In What Order Should I Apply My Skin Care Products?

Does it really matter if you apply face oil before moisturizer? Or if your sunscreen goes on first or last? The answer is YES.

Sequence Matters, Here's Why

"The order of application is incredibly important," says Dr. Rogers. "The skin's job is to keep things out, but many of the skin care products we use have ingredients we want to get in. Only a very small amount of these key ingredients can penetrate the skin, even when perfectly formulated and perfectly applied. If you don't apply products in the correct order, you will not see the best results from your skin care regimen."

The morning routine is all about protection from the sun, pollution, and the elements. Here's the correct order to apply your skincare products:

Step 1: Cleanser

In the morning, start by splashing your face with warm water, or if necessary, wash with a natural cleanser that removes impurities, like a mild chamomile facial cleanser. I always recommend choosing a sulfate-free cleanser to avoid altering the pH of the skin and weakening the barrier.

Step 2: Toner

Most people choose to skip toners, partly because there is an assumption that most toners are rough and irritate the skin. Fortunately, with natural and vegan toners, this is no longer the case. These products refresh, moisturize, close the pores, and balance the skin, preparing it to receive the subsequent treatment in a natural way — nourishing it with vitamins and active ingredients that revitalize and rejuvenate the skin's tissues.

Step 3: Antioxidant Serum

The serum is a product dedicated to effectively treating any need your skin may have. Its high concentration of active ingredients and fluid texture make it perfect for enhancing penetration to a greater depth, providing quick and visible effectiveness. What's best to keep as close as possible to the skin are antioxidant serums and Vitamin C, thanks to their variety of benefits: reducing the skin's inflammatory response and neutralizing damage from UV rays and environmental pollutants.

Step 4: Eye Cream

According to board-certified dermatologist Annie Chiu, it is vital to apply an eye cream at least every night, if not twice a day, after age 20. "It's about maintaining the health and thickness of the eyelid skin." Improving the quality of skin in this area early on matters — regular use of eye cream will eventually keep the eyelid skin elastic and may improve or prevent fine lines and collagen loss.

Step 5: Spot Treatment (If You Need It)

According to Dr. Diane De Fiori, a Rosacea dermatologist treatment clinic specialist, prescription medications and treatments for acne — such as serums — should be applied closer to the skin to maximize their benefits. All types of acne appear when pores are covered with oil and dead skin; with cystic acne, bacteria trapped deep in the pores cause inflammation, redness, swelling, and pain. I recommend continuous, gentle exfoliation with products for sensitive skin to reduce inflammation — and remember that acne treatments can dry the skin, so apply them only where you need them.

Step 6: Moisturizer

Yes, we all need a moisturizer, even if we have oily skin. According to dermatologist Whitney Bowe, if you don't nourish your skin with vitamins and antioxidants, your protective barrier weakens, dries out, and eventually loses collagen, accelerating the aging process.

It's advisable to apply a moisturizer while the skin is still moist from the serum and treatment steps, so hydration is locked in faster.

If you're using an acne treatment, you can skip those areas when applying moisturizer so the ingredients don't interfere with your treatment's active ingredients.

Step 7: Sunscreen

Sun protection should be the last step in your skincare routine during the day.

It's recommended to always use a sunscreen with zinc and apply it after your moisturizer. "Zinc is safe, effective, and provides wider protection against UVA and UVB rays."

One More Tip

Many products say you have to wait between five and 30 minutes before the next step to ensure adequate absorption — but who has time for that? If you have many steps, pause for just one minute to let each product react with your skin.

And listen to your skin. Remember that you are unique, and no one else has your skin. It's important to find the right routine for you and always be kind to your skin.