Are You Applying Skincare Products in the Right Order?

Do you think the order you use your skincare products doesn't really matter? Well, think again.

The key to skincare success is consistency, patience, and understanding which product ingredients work best together and the order they should be applied on your skin. Proper sequence matters for the best results. There is a definite order to applying skincare products in order to maximize their benefits. To reap the rewards, follow the steps below as a guideline to help get you started on the right track.

Why Sequence Matters

As a general rule of thumb after washing your face, you should start with the lightest products and end with the heaviest products. Toners, spot treatments and serums should always come before lotions and moisturizers. Anything water-based will sink into your skin easier without any heavier products getting in the way. Concentrated treatments like retinol or prescription topical treatments should be applied at nighttime only since for the most part, they can cause sun sensitivity. Always put lotions and moisturizers on last.

Applying your skincare products in the proper order ensures that your skin receives the full benefits of each product. For example, if you apply moisturizer before serum, the moisturizer's emollient nature will prevent the serum from reaching your skin. Most moisturizers also contain water. So, if you apply a moisturizer over sunscreen, you would in effect be watering down your sunscreen and diluting its efficacy.

Aside from the order of application, it's also important to consider the time it takes for your skin to absorb products. For example, take benzoyl peroxide, commonly found in acne treatment regimens and acne lotions/moisturizers. After applying benzoyl peroxide, it is important that you wait 5-15 minutes for it to dry before applying anything else. Any additional cream or product that comes in contact with it before it has completed its work will likely inhibit benzoyl peroxide from working properly on your skin.

The Best Order to Apply Skincare Products

During the day, most experts recommend a simple cleanser-toner-day cream/sunscreen routine. At night, that's when you load up on more concentrated skincare products and targeted treatments. Here are some recommendations and simple steps for you to follow:

Daytime:

1. Cleanser
2. Toner
3. Eye Cream
4. Day Cream (should include broad spectrum SPF)

Nighttime:

1. Cleanser
2. Toner
3. Serum
4. Spot Treatment
5. Eye Cream
6. Night Lotion or Moisturizer

Step One: Cleanser

The very first step in how to apply skincare products starts with a fresh, clean face. It's important to remove dirt and oil buildup with your cleanser. For stubborn makeup, use oil-free makeup remover pads or cloths before you cleanse. Be gentle when and avoid pulling or overly scrubbing your face.

Step Two: Toner

Water-based products such as toners should be applied after washing your face using a cotton gauze pad. Most people choose to skip toners. However if you're one of them, you are missing out on toner's multiple benefits. Toners remove dirt and residues that are more deeply embedded in your skin and left behind by cleansers. Toners also help prep skin for serums, moisturizers and other treatments. Specific toners address certain skin concerns, including sensitivity, acne, and anti-aging.

Step Three: Serum

If you don't use a toner, put your serum on next. Serums are nutrient-rich, so it's better to keep them as close to bare skin as possible. Some people apply multiple serums that cater to different skin concerns. If an all-in-one serum isn't possible, apply liquids first, followed by gels, then creams.

Step Four: Spot Treatment

Prescription medications and spot treatments need to be applied as close to skin as possible to maximize their benefits. In the case of acne treatments, this dries up excess oil and kills bacteria in your problem spots. For best results, allow at least five minutes before putting on your next product to ensure it doesn't knock out the benefits of the medication. Acne products should go on bare skin. Take a damp cotton swab or tissue and wipe the blemish or broken out area to remove the skincare products that were just applied just in that area only. Apply the acne spot treatment and let it dry. The goal is to get the spot treatment to work directly on the blemish and not have any other product interfere with the performance. If the acne-prone area isn't bare, the serum will work to dilute it and act as a barrier preventing it from penetrating the skin.

Step Five: Eye Cream

Eye creams are like serums specifically designed for eyes. Since the eye area is very delicate, make sure to keep any spot treatments and/or serums you use away from your eye area altogether. For example, if you apply retinol serum on your crow's feet and very close to your eyes, redness, skin peeling and irritation is likely to occur. So just keep them away from your eye area altogether.

Step Six: Creams and Lotions

Moisturizers, creams, and lotions have the thickest consistency so they need the most time to absorb into skin. Night creams and lotions are generally thicker and heavier, designed to be absorbed over the course of several hours when skin does most of its repairing, restoring, and regenerating during sleep.

Remember to Exfoliate

Following the steps above allows for greater absorption of nutrients. Find what steps work best for you over time and stick with them.

Also, remember to exfoliate your skin one to three times a week. It helps remove dead skin cells, deep cleans pores and removes dirt buildup, which makes it easier for your skincare products to penetrate more effectively. Please keep in mind that over exfoliating skin or scrubbing too abrasively can actually make it oilier, so gently exfoliate and limit to one to three times a week only. It is recommended that you exfoliate your skin in the morning before using your cleanser.

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