What order do I apply my skincare products in?

The morning order

The purpose of a morning routine is to protect. You are not trying to fix anything before 8am — you are trying to leave the house with a comfortable barrier and reliable sun protection.

• Cleanse — water alone is fine if your skin is dry or you cleansed the night before.
• Watery treatment — an essence or hydrating toner, if you use one.
• Serum — antioxidant or hydrating, applied to slightly damp skin.
• Moisturizer — the layer that seals everything underneath.
• Sunscreen — last, generous, and reapplied if you are outdoors.

The evening order

Evening is where the actual change happens, because that is where actives belong. Keep it short enough that you will actually finish it when you are tired.

• Cleanse — twice if you wore sunscreen or makeup.
• Active — retinoid, exfoliating acid, or a targeted treatment, on dry skin.
• Serum — hydrating or barrier support.
• Moisturizer — heavier than your morning one if your skin wants it.

The exceptions worth knowing

Thinnest to thickest is a guideline, not physics. Two things override it: the instructions on the product and the tolerance of your skin.

• Retinoids go on dry skin, not damp, unless you are deliberately buffering to reduce irritation.
• If a product says to apply it first, apply it first — formulators know their own pH.
• Waiting a minute between layers is enough. You do not need a timer.

Related questions

Does the order actually matter?

It matters most for sunscreen, which must go last in the morning, and for actives, which need direct contact with skin rather than sitting on top of an occlusive cream. Between two hydrating layers, order matters very little.

How long should I wait between steps?

Long enough that the previous layer is no longer wet — roughly thirty to sixty seconds. Longer waits are a personal preference, not a requirement.