Don’t we all struggle with this? There are so many beauty products to choose from, and with new ones coming out on the daily, it’s hard to keep up with how they should be applied. Should you put your eye cream on before your serum? Or exfoliate before you apply a mask? It really is confusing, and we don’t blame you for wondering. Here is a quick break down of the correct order in which to use your skin care products.

1. Makeup Remover

Starting with a clean slate is an important first step, especially if you’re a beauty junkie who likes to apply lots of expensive products! You want to make sure the active ingredients in your night cream can penetrate your skin with nothing blocking it, like a layer of foundation. This will help ensure you’re getting your full money’s worth for all your products.

I prefer using a makeup wipe or cloth because they’re so easy to use, but you can also use liquid makeup remover and a cotton ball.

2. Cleanser

Once your makeup is removed, cleanse your skin with a facial cleanser. This will help prep your skin for what’s to come and it will help clean off any dirt or debris that the makeup remover might have missed.

3. Exfoliator

Now that your skin is squeaky clean, it’s time to exfoliate away any dead skin cells. By removing the layer of dead skin cells, it will help the next few products penetrate even deeper into your skin, allowing it to absorb more of their potent ingredients.

4. Mask

After you exfoliate, it can be super beneficial to follow up with an anti-aging or moisturizing mask. Your skin will be thirsty to soak up all these yummy ingredients and since the skin has been prepped properly, they will absorb into the layers of new skin that are forming and coming to the surface.

5. Spot Treatment

Once your mask is washed off and your skin is clean again, you’ll want to apply any spot treatments that you have. This could include but is not limited to dark spot correctors, redness reducers, or even blemish treatments.

6. Serum

Wait until your spot treatments are completely dry and absorbed before you apply any serums. If you have more than one, that’s okay!

7. Eye Cream

Again, patience is key. Wait until the serum is completely dry to the touch and fully absorbed into the skin before you apply another layer of product. Eye creams should be applied around the entire eye socket, just be careful to steer clear of your actual eyeball!

8. Moisturizer or Face Oil

After your eye cream has absorbed you are now ready to moisturize. We suggest applying just one overall moisturizing product, but if you have purchased more than that, you could just rotate them throughout the week. There really is no point in applying more than one at once because they act very similarly, so it wouldn’t be necessary.

9. SPF

A lot of time your daily moisturizer will contain it already, but if it doesn’t, you’ll want to layer on some SPF for good measure in the morning. It’s always important to protect your delicate facial skin from the sun so you don’t develop any sun spots or premature fine lines and wrinkles.

Additional Tips

I would like to point out that you might not need all these products daily. For example, a mask might be a product you only apply twice a week, and a spot treatment just as needed.

Also, not every product can be lumped into one general category. For example, we suggest that our Acne Scar Reducing Serum be applied lastly in your skincare routine, which goes against the general rule. Why? Because it contains silicone which provides a barrier to your skin, so once it’s applied, other products do not absorb as well when layered on top. It’s important to read the directions of all the products you use to ensure that you’re following the most product-specific instructions. 😊