Morning
1. Cleanser — or just water, if your skin is dry and you cleansed the night before.
2. Toner or essence, if you use one.
3. Serums. Vitamin C is the usual morning active.
4. Moisturiser.
5. Sunscreen, last, and generously. It only protects as applied, so it goes on top where nothing dilutes it.
Night
1. Cleanser. A double cleanse (an oil or balm, then your usual cleanser) helps if you wear sunscreen or makeup.
2. Toner or essence, if you use one.
3. One active: a retinoid or an exfoliating acid, not both on the same night.
4. Hydrating or soothing serums.
5. Moisturiser. A face oil, if you use one, goes after.
The rules behind the order
Thin before thick. Watery products spread and absorb best on bare skin; creams and oils sit on top and slow down whatever's underneath.
Actives go early, close to the skin, so moisturiser doesn't come between them and your face. The exception is a retinoid that irritates you — putting moisturiser on first softens it.
Anything prescribed goes where your prescriber says, which can overrule all of this.
Common questions
- Do I need to wait between layers?
- Not usually. A minute for each layer to settle stops products pilling, but there's no need to wait long between steps.
- Does moisturiser go before or after sunscreen?
- Before. Sunscreen goes last in the morning, so nothing on top thins it out.
- Where does niacinamide go?
- With your serums, morning or night. It sits comfortably alongside vitamin C and retinoids.
