Skincare routine order: what goes on first

Key takeaways

• The basic rule is to apply products from thinnest to thickest, so thinner products can soak in before thicker ones go on top.

• A morning routine runs cleanser, toner if you use one, serum, eye cream, moisturizer, then sunscreen last.

• A night routine’s shorter: cleanser, a treatment like a retinoid, then moisturizer.

• Sunscreen always goes on after your other skincare and before makeup. Apply it about 15 minutes before you go outside.

• If you only use three products, make them a cleanser, a moisturizer and a sunscreen, in that order.

Why skincare routine order matters

The order you put products on isn’t just habit. It changes how well they work. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) says that “the sequence in which you apply your skin care products affects how well the products work.” That’s why the same products can give different results depending on when they go on.

The rule that covers most situations comes from Cleveland Clinic: your routine “should be ordered from lightest to heaviest (or thinnest to thickest).” Watery toners and serums go first, creams go later, and sunscreen finishes the morning.

Morning skincare routine order

1. Cleanser

Cleansing comes first, morning and night. It clears away dirt, dead skin and grime, so the products that follow go onto clean skin.

2. Toner (optional)

If you use a toner, it goes straight after cleansing. You don’t need one, and plenty of routines skip it.

3. Serum

Serums are concentrated and thin, so they go on early. Cleveland Clinic recommends sticking to one serum at a time. A vitamin C serum is a popular morning choice: the AAD suggests applying it after washing your face and before sunscreen, and Cleveland Clinic describes vitamin C as reinforcing your sunscreen, not replacing it.

4. Eye cream

Eye cream goes after your serum and before your moisturizer. The AAD suggests using your ring finger, because it’s the weakest finger and won’t pull too hard on the delicate skin around your eyes.

5. Moisturizer

Moisturizer comes next, once in the morning and once at night. If you’ve got dry skin, you can add a face oil. Cleveland Clinic says to apply it right before your moisturizer, and it only recommends face oils if your skin is dry.

6. Sunscreen

Sunscreen is always the last skincare step in the morning. The AAD says to put it on after your other skincare and beneath your makeup, about 15 minutes before you go outdoors. Use a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher, at least a teaspoon for your face, and reapply every two hours or straight after swimming or sweating.

Night skincare routine order

1. Cleanser

Wash off sunscreen, makeup and the day’s oil.

2. Treatment

Night is when treatment products go on, straight after cleansing. Cleveland Clinic suggests using a retinol or retinoid at night in place of a serum, because these vitamin A products can be deactivated by sunlight. You only need a pea-sized amount.

The AAD suggests waiting 20 to 30 minutes after washing before you apply a retinoid. If it dries you out, put moisturizer on right after washing and apply the retinoid 20 to 30 minutes later. Start with the gentlest formula you can find every other night and build up slowly.

3. Moisturizer

Finish with moisturizer. A richer cream works well at night, when you don’t need to wear sunscreen or makeup over it.

Products that shouldn’t be layered together

Most skincare layers without trouble, but a few combinations are worth avoiding:

• Benzoyl peroxide and standard tretinoin. In a lab study, benzoyl peroxide combined with light broke down more than 50% of tretinoin in about two hours. If you use both, ask your dermatologist about timing. The same study found that adapalene, another retinoid, stayed stable with benzoyl peroxide.

• Vitamin C and exfoliating acids. Cleveland Clinic warns that vitamin C serums can throw off your skin’s pH when mixed with alpha hydroxy acids. Keep them in separate steps or at separate times of day.

• Too many active ingredients at once. Stacking retinoids, acids and acne treatments can irritate skin. Our guide to repairing a damaged skin barrier covers what to do if your skin starts to sting.

Frequently asked questions

What is the correct order to apply skincare?

Cleanser first, then thin, watery products like toner and serum, then eye cream and moisturizer. In the morning, sunscreen goes on last, before makeup. At night, a retinoid or other treatment takes the serum’s place.

What if I only have time for three steps?

Use a cleanser, a moisturizer and a sunscreen, in that order. That’s what Cleveland Clinic calls the minimum routine.

Should I wait between skincare steps?

There’s no fixed rule for every product. The two waits worth knowing are 20 to 30 minutes after washing before a retinoid, and about 15 minutes after sunscreen before you go outside.

Does serum or moisturizer go first?

Serum goes first because it’s thinner. Moisturizer goes on top of it.

Where do spot treatments go?

Straight after cleansing. Cleveland Clinic suggests applying salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide spot treatments as the second step of your routine, before your moisturizer. For more on keeping pores clear, see our guide to minimizing the look of pores.