The Correct Order to Apply Your Skincare Routine in 2023

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It’s 2022 and skincare is everywhere, yet the one question I still get asked is about the correct order of skincare routines. And it makes sense: With the influx of ex–high school friends turned Facebook “skincare consultants,” the rise of trendy celebrity beauty products, and the overwhelming drugstore skincare selection, everyone is now stuck googling the difference between a toner and a serum, whether or not face oil goes before moisturizer (spoiler: n-o-p-e), which products actually get rid of hormonal acne, and how to get good skin with as little effort as humanly possible.

So that’s where I come in, along with a few dermatologists: Shereene Idriss, MD, and Mona Gohara, MD. Below, we broke down the correct skincare routine order plus the steps you can skip (!) and the best products for your exact skin type, from oily to sensitive to dry to acne-prone. But before we get started, let’s talk about why the order of your skincare matters plus the simplest, easiest, laziest routine to try first.

How to Layer Your Skincare in the Right Order

“The rule of thumb when applying skincare is to apply the lightest first and the heaviest last, since thinner products can’t penetrate thicker products,” says Dr. Idriss. So, for example, if you were to incorrectly layer a serum over your moisturizer, that serum would be rendered almost ineffective. Similarly, if you were to layer your moisturizer over a face oil, that moisturizer would be blocked from properly hydrating your skin, leading to skin barrier irritation and dryness over time.

The Correct Skincare Routine Order

Need a preview of what a full skincare routine should look like in the proper order? Here’s a little guide to screenshot. But before you freak out at seeing a 10-step routine, don’t worry: You really only need three products for a great, simple routine (more on that below).

Pin it, save it, screenshot it, memorize it, whatever. Just get it into your brain, and then read our breakdown and product recommendations, below.
John Francis

What’s the Simplest Skincare Routine for Beginners?

PSA: You do not need a 10-step skincare routine (or even a 5-step routine). Virtually all faces and skin types do far better—see: less irritation, allergic reactions, and breakouts—with fewer products, so if you’re just starting out, keep it simple:

Cleanser: a gentle, sulfate-free face wash free

Moisturizer: a simple fragrance-free formula that can be used twice a day

Sunscreen: a mineral- or chemical-based sunscreen with at least SPF 30

That’s it. Three products. Seriously. It’s not glamorous, but good skin doesn’t need to be (just ask your dermatologist or anyone on the Cosmo beauty team—simple is always better).

Of course, if you’re looking to add more products to your routine, you certainly can. Got dry skin? You can always incorporate a face oil or a hydrating serum. Dealing with breakouts? Try using a retinoid or an acne toner. As long as you go slow and keep it simple, you’ll be golden.

Now for the goodies….

Skincare Routine Order

Step 1: Cleanser

⏰: Morning and Night

Please, for the love of the beauty gods, remove your makeup and wash your face before slathering on your products. “For ingredients to absorb properly, you need clean skin that’s totally free of oil and grime,” says Dr. Gohara.

↠ SHEET MASKS
Not sure where sheet masks come in? Step one, right here. Use masks on clean skin, then pat on the excess serum left behind or lightly rinse your skin with water before moving on to your toner, serum, or moisturizer.

Which means if you want to do things right—and, like, why you here if not tho?—skip the makeup wipes (they leave behind a layer of gunky residue that can break you out and irritate your face) and opt for a cleansing oil, which dissolves all makeup without stripping your skin. Then follow up with a gentle, creamy cleanser (especially if you have acne-prone skin). And don’t complain about this being a two-step process—it’s one of the only required steps in this entire routine. I’m not even a little sorry. Nope. NOPE!

How to Choose the Best Cleanser for Your Skin Type

Dry skin: The best type of face wash for dry skin should be creamy, non-foaming face washes with barrier-boosting ingredients like ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and glycerin.

Oily skin: Avoid too-stripping formulas (like charcoal-, sulfate-, and clay-based cleansers) and look instead for gel-based face washes or gentle foaming cleansers for oily skin.

Acne-prone skin: As with oily skin, acne-prone skin should avoid harsh cleansers and look instead for gentle, creamy cleansers—yes, really—to minimize inflammation (dry, irritated skin = more acne breakouts).

Sensitive skin: Try a gentle, creamy face wash filled with soothing colloidal oatmeal, aloe vera, and niacinamide.

Cleansing Oil

Sulwhasoo Gentle Cleansing Oil Makeup Remover

Cleansing Oil

Klairs Gentle Black Deep Cleansing Oil

Now 13% Off

Face Wash

Eczema Honey Honey and Oatmeal Facial Cleanser

Face Wash

Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Hydrating Cleanser

Step 2: Toner

⏰: Morning and/or Night

Face toners used to be terrible, alcohol-based liquids that irritated the hell out of your face. But today’s (good) toners are filled with either gentle, hydrating ingredients to coddle dry and sensitive skin or with chemical exfoliants to treat acne, oil, and bumps. “Toners are not meant to be something that sits around on your skin and feels heavy,” says Dr. Gohara. “They’re essentially just priming your face for ingredients to be better absorbed later on.”

↠ ESSENCES
Not sure where essences come in? Toners and essences are pretty interchangeable in their consistencies, so if you’re looking for when to use your essence in your skincare routine, use it as step 2 (instead of a toner).

Reminder: Toner (like most of the steps on this list) is totally optional. And if yours smells like nail polish remover or pure alcohol? Ditch it. Fast. Since there are a million different toners on the market, here’s what to look for in the right formula:

How to Choose the Best Toner for Your Skin Type

Acne-prone/oily skin: The best toner for both oily skin and acne-prone skin will be one filled with either BHA (beta hydroxy acid, like salicylic acid) or AHA (alpha hydroxy acid, like glycolic acid or lactic acid), which work to unclog pores, prevent breakouts, and dissolve blackheads over time.

How to apply ↠ Tap your acid-based toner over clean, dry skin every other night (or every other morning, if you plan to use a retinol at night), then wait until it dries before applying anything else, or you’ll accidentally neutralize the acids before the toner works its magic.

Dry skin/sensitive skin: Both dry skin and sensitive skin types do best with hydrating toners (although all skin types, even acne-prone, can benefit) because they help replenish the water your skin barrier lost when you washed and dried your face.

How to apply ↠ After cleansing, tap your hydrating toner over your clean, dry skin every morning, every night, or both: “There’s no such thing as too much moisture, regardless of your skin type,” says Dr. Gohara.

Acne (Oily Skin)

First Aid Beauty Oil-Minimizing Toner With Salicylic Acid

Acne (Oily Skin)

Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid

Hydrating

CosRx Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence

Hydrating

Banila Co Dear Hydration Intense Essence

Now 30% Off

Step 3: Serum

⏰: Morning and/or Night

Ah, serums—the product you probs keep buying, never really using, and getting panicked that you’re neglecting out of confusion. But I gotchu. “Serums are essentially just shots of extremely concentrated nutrients, hydrators, and antioxidants that really amp up your skin health as soon as you apply them,” says Dr. Gohara. “People often skip out on using them, but they’re honestly the heavy lifters of your skincare routine.” Basically, think of toners like a sip of beer and serums like a straight shot of tequila.

Although, once again, serums are totally optional, they’re often a good first step in leveling up your skincare routine and boosting your skin health.

In the Morning…

For almost all skin types, Dr. Gohara (and every other derm in existence) swears by using vitamin C serum every morning, which protects your skin from the inflammation and damage caused by environmental damage during the day while also brightening dark spots and uneven tones over time. Vitamin C serum is the MVP for dry, oily, and acne-prone skin, but it’s also a little strong. So if your skin is sensitive, use it every other morning (or every two mornings) instead.

At Night…

All skin types can benefit from using a serum filled with hyaluronic acid, which pulls water from the air into your skin to keep it hydrated while you sleep. “If you’re using acne treatments or anti-aging products, which can be drying and irritating, you want to prep your skin with as much moisture as possible first,” says Dr. Idriss. Basically, a hydrating serum is a 10/10 idea if you’re also using retinol.

A.M.

Buttah Skin Vitamin C Serum

A.M.

Epi.Logic Daily Dose Vitamin C Serum

P.M.

The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA

P.M.

Rose Ingleton MD Calming Hydration Booster Serum

Step 4: Eye Cream

⏰: Morning and/or Night

Eye creams tend to be lighter and thinner than face moisturizers, so make sure to apply them before you slather on your creams and oils (remember: light products go first and heaviest products go last).

An important note: Even though eye creams seem like the be-all and end-all of skincare (and anti-aging), they’re honestly not necessary for most people. “As long as you’re using moisturizer and sunscreen, your eye area is already getting the TLC it needs,” says Dr. Gohara. But if you wanna try one out, here’s how to choose:

In the Morning…

Regardless of your skin type, look for an eye cream that has a rollerball applicator (“the cold steel ball helps a bit with fluid retention—aka under-eye bags—especially if you keep the cream in the fridge between uses,” says Dr. Gohara) and/or a formula filled with caffeine, which helps temporarily constrict and tighten puffy under-eyes within 20 minutes.

At Night…

Also regardless of your skin type: “Most people think their night eye cream has to contain some sort of retinol to help with fine lines, but in reality, your eye area is delicate and at risk for rashes and irritation, so you want to be gentle,” says Dr. Gohara. “Instead, tap on a simple, hydrating eye cream that’ll protect your under-eyes and repair your skin barrier overnight.”

Yes, you can—and should!—use a retinol around your eyes, but “it’s better to apply retinoids to your whole face rather than to just spot-treat parts of it,” she says. (Don’t worry, retinol options will come later on.)

A.M.

Olay Eyes Depuffing Eye Roller

A.M.

BeautyStat Universal C Eye Perfector

Now 71% Off

P.M.

Cetaphil Deep Hydration Refreshing Eye Serum

Now 36% Off

P.M.

RoC Multi Correxion Hydrate + Plump Eye Cream

Step 5: Spot Treatment

⏰: Morning or Night (Preferred)

Ideally, spot treatments are best applied at night (whether they’re for zits, scars, or dark spots), because that’s when your body is working hardest to repair itself. But if you’ve already used an acid-based or acne-fighting toner and/or you’re planning to layer on a retinol, try spot-treating in the morning instead, so you don’t irritate your skin with too much at once.

Regardless of when you apply your spot treatment, make sure to tap it on before your moisturizer so it can really penetrate your skin and do its thang without having another barrier to penetrate (before?! What?! Yes, just trust the process and keep reading).

For Dark Spots and Acne Scars…

Dr. Idriss recommends using a spot treatment with either hydroquinone (a skin-bleaching ingredient that works fast but can be irritating on anyone with even slightly sensitive skin) or niacinamide (aka vitamin B3), which gently brightens marks and scars over time. Niacinamide can be used daily—most formulas won’t cause irritation—but hydroquinone should be used every three days until you know how your skin responds to it. No irritation after a week? Move it up to every other day.

For Pimples and Breakouts…

For acne, Dr. Gohara stands by tried-and-true benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid—but not together, unless you want to irritate your skin. Benzoyl peroxide kills acne-causing bacteria (use it for classic whiteheads), while salicylic acid dissolves oil and skin cells (use it for little clogged pores and inflamed bumps).

How to apply ↠ Regardless of which you choose, the application is the same: Dab a thin layer (seriously—more isn’t merrier here) over your spot or zit and wait at least a full minute for it to dry. Then, to prevent the treatment from getting wiped around your face, apply your moisturizer around the spots first. When your face is fully moisturized, tap a layer of moisturizer directly over the spot treatment to seal it in without sliding it around.

Dark Spots (Hydroquinone)

Urban Skin Rx Even Tone Night Treatment

Dark Spots (Niacinamide)

Topicals Faded Serum for Dark Spots and Discoloration

Pimples (Benzoyl Peroxide)

Neutrogena Stubborn Acne A.M. Treatment

Pimples (Salicylic Acid)

Peter Thomas Roth AHA/BHA Acne Clearing Gel

Step 6: Moisturizer

⏰: Morning and Night

You need to be using a moisturizer. Always. Twice a day. No matter what. I don’t care if your skin is hella oily or easily broken out or sad or scared (there’s a formula for you, promise!), because it’s the only thing that’ll keep your skin barrier—aka the very temperamental thing responsible for making your face look good—healthy and happy.

“A moisturizer not only infuses your skin with hydration, but it also helps trap in all the products underneath it to make the ingredients even more effective,” says Dr. Idriss. You can use the same moisturizer morning and night, but if you plan to skip sunscreen (shame), your a.m. formula needs to have at least SPF 30. And remember to let it sink in for 5 to 10 minutes before applying makeup (if this is the end of your morning skincare routine and makeup is your next step).

How to Choose the Best Moisturizer for Your Skin Type

Oily skin: Oily skin should look for lightweight moisturizers in either a cream or gel-based formula to keep skin hydrated without feeling greasy.

Dry skin: The best dry-skin moisturizers “should be filled with all the things your body naturally produces and can use more of, like hyaluronic acid, lipids, and proteins,” says Dr. Gohara. Cream-based formulas will be your BFF, morning and night.

Acne-prone skin: The right moisturizer for acne-prone skin will depend on whether or not your skin is dry (in which case, look for lightweight lotions) or oily (opt for gel-based formulas for morning, or cream formulas with salicylic acid at night).

For acne-prone skin

Community Sixty-Six Oil Control Moisturizer with Niacinamide

For oily skin

Glow Recipe Plum Plump Hyaluronic Acid Moisturizer
Credit: Courtesy Image

For dry skin

Skinfix Barrier+ Triple Lipid-Peptide Face Cream
Credit: Courtesy Image

For sensitive skin

Burt’s Bees Sensitive Solutions Calming Day Lotion

Now 31% Off

“Wait, What About Anti-Aging Creams?”

You can also tiptoe into the retinol game by using an anti-aging night cream in the p.m., which has a “watered-down” dose of retinoids that tends to be gentler, especially on sensitive skin. That being said, it’s often easier to use your regular moisturizer and just add a retinol on top (see: the next step).

Step 7: Retinol

⏰: Night

“Retinoids—the general term for all vitamin A derivatives, including retinol—sink into your skin to speed up cell turnover, causing your body to churn out fresher, smoother, less wrinkled skin over time,” says Dr. Gohara. Good things take time, though, so remember that retinoids take four to six months of consistent use to give you results.

But just because it might take half a year to see your wrinkles smooth out doesn’t mean you won’t see more immediate results in other ways. “Retinoids trigger collagen production and cellular exfoliation,” adds Dr. Gohara, “which means they’ll also fade dark spots, smooth scars, clear pores, prevent breakouts, and brighten skin.” Basically, retinoids are the closest thing to magic that dermatologists have.

How to Use Them…

If you’re new to retinoids, make sure to start slow to mitigate the initial adjustment period of flakes and sensitivity. “Apply a pea-size drop to your entire face one night a week for one week, then two nights a week for two weeks, then three nights a week for three weeks, and then every other night indefinitely,” says Dr. Gohara.

Skip This Step if…

You’re already using (or planning to use) a night cream with retinoids, because doubling up won’t make the anti-aging results more effective—it’ll just cause inflammation. And if you do have extra-sensitive skin, apply a layer of moisturizer both 10 minutes before and after applying your retinol to reduce irritation without totally diluting the treatment. Essentially, sandwich your face in moisture.

For Sensitive Skin

BareMinerals Ageless 10 PhytoRetinol Night Concentrate

For Dry Skin

No7 Pure Retinol Night Repair Cream

For “Normal” Skin

Shani Darden Retinol Reform

For Acne-Prone Skin

Differin Adapalene Gel 0.1%

Step 8: Oil

⏰: Morning and/or Night

“Face oils are occlusive, meaning they seal in all the ingredients and moisture you just applied to your face to keep them from evaporating as quickly,” says Dr. Idriss. On their own, oils actually don’t moisturize your skin that well, but when you layer them over products, they help increase your routine’s efficacy while also leaving skin soft and smooth. Just make sure to always, always apply your oils last. Yes, you read that correctly: last.

“Oils can easily penetrate moisturizers, serums, and treatments, but no products can penetrate an oil, which means they need to be applied last,” says Dr. Gohara. And don’t think that oils are just for dry skin—certain oils, like rose-hip and jojoba, can decrease excess oil in acne-prone skin, while marula and aloe oils can soothe sensitive, easily irritated skin.

Good Molecules Pure Cold-Pressed Rosehip Seed Oil

Beauty Bakerie Wake & Bake Face Oil

Kreyòl Essence Haitian Moringa Oil

African Botanics Pure Marula Oil

Step 9: Sunscreen

⏰: Morning

Okay, yes, I know I said oils go last, but technically, sunscreen is the absolute last step. Why? “Oils are still working to penetrate and treat your skin, which is why they would go last in your skincare routine, but sunscreen isn’t trying to penetrate anything—it’s just there to protect your face and act as armor against the outside world,” says Dr. Gohara. “Basically, it’s not adding anything to your skin—it’s protecting your skin.”

But before you tell yourself that the SPF 15 in your foundation or moisturizer is good enough, know this: “The absolute bare minimum SPF you need on your face is SPF 30,” says Dr. Gohara. Unless, you know, you’re cool with premature aging, worsened acne scars, and an increased cancer risk.

Sensitive-Skin Formula

Cleure Zinc Oxide Natural SPF 30 Sunscreen

Totally Clear Formula

EleVen Unrivaled Sun Serum SPF 35

Now 24% Off

Oil-Free Formula

Tula Mineral Magic Oil-Free Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30

Moisturizing Formula

Black Girl Sunscreen Moisturizing Sunscreen Lotion SPF 30

Step 10: Celebrate

⏰: NOW

Because you finally learned virtually everything (ish) in the world about skincare. You may now refer to yourself as a mini dermatologist (but, like, maybe not in front of any actual doctors, k?). Now, please, go deck out your face and bask in the glory of knowledge.

Meet the Experts:

Why trust Cosmopolitan?

Chloe Metzger is the deputy beauty director at Cosmopolitan with nearly 10 years of experience researching, writing, and editing skincare stories that range from cystic acne treatments to skincare routines. She’s an authority in all skincare categories but an expert when it comes to the correct order of your skincare routine, thanks to her own lifetime of figuring out the right steps on her own sensitive skin. She regularly tests and analyzes products for efficacy while working with the industry’s top dermatologists and cosmetic chemists to assess new formulas and brands.

Deputy Beauty Director

Chloe Metzger is the deputy beauty director at Cosmopolitan, overseeing the editorial content and growth strategy of the hair, makeup, and skin space on digital, while also obsessively writing about the best hair products for every hair type (curly girl here; whattup), and the skincare routines that really, truly work (follow her on Instagram to see behind-the-scenes pics of that magazine life). She brings nearly a decade of writing and editing expertise, and her work has appeared in Allure, Health, Fitness, Marie Claire, StyleCaster, and Parents. She also has an unhealthy adoration for Tom Hanks and would like to please meet him one day, if you could arrange that. Thanks.