How to Layer Skincare Products Correctly

Apply products from thinnest to thickest consistency, always starting with cleanser and ending with SPF during the day or face oil at night.

Most people use too many products and apply them wrong—master the basics before adding anything fancy to your routine.

1. Start with the thinnest consistency. Cleanser first, then toner or essence if you use them. Your skin needs to be clean before anything else can work properly. Water-based products always go before oil-based ones.
2. Apply serums by molecular weight. Vitamin C and niacinamide serums go on before heavier treatments like retinol or peptides. Think of it like building layers of paint—each one needs to dry before the next goes on.
3. Lock everything in with moisturizer. Your moisturizer creates a barrier that keeps all the active ingredients where they belong. Don't skip this step even if your skin feels hydrated from serums.
4. Finish with SPF in the morning. Sunscreen always goes last during the day because it needs to form an even film on your skin. At night, face oil can be your final step if you use one.