The Secret to Glowing Skin is in the Order You Apply It

how to layer skincare Have you ever been overpowered by the aisles of creams and serums on your shelf? You’ve bought the cult-favorite hyaluronic acid from The Ordinary, the ideal retinol, and a strong vitamin C, but you’re still unsure about what happens first.

You’re not by yourself. The order in which you apply the items is just as important to a successful skincare routine as the goods you purchase. Whether you want to address particular issues like acne or hyperpigmentation or follow a regular skincare routine for radiant skin, the secret to maximizing the potential of your products is learning how to layer skincare.

From the order of your nightly skincare routine to your morning skincare routine, let’s dissect the science of sequencing.

The Golden Rule of how to Layer Skincare: Thin to Thick

Applying skin care products from the lightest consistency to the heaviest is the most basic layering technique. While thicker, oil-based treatments (like creams and oils) provide a barrier that keeps everything in place, water-based products (like toners and serums) must first penetrate the skin.

Consider it like putting on clothes: you wouldn’t put on a sweater before a shirt. Your face follows the same reasoning.

Your Day and Night Skincare Routine Order

Different demands are met during the day (protection) and at night (healing) by a well-organized schedule. Here is a detailed how-to for both.

Morning Skincare Routine: Protect and Hydrate

Hydrating, protecting, and priming your skin for the day are the objectives of your layering skincare routine.

Cleanser: To get rid of nocturnal contaminants, start with a mild cleanser.

Toner: Prepares the skin for improved serum absorption by balancing its pH.

Vitamin C Serum: This is the best thing you can do in the morning. Applying vitamin C to your skin immediately after toning is an easy way to layer it. Vitamin C increases the effectiveness of your sunscreen by neutralizing free radicals from pollution and UV exposure.

Eye Cream: Lightweight eye cream should be gently rubbed around the orbital bone.

Hyaluronic Acid Serum (Hydrator): This substance gives the skin a plumping effect by attracting moisture. Combining this with other serums, such as niacinamide, is OK.

All of the moisturizing layers are sealed in by the moisturizer. Select a cream for dry skin or a gel for oily skin.

Sunscreen: The last and most important step in any morning ritual. This is your main line of defense against hyperpigmentation and age.

Night Skincare Routine: Repair and Rejuvenate

Your skin enters repair mode at night when you follow your skincare regimen. Use your most potent ingredients, like retinol, at this point.

It’s important to know how to stack skincare products at night, particularly if you use strong active ingredients. The proper method for layering skincare products in the evening is as follows: how to layer skincare

Double Cleanse: If you’re wearing makeup or sunscreen, start with an oil-based cleanser to remove it, then use a water-based cleanser to clean your skin.

Toner/Essence: This prepares the skin, just like in the morning.

Serums for treating acne and hyperpigmentation: Here’s where you focus on your particular issues. Azelaic acid or niacinamide serums are two options for layering skincare for hyperpigmentation. How can skincare serums with comparable textures be layered? From thinnest to thickest, apply them.

The step that everyone wonders about is how to combine retinol with other skincare ingredients. This is Retinol/Tretinoin/Adapalene (The Powerhouse).

The Buffering Method for Novices: Apply your retinol after your moisturizer to reduce irritation. By acting as a buffer, the moisturizer slows down the absorption.

The Standard Method (Direct): After serums and before moisturizer, apply a pea-sized dose of retinol straight to dry skin if you have retinoid-tolerant skin. Its potency is increased in this way.

Demystifying the 7 Steps of Skincare

The traditional seven phases of skincare, which are frequently included in Korean beauty regimens, may be familiar to you. They are:

Cleansing Oil: How to layer skincare

Water Purification how to layer skincare

Exfoliate once or twice a week, but not every day.

The tone how to layer skincare

Ampoule, serum, or essence

Hydrate: How to layer skincare

Sleep Mask (PM, sometimes) or Protect (AM)