Apply skincare in this order: cleanser, then any serum, then moisturiser, and in the morning finish with sunscreen (AAD). Add the products on your shelf to Oleah and you have one list of what you already own, including two products doing the same job.
Skincare routine order is the sequence you put products on your face, from washing first to sunscreen last. The American Academy of Dermatology puts it plainly: "The sequence in which you apply your skin care products affects how well the products work." (AAD)
What is the basic skincare routine order?
The AAD lists four steps, in this order (AAD):
- Wash your face with a gentle cleanser and pat dry.
- Apply anything a doctor gave you right after cleansing.
- Apply moisturiser and/or sunscreen.
- Apply makeup, if you wear it.
Everything else you own fits into that frame. A serum sits in that second step. A moisturiser comes after it.
Does the order change in the morning and at night?
The frame stays the same. Morning ends with sunscreen. The AAD says to always put sunscreen on after other skin care products and beneath your makeup (AAD). Night ends with moisturiser, since there is no sunscreen to put on.
| Step | Morning | Night |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cleanser | Cleanser |
| 2 | Serum, if you use one | Serum, on the nights you use it |
| 3 | Moisturiser | Moisturiser |
| 4 | Sunscreen | |
| 5 | Makeup, if you wear it |
If you want the night side in more detail, read what goes into a night skincare routine.
How do you put the products you already own in order?
- Take everything out. Line up what is on your shelf and in your bag.
- Sort by job. Cleansers, serums, moisturisers, sunscreen. Anything you cannot place goes to one side for now.
- Add them to Oleah. Add the products on your shelf to Oleah and you have one list of what you already own, including two products doing the same job. If two products do the same job, keep one in the routine and pause the other.
- Write your two lists. One for the morning, one for the night, using the order above.
- Run that order for a while before changing anything. Use the same products in the same order so you know what your skin is reacting to.
- Change one product at a time. The AAD warns that "Using too many products may irritate the skin, especially if you are using more than one anti-aging product." (AAD)
Where do new products go in your routine order?
Find the job the new product does and slot it into that step. A serum goes after cleanser and before moisturiser. If you own two serums, such as niacinamide and vitamin C, read can I use niacinamide and vitamin C together? A sunscreen goes last in the morning. Before it goes on your face, the AAD suggests testing it on a quarter-sized spot, such as the underside of your arm, twice a day for seven to 10 days (AAD).
Add it on its own. If you start two new things in the same week and your skin reacts, you will not know which one it was.
Do you need every step?
No. Cleanser, moisturiser and, in the morning, sunscreen make a complete routine. If you are still building that base, start with a simple skincare routine made from what you already own.
When should you stop and get help?
If a product stings, burns or makes your skin red, wash it off and stop using it. If a doctor prescribed it, ask them first. If your skin stays sore, see a pharmacist or doctor. If it blisters or swells, see a doctor today. If your lips, tongue or throat swell, or you have trouble breathing, call emergency services now. Oleah is not a doctor and does not give medical advice.
Where Oleah fits
Add the products on your shelf to Oleah and you have one list of what you already own, including two products doing the same job.
Oleah is an iPhone app for the skincare you already own. You add the products on your shelf or in your routine, take quick face scans that take about 30 seconds to follow visible changes over time, and ask questions along the way. Oleah can flag products on your shelf that may not belong together. There is a check-in on day 3, a first report on day 7 and the next report on day 14. Oleah is not a doctor and does not give medical advice, and it does not sell skincare.
Download the free iPhone beta. Add the products on your shelf, then take a quick face scan.
Questions people ask
What order should you apply skincare? Cleanser, then any serum, then moisturiser, and in the morning, sunscreen last.
Does sunscreen go before or after moisturiser? After. The AAD says to put sunscreen on after other skin care products and beneath your makeup.
Where does serum go in a skincare routine? After cleansing and before moisturiser.
Is the night routine order different from the morning? The order is the same, but the night routine ends with moisturiser because there is no sunscreen step.
How many new products should I add at once? One. Add it on its own so you know which product your skin is reacting to.
Sources
- AAD: Should I apply my skin care products in a certain order?
- AAD: Dermatologist-recommended skin care for your 20s
- AAD: How to test skin care products
Oleah tracks how your skin looks. It is not a medical device. See a doctor about skin conditions.
