a cleanser.
Step 2: Apply a facial toner (optional).
Step 3: Apply any treatment products you want to use (day and night).
Step 4: Moisturize your skin to keep it hydrated (day and night).
Step 5: Apply facial oil (optional) if your skin needs extra hydration and nourishment.
Pro-tip: If your facial oil has antioxidants, you can skip using an antioxidant serum. Use facial oils only if your skin needs that extra hydration and nourishment.
Skin Care Routine Order With Antioxidant Serum (Day Or Night)
Step 1: Cleanse your face with a cleanser.
Step 2: Apply a facial toner (optional).
Step 3: Apply your daytime treatment product, like an antioxidant serum, that can help protect your skin from environmental damage throughout the day.
Step 4: Moisturize your skin to keep it hydrated (day and night).
Step 5: Apply sunblock to protect your skin from harmful UV rays.
Pro-tip: If your daytime moisturizer contains SPF, you can skip using a separate sunblock(daytime).
Skincare Routine with Spot Treatment: (Day Or Night)
Step 1: Cleanse your face with a cleanser.
Step 2: Apply a facial toner (optional).
Step 3: Apply any treatment products you want to use (day and night) but avoid applying them to the spot you want to treat.
Step 4: Moisturize your skin to keep it hydrated (day and night).
Step 5: Apply spot treatment carefully to the specific area you want to treat as the last step.
Pro-tip: Leave the spot area you want to treat alone and apply other skincare products around it. Then, apply the spot treatment carefully on that specific area as the last step.
Skincare order with exfoliating products:
Step 1: Cleanse your face with a cleanser.
Step 2: Exfoliate your skin with either a physical or chemical exfoliant.
Step 3: Moisturize your skin to restore hydration and protect your skin barrier.
Pro-tip: Avoid using other active skincare ingredients right after exfoliating and wait for at least 12 to 24 hours to prevent irritation. Exfoliate your skin 1-2 times a week, depending on your skin type and sensitivity. Make sure to choose an exfoliant that suits your skin type. Whether a physical scrub or a chemical exfoliant like AHA or BHA. Don’t overdo it with exfoliation, as it may cause harm to your skin barrier.
Should you wait in between steps?
As for waiting between steps, it’s generally recommended to wait a few minutes between applying different skin care products to allow each product to completely absorb into the skin before applying the next one.
This is especially important if you’re using active ingredients like retinoids or AHAs/BHAs, as they can be irritating if they’re not given enough time to absorb into the skin.
However, if you’re using products designed to be layered, such as toners or essences, you can apply them one after the other without waiting in between.
Key takeaway:
A simple skincare routine in order is the foundation of healthy and glowing skin. Start with a cleanser, followed by toner, treatment, moisturizer, and sunblock (during the day). Incorporate products based on your specific skin concerns and needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should you get a day and night product?
If you don’t have any specific skin concerns or issues, using the same cleanser and moisturizer for your morning and night routine is generally fine.
However, if you have different skin concerns during the day and night, consider using different products for each routine.
Do you need an eye cream?
While eye creams are marketed as a separate skincare product, they are optional for everyone.
However, if you don’t have specific eye concerns such as puffiness, dark circles/ fine lines, using a regular moisturizer can be sufficient for hydrating the eye area.
That being said, if you choose to use an eye cream, it should be specifically formulated for the eye area and contain no irritants or fragrances.
Additionally, it’s important to use the eye cream correctly, using only a small amount and gently tapping it into the skin around the eyes with your ring finger.
Ultimately, whether or not you need an eye cream depends on your skincare needs and preferences. If you find that a moisturizer works just fine for you, then there’s no need to add an extra product to your routine.
Do you need facial oils in your skincare routine?
Facial oils are not a necessary skincare routine product, but they can provide additional benefits for certain skin types and concerns.
People with dry or dehydrated skin can benefit from facial oils as they help to nourish and hydrate the skin, providing a healthy and radiant appearance. Facial oils can also benefit people with mature or aging skin, as they can help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
However, people with oily/acne-prone skin should be cautious when using facial oils as they can exacerbate these conditions. Please note that not all facial oils are the same; some may be more suitable for certain skin types than others.
And it’s important to patch test first and monitor your skin’s reaction.
