Journal / Skincare foundations
Skincare product order: a clear guide to layering.
The sequence has four stages, and most products fall naturally into one of them. Once you know the stages, an unfamiliar product is easy to place.
The short answer
Wash your face, apply any medication or treatment, then moisturiser and, in the morning, sunscreen. Make-up goes on last. That is the order dermatologists recommend. Extra products slot in around it, and using fewer of them matters more than arranging them perfectly.
01 / The sequence
The order dermatologists recommend.
The American Academy of Dermatology states that the sequence in which you apply products affects how well they work, and sets out four steps.[1]
-
Wash your face.
Use a gentle cleanser and pat dry.[1]
-
Apply medication or treatment.
If you use a medicine or other treatment on your skin, it goes on directly after cleansing.[1]
-
Apply moisturiser and, by day, sunscreen.
The AAD groups these in one step.[1] Moisturiser is best applied to damp skin, where it helps hold water in.[2]
-
Apply make-up, if you wear it.
Make-up is the final layer.[1]
That is the whole structure. Everything below is detail about where particular products fit inside it.
02 / Morning and night
The order, morning and evening.
The stages are the same at both ends of the day. What changes is which of them you use.
- Morning
- Cleanse, treatment if one is used in the morning, moisturiser, sunscreen, make-up. Sunscreen should go on before you leave the house; the AAD notes it takes about 15 minutes for skin to absorb it.[3]
- Evening
- Remove make-up and cleanse, treatment if one is used at night, moisturiser. No sunscreen.
Retinoids are generally used at night, because they can make skin more sensitive to the sun.[5] The fuller comparison is in morning and evening skincare: what actually needs to change, and the cleansing stage is covered in do you really need to double cleanse.
Moisturiser or sunscreen first?
The AAD lists them together without ranking them. A common approach is moisturiser first and sunscreen as the last skincare step before make-up. A moisturiser that contains broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher removes the question.[2] Follow the directions on your sunscreen where they are specific.
03 / Placing the rest
Where serums, oils and masks fit.
Most additional products belong to the treatment stage or sit beside the moisturiser.
- Serums
- After cleansing and before moisturiser. If a serum is your treatment for a particular concern, it occupies the treatment stage.
- Eye cream
- Around the moisturiser stage. The AAD suggests using your ring finger to apply any cream around the eyes, because it is the weakest finger and will not pull too hard on delicate skin.[1]
- Face oils
- Usually with or after moisturiser. See face oils: where they fit in a routine.
- Toners and essences
- Directly after cleansing, if you use them at all. They are optional.
- Masks
- Occasional, after cleansing. They sit outside the daily order, and moisturiser follows.
- Prescribed products
- Wherever your prescriber told you. Their directions override any general guide.
A widely used rule of thumb is to apply thinner, water-based textures before thicker creams. It is a convenience and has exceptions. When the product’s own instructions differ, follow those.
04 / Timing
Do you need to wait between steps?
There is no general rule that requires a pause between every product. Two specific timings are worth knowing.
- Before retinol, if it irritates you. The AAD notes that some people find retinol products irritating and that washing your face and then waiting 30 minutes before applying the product can prevent this.[4]
- Before going outdoors. Apply sunscreen about 15 minutes before sun exposure.[3]
Beyond these, letting each layer settle for a moment is a matter of comfort. If products roll into small flakes as you apply the next one, the cause is usually the combination of textures or the amount used; see why sunscreen pills on your skin.
05 / The last layers
Sunscreen, make-up and reapplication.
Sunscreen is the last skincare product and make-up goes over it.[1] Two points catch people out.
The first is quantity. The AAD recommends at least one teaspoon of sunscreen for the face.[3] A thin layer applied so that foundation sits better gives less protection than the label suggests.
The second is reapplication. Outdoors, sunscreen needs reapplying every two hours.[3] Doing that over make-up takes some planning; see reapplying sunscreen over make-up. For choosing the product, see choosing a sunscreen you will actually use.
06 / Order and number
When order matters less than how many.
The AAD attaches a warning to its guidance on order: using too many products may irritate the skin, especially more than one anti-ageing product, and this often makes signs of ageing more noticeable.[1]
A routine that needs a diagram to follow usually has too much in it. Combinations raise their own questions, such as whether you can use vitamin C and niacinamide together, and the general case is set out in active ingredients: when more is not better.
A quick order check
- Cleanser first, every time.
- One treatment per session, placed after cleansing.
- Moisturiser on slightly damp skin.
- Sunscreen last in the morning, before make-up.
- Nothing in the routine that you cannot explain.
If your routine passes that check, the order is fine. If you would like someone to look through it with you, Skin Edit reviews what you use and how, and a consultation covers broader questions. See a dermatologist about any product that causes a reaction, or if you have questions about caring for your skin that a routine change has not answered.
A few common questions
Frequently asked questions.
What is the correct order to apply skincare products?
The AAD recommends washing your face, applying any medication or treatment, then moisturiser and sunscreen, with make-up last.[1]
Does serum go before or after moisturiser?
Before. A serum is applied after cleansing and before moisturiser, in the treatment stage.
Does sunscreen go before or after moisturiser?
How long should I wait between products?
Where does eye cream go?
Around the moisturiser stage. Apply it gently with your ring finger so that you do not pull on the skin.[1]
Does the order matter if I only use three products?
Barely. Cleanser, moisturiser and sunscreen have an obvious sequence. Order becomes a question only as the number of products grows.
Sources & scope
This Journal article offers general skincare education and a guide to the order in which products are applied. It does not provide a diagnosis, prescribe treatment or replace individual medical advice. The points above draw on the following published resources.
- Should I apply my skin care products in a certain order? (American Academy of Dermatology) — the recommended sequence and the effect of using too many products.
- Skin care on a budget (American Academy of Dermatology) — applying moisturiser to damp skin and dual-function products.
- How to apply sunscreen (American Academy of Dermatology) — when to apply sunscreen and how much to use.
- What can treat large facial pores? (American Academy of Dermatology) — waiting before applying retinol to reduce irritation.
- Retinoid or retinol? (American Academy of Dermatology) — using retinoids at night.
Editorial: Merve Akkaya Journal. Learn more about Merve Akkaya.
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An order you can follow without a chart.
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