How to layer skincare, in order
Thinnest to thickest, with one exception that catches most people out.
Guide · 5 min read ·
Most routines go wrong in the order. A good serum under the wrong cream does very little. The rule is short: thinnest to thickest. There is one exception, and it catches most people out.
Why the order matters
Thin, watery products are made to sink in. Thick creams and oils are made to sit on top and slow down water loss. If the cream goes on first, it sits between your skin and the serum, and the serum stays on the surface.
So the thinner layer goes first. It gets to your skin, then the thicker layer holds it there.
The morning order
- Cleanse. A gentle wash is enough in the morning. Milk Cleanser or just water if your skin is dry.
- Treat. One serum. Vitamin C Serum is the usual choice for mornings, because it helps your SPF deal with daylight.
- Moisturize. A pea-sized amount of cream. Barrier Cream for dry skin, Gel Cream for oily skin.
- Protect. Daily SPF 40, about a quarter teaspoon for your face and neck.
If you use an eye cream, it goes after the serum and before the moisturizer.
The night order
- Cleanse twice if you wore SPF or makeup. Oil Cleanser first to lift them, then Milk Cleanser to wash it all off.
- Treat. Retinal Night Serum or Hyaluronic Serum. Pick one per night.
- Moisturize. The same cream as the morning, or Overnight Mask if your skin feels tight.
- Seal, if you like. A few drops of Face Oil, pressed on last.
The exception: oil goes after cream
This is the one that catches people out. A face oil is thinner than a cream, so the rule says it should go first. It shouldn't.
Oil does not mix with water. Put it under a water-based cream and the cream can't get through it. Put it on top and it does its real job: it slows the water in every layer under it from leaving your skin. That is why an oil is the last step at night.
The same idea applies to SPF in the morning. Sunscreen has to form an even film on the surface to work. Anything you put over it can thin or move that film. So SPF is always last, even if your moisturizer feels lighter than it.
How long to wait between layers
Less than you think. Give a serum about 30 seconds, until it no longer feels wet. Creams don't need a wait.
The one wait that matters is after SPF. Give it two or three minutes to set before makeup, so you don't wipe it off as you blend.
If you only do two things
Most skin does well on a cleanser and an SPF in the morning, and a cleanser and a moisturizer at night. Add a serum when you know what you want it to do. Four steps is the full routine, not the minimum.
