The Right Order to Apply Your Skincare Products

Layering skincare products in the wrong order is one of the most common mistakes people make — and it can actually block your products from working properly. The order isn't random. It's based on molecule size, pH levels, and how each formula interacts with skin.

Here's the exact order to apply your skincare, and why each step goes where it does.

Step 1: Cleanser

Always start with clean skin. Your cleanser removes makeup, sunscreen, dirt, pollution, and excess oil from the day. Everything you apply after needs a clean canvas to absorb properly. Double cleanse at night if you wear SPF or makeup — an oil-based cleanser first, then your regular cleanser.

Step 2: Toner

Apply toner to slightly damp skin immediately after cleansing. It rebalances your skin's pH and preps the surface so everything that follows absorbs better. Press it in with clean hands or a cotton pad.

Step 3: Treatments and Actives

This is where targeted treatments go — things like exfoliating acids (AHAs, BHAs), acne treatments, or any prescription topicals. These need to go on before serums because they work at a low pH and need direct contact with skin to be effective. If you're using an acid treatment, wait a minute or two before moving to the next step.

Step 4: Serum

Serums are your most concentrated active step. Apply two to three drops and press gently into skin. If you're using multiple serums, apply the most watery one first and work up to thicker formulas. Common morning serums: Vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide. Common evening serums: retinol, peptides, repair actives.

Step 5: Eye Cream

The skin around your eyes is the thinnest on your body — it needs its own dedicated formula and a gentle touch. Apply a small amount with your ring finger (least pressure) by tapping, never rubbing, around the orbital bone.

Step 6: Moisturizer

Moisturizer goes on while your skin is still slightly damp from previous steps to lock in all that hydration and active goodness. It seals your treatment layers, strengthens the skin barrier, and keeps water from evaporating throughout the day or night.

Step 7: Face Oil (Optional)

Oils go on after moisturizer because they are occlusive — they seal everything in. Putting an oil before your water-based products would block them from absorbing. Press a few drops into your moisturizer while skin is still warm to blend seamlessly.

Step 8: SPF (Morning Only)

Sunscreen is always the last step of your morning routine. It needs to sit on top of everything else to do its job of blocking UV rays. Apply generously to face, neck, and décolleté. Don't skip this step — it undoes everything else if you do.

The Simple Rule to Remember

Thinnest to thickest. Lightest to heaviest. Water-based before oil-based. When in doubt, that sequence will serve you well for almost any combination of products.

And remember: you don't need every step every day. A simple routine done consistently beats a complicated one done occasionally.

Find everything you need for a clean, complete routine in our Skincare collection.