Finding the proper skincare products for your skin can be a feat in itself, let alone knowing how and when to use each product in your routine to ensure its efficacy. Overusing products or layering products incorrectly can be both ineffective and even harmful to your skin. A large component of my role as a licensed esthetician is to not only consult my clients on what products to use but to also ensure they are using them correctly. It can be challenging to know the best order in which to apply skincare products especially in a more complex routine that can get upwards of 10 steps. I am here to provide relevant knowledge and tips so you can better understand how to effectively layer your skincare products. If your routine is more complex, consulting with an esthetician may be very helpful and necessary. 

Skincare Layering: General Rules to Keep in Mind

• Apply products in order from thinnest to thickest consistency.

• Try to apply products according to their pH. More acidic products first pH 3.0-4.0 then more neutral products 5.0-7.0, however, this isn’t always possible but is beneficial when you can.

• Allow each product to absorb in the skin for about 1 minute before applying the next.

• Wash hands after applying active products, before applying the next product, this is simply to avoid getting active ingredients in sensitive areas like the eyes. 

• Always apply water-based products before oil-based; water cannot penetrate oil and therefore will not absorb into the skin if applied on top of the oil.

Skincare Steps Explained

Step 1: Cleanse

Of course, the first step of your skincare regimen should be cleansing. In the evening I always recommend doing a double cleanse especially if you are wearing makeup. The first cleanse acts as your makeup remover and can be an oil cleanse to dissolve the makeup. If you are acne-prone I would stay away from oil cleansers because many oils are pore-clogging. For your morning regimen, a single cleanse should suffice.

Step 2: Tone

Next is when you should start being mindful of the consistency of products. Toner is the next step as it is the thinnest consistency and actually acts as another cleansing step. It also lowers your skin's pH prepping it for other active ingredients.

Step 3: Serums

Since serums are the next thinnest product they should be the next step in your regimen. The serum you use depends on what you are trying to treat within your skin. You can apply a hydrating serum such as hyaluronic acid in the morning if hydration is a concern or an antioxidant serum in the morning if aging is a concern. In the evening you can apply a hydrating serum to increase hydration or an exfoliating serum for congestion or aging concerns.

Step 4: Moisturize

After your serum, it is the perfect time to apply moisturizer. Moisturizer is thicker in consistency, you can also apply an eye cream. Lastly, you should always apply SPF in the morning to finish off your routine. Be sure to give each product at least a minute to absorb before layering. As a last step in the evening, you can apply a blemish spot treatment if needed. 

These are the basic tips to keep in mind and follow for an effective skincare regimen. When you are using several different active products such as hydroxy acids or retinol, there are other guidelines to follow. In general, do not layer multiple active products in the same routine, this means to split up the actives between your morning and nighttime routine.