While it might seem complicated to figure out, layering skin care products in the right order is a lot easier than you might think, especially when you consider the different formulas in a routine. “As a general rule, the order in which you apply your skin care products should begin with the lightest to the richest consistency,” explains the Product Support Team.
Besides the consistency rule, consider the function of each product. Certain skin care products prep the skin for a routine, helping subsequent steps absorb better and balance out the skin for a glowing, healthy complexion. You’ll want to follow with potent ingredients — like those found in serums — to penetrate the skin so they have more time to absorb and go to work repairing cells. Finish with products that seal in all those actives — after all, applying barrier products too early in the routine makes it difficult for ingredients to penetrate the skin.
Morning Skin Care Routine Order: What to Use & When
Your morning skin care routine order should focus on protection and hydration to help your skin face the day ahead. Your skin faces stress from UV rays, pollution and environmental exposure throughout the day. Some steps, like toning or applying serum, are shared with nighttime routines — but the ingredients and textures you use may differ slightly to suit daytime needs.
Here’s the recommended order to incorporate into your daily routine:
1. Cleanser
Start with a gentle cleanser to remove sweat, oil and residue from your pillow. A fresh surface helps each product layer absorb more effectively.
2. Toner
One of the most commonly skipped steps, toner, should be featured in every skin care routine! Often packed full of antioxidants and hydration, a toner, hydrating mist or tonique follows cleansing and conditions the skin. Boldijarre Koronczay, president of Eminence Organic Skin Care, says it best: “Toners are essential to reveal fresh, revitalized looking skin all year long, set mineral makeup, balance the pH level of the skin after cleansing or to calm the skin after an invigorating workout.”
Moisten a cotton round with your favorite Eminence Organics toner and gently swipe it over the face and neck area.
3. Essence
Applying an essence is a must to add hydration and prepare the skin for the next steps in your routine. An essence enhances ingredient absorption — perfect when you want to get the biggest benefit out of your routine.
“As a rule of thumb, apply an essence after you cleanse and tone and before your serum. I recommend using it morning and night as part of your daily skin care routine, and you could even splash it on throughout the day to freshen up,“ recommends Natalie Pergar, Eminence Organics Lead Skin Care Trainer.
After toning, shake a few drops of essence into the palms of your hands, warm the product in your hands and gently press into your skin.
4. Serum, Facial Oil or Concentrate
Apply your serum, concentrate or facial oil next. Look for products that defend your skin against environmental stress such as those with antioxidant-rich ingredients like vitamin C for brightening and protection. Serums are often rich in antioxidants, so it makes sense that you want them to be absorbed fully. Also, if you need to target or address specific skin concerns (such as wrinkles), applying a concentrate or serum at this point of the routine is recommended for best results.
Apply your serum or concentrate into the palms of your hands and then pat gently into your face and neck.
You could also follow up with a facial oil to seal in those active ingredients and boost hydration before moving on in your skin care routine. Here’s an important tip from Boldijarre when using a facial oil: “Place three to four drops of the oil in your palm and gently rub hands together to warm the oil. Then, press the oil into the skin with an open palm.”
5. Moisturizer
Even if your skin is oily, a hydrating moisturizer is essential to lock in moisture and protect it against the barrage of conditions it experiences day and night! Moisturizers help support the natural skin barrier and will keep your complexion strong and healthy.
For best results, you can apply your favorite moisturizer after serums or facial oil while the skin is still damp. This helps lock in hydration and those nutrient-rich ingredients you just applied to the skin.
6. Eye Cream
This delicate area is often left behind in a skin care routine, but it’s the area of your face where signs of aging show up first! Apply a hydrating eye cream over your moisturizer and pat it gently into the area around the eye socket, targeting fine lines or crow’s feet, as well as the undereye area.
7. SPF (mandatory!)
For a daytime skin care routine, sunscreen should be the last step (don’t forget it!). Physical and mineral sunscreens block harmful UV rays from penetrating the skin and causing age-accelerating damage. For daytime use, it’s a good idea to find a moisturizer that contains sunscreen.
Why this order? Antioxidants like vitamin C fight free radicals and sunscreen is the final, crucial barrier against UV rays.
Nighttime Skin Care Routine Order: Restore & Repair
The nighttime skin care routine order is all about rejuvenation. At night, your skin goes into repair mode. Your nighttime skin care routine order should focus on deeper hydration and targeted treatments to support the skin’s natural renewal process while you sleep. Many of the same steps from your morning routine apply, but the ingredients may shift toward calming, restorative or anti-aging benefits.
Here’s a recommended PM routine:
1. Cleanser
In the evening, double cleanse if you’ve worn SPF or makeup. Start with an oil-based cleanser, then follow with a gentle gel or cream cleanser to remove impurities.
2. Toner
At night, toner does more than refresh the skin. It helps remove any lingering traces of makeup, pollutants, and cleanser residue that could block the absorption of your nighttime treatments. After a long day, your skin needs balance, and a toner restores your skin’s pH and preps it to fully receive the active ingredients that follow.
To use, moisten a cotton round with your favorite Eminence Organics toner and gently sweep it across your face and neck, focusing on any areas that feel congested or dull.
3. Essence
Overnight is when your skin does most of its repair work. Essence helps set the stage for that. After toning, apply essence to flood the skin with hydration and support product absorption. This lightweight yet powerful step boosts the performance of serums and creams applied later, making it a vital part of your evening ritual. In the evening, shake a few drops of essence into your hands, warm it gently and press it into your skin.
4. Serums, Facial Oils Or Concentrates
After prepping your skin with toner and essence, this is the ideal time to apply nutrient-dense serums or concentrates. In the evening, choose formulas that focus on repair and hydration such as hyaluronic acid, botanical peptides or rich plant oils. Nighttime is when your skin naturally regenerates, so products applied now have more time to penetrate and work their magic.
Serums are often rich in antioxidants, and if you need to target or address specific skin concerns (aka dryness, fine lines or uneven skin) applying a concentrate or serum at this point of the routine is recommended for best results. Choose serums that support cellular turnover, hydration or repair, like those with hyaluronic acid or peptides. If your skin needs extra care, a nourishing facial oil can be added here.
5. Night Cream (Evening)
If you’re not ending your day with a overnight face mask, a rich and hydrating cream is the perfect last step for a nighttime skin care routine. What’s the difference between a moisturizer and a night cream? These specially-formulated products are thicker and heavier than everyday moisturizer, allowing them to really go to work sealing in serums and protecting the skin during sleeping hours to prevent moisture loss. Skin works its hardest at night while we sleep, rejuvenating and repairing cells, which is why using a night cream packed with botanical oils and extracts is highly recommended.
Watch this video to find out more from Natalie about how to layer your skin care products in the right order:
Applying products in the right skin care order is important, but knowing when to apply them is just as essential. While many like to complete their skin care routine and head straight to bed, we recommend waiting about 20 to 30 minutes. A short period before bedtime allows the products to penetrate, so you don’t end up with more night cream on your sheets than your face!
Want to build a skin care routine or need help fitting the right skin care products into your routine? Get in touch with your favorite Eminence Organics Spa Partner to learn more about the different types of skin care products available.
