Nailing the best skincare routine order – and actually sticking to applying it – is crucial, whether you’re looking to reduce the look of dark circles, target fine lines and wrinkles or give your skin a dewy glow.
Everyone’s skin is different and, as such, we all need different things from our skincare. That said, a strong skincare routine will feature similar key steps, regardless of skin type. But with so much varying advice online, not to mention the thousands of new beauty products available to buy, it can be hard know which products are the non-negotiables and which are nice extras (and which ones are plain unnecessary).
That’s why we asked six leading experts to share the face care steps that *everyone* should have in their skincare routine – to build this guide to the need-to-knows. The following isn’t a strict manual, rather the basic building blocks that can help you build the right regime for your skin’s needs. If you’ve been wondering “what order should I do my skincare routine?” these are your answers…
What’s the main difference between a daytime and a nighttime skincare routine?
“The difference between a daytime and nighttime skincare routine lies in their purposes, the products used, and the focus of each regimen,” Dr Jinah says. She suggests that your daytime routine should focus on prevention and hydration to keep skin resilient throughout the day and that your nighttime routine should focus on repairing and rejuvenating the skin while it regenerates overnight.
How do I determine my skin type?
If your skin is extremely dry or excessively oily, it’s fairly easy to tell its “type” – but if it’s not so clear-cut for you, there are some things you can do to help establish your skin’s category. “In general, assessing your skin type involves observing certain patterns,” says consultant dermatologist Professor Firas Al-Niaimi. “For example, if your skin feels dry or tight after washing, it may be on the drier side. If your T-zone (the forehead and nose) appears a little shiny, you may have skin on the oilier side, especially if your skin requires frequent cleansing.
“Many people have a combination of both dry and oily skin,” Professor Al-Niaimi continues. “To help determine your skin type, ask yourself: Does your skin feel tight or dry after washing? Or does it feel congested and oily, needing frequent cleansing? These signs can help identify whether your skin leans more toward dry, oily or combination.” Noted!
What is toner and what does it do for skin?
Back in the day, the golden rules of skincare were “cleanse, tone, moisturise”. But these days, toner isn’t seen as so much of an essential. Hydrating toners may be beneficial for very dry skin types but, generally, it’s down to personal preference. The exception here is exfoliating toners (best used at nighttime as they can make the skin a little more sensitive to the sun, making your morning SPF all the more crucial a step), which are great. These can be used a few times per week; it’s generally best to alternate with your retinol if you use one so that you don’t overload your skin with potent actives.
What is the correct order to apply skincare products in winter and summer?
The order of your steps remains the same no matter the season. However, it is worth upping the nourishment of your skincare products in winter. “Your winter skincare routine should focus [more] on hydration, barrier repair and protection from harsh weather conditions,” Dr Jinah says.
She adds that it’s important to wear SPF year-round to help protect your skin from the sun’s UV rays – yes, even in winter. This is because UVA is present all year round, so wearing sunscreen daily helps to keep its ageing effects to a minimum.
Is it important to use eye cream?
Eye cream is a somewhat divisive subject, with some experts arguing that it’s most useful if it contains active ingredients. However, Dr Elizabeth’s answer to this question is a resounding yes. “The eye is a very delicate area – arguably the most delicate on the body. The eyelid skin is one of the first places to show the signs of ageing as it is so fragile,” she explains. The best eye creams can also help to brighten the eye area.
To get the best results out of your eye cream, you must pay special attention to how you apply it. “Eye cream should go near your eyes, but not onto your top eyelid. Nor should it be used directly below your bottom lashes,” Dr Elizabeth says. “It should be applied along the orbital bone, or eye socket, and not on the lids. Work from the inner corners of the eyes outwards with gentle patting motions.”
Meet the experts:
How to order your skincare in the morning:
1. Cleanser
Using the best cleanser you can creates a clean canvas for the steps that follow, ensuring the rest of your skincare routine works as well as possible.
“Cleansing is a must for an effective skincare routine,” insists Dr Mahto. “Whether you cleanse, double cleanse or triple cleanse, it not only removes microbes, pollution and make-up from the skin, but it allows for better penetration of skincare products that are applied afterwards,” she explains. In the morning, one cleanse to rinse away any dead skin cells or excess oil is sufficient.
“Your skin should be cleansed twice a day, but if you feel that more is needed on occasion then that is up to you.” That said, “we need to be sensible about cleansing as over-washing can lead to dryness, sensitivity and irritation,” Dr Mahto continues. So if you have sensitive or dry skin, it may be best to stick to using a more gentle and fragrance-free face wash twice a day at most.
2. Toner (optional)
The best toners are an optional morning step prep and balance the skin before you apply your serums and moisturisers before you head out for the day. In our hero toners guide, Cosmetic Aesthetics Doctor, Dr Ed Robinson told us that they “primarily work to restore the skin’s pH level, which can help maximise absorption of subsequent skincare products.”
And they come in countless variations – a gentle, milky rice toner might be your choice for everyday, while exfoliating BHA toners can act as a helping hand for keeping breakouts at bay. The latter? Best used in the evening – so more on that later. Here, you can find our top daytime toner recommendation that’s gentle, refreshing and safe for use before sun exposure.
Caudalie Vinoclean Moisturising Toner
3. Serums
The best facial serums is an incredibly broad category, with formulas targeting hydration, radiance, blemishes, hyperpigmentation, visible signs of ageing and more. During the day, antioxidants, like the best vitamin C serums, are ideal because they offer some environmental protection.
Hydrating ingredients are beneficial first thing, too, as dehydration can affect both dry and oily skin types. Plus, follow-up products will work more effectively on hydrated skin. Ingredients that are worth looking out include hyaluronic acid, glycerin, vitamin E and aloe vera.
4. Eye cream (optional)
Not everyone will choose to use an eye cream, but if you’re as dedicated to your basic skincare routine as you probably should be, it’s a step we recommend. The trick here is to find an eye cream which works well underneath makeup. That is, for obvious reasons, less of a requirement in the evening – but for our daytime picks, we’ve prioritised those that brighten and prime your under-eyes.
The Inkey List’s Caffeine Eye Cream is a God-send for tired eyes, formulated to visibly improve the appearance of under-eye puffiness and dark circles from the first use. Caffeine is, obviously, the hero ingredient here – a natural antioxidant derived from coffee which provides oxidative protection from environmental stressors. Elsewhere, added Matrixyl 3000™ Peptide works to reduce the appearance of fine lines and create plumper-looking skin, while Albizia Julibrissin Bark Extract helps reduce the signs of under-eye fatigue.
5. Moisturiser
Next, a good moisturiser layers over the top of any serums with a richer consistency, to help nourish the upper layers of your skin. “A simple moisturiser with ceramides and essential fatty acids forms a lightweight protective barrier on the skin to prevent moisture loss,” explains Dija.
While most people need and benefit from applying the best moisturiser during the day, if you have an oilier complexion and find that layering serums, moisturiser and sunscreen is too many steps – which is common in the summer – leaving your skin too greasy, your sunscreen may be enough moisture for during the day.
“I moisturise with Vichy Mineral 89, which has a serum-gel texture and is light on the skin, since my skin tends to be oily,” says Dr Anjali. “I’d use La Roche Posay’s Toleriane Ultra Fluid if my skin was feeling more combination or dry.” But if your skin is drier and can handle both moisturiser and sunscreen, carry on with it.
6. Sunscreen
A facial sunscreen should always be the final step of your morning routine when it comes to skin product order, as our experts confirm. “There are so many formulations now available on the market to suit all skin tones,” says Dija. “Using active skincare [such as exfoliating acids, retinol and vitamin C] can increase photosensitivity, so sunscreen defends against this as well as premature ageing of fine lines, wrinkles and the worsening of pigmentation – not to mention, protecting against the burning of the skin from UV rays.”
As well as limiting photo ageing, sunscreen also protects our skin from the UV-induced DNA damage that can lead to skin cancer, massively reducing the risk of it – so it’s super important to apply for health reasons, too. A broad spectrum formula will protect your skin from both UVA and UVB, with experts recommending factor 30 and above.
Outside of this guide, shop guides to the best sunscreen for sensitive skin, best mineral sunscreen, Korean sunscreen and sunscreens for oily skin.
How to order your skincare in the evening:
1. Cleanser
In the evening, double cleansing is a smart idea to ensure that make-up, if you wear it, sunscreen and general grime and pollution from the day are removed completely.
The first cleanse should be to remove your makeup and sunscreen, so opt for a gentle make-up remover that can be used in the eye area with a cotton pad, such as micellar water or, for heavier-duty make-up, a cleansing oil or cleansing balm.
Then, your second cleanse can be a more lightweight cream or gel cleanse. You may also opt for a cleanser with chemical exfoliants, because you won’t need to use it to remove eye make-up (plus it will be able to exfoliate pre-cleansed skin more effectively). As Dija advises, this could contain “an AHA like glycolic acid or lactic acid to assist the skin in sloughing dead skin cells and to brighten the complexion.” Either way, this second step will rid the skin of any residual grime and ensure it’s properly cleansed.
2. Toner (optional)
We spoke about toners earlier; now is your time to experiment with an exfoliating iteration, should you feel like your skin needs a little helping hand. An exfoliating toner combines the benefits of a traditional toner (prepping the skin for maximum absorption of the products that follow) with exfoliation through active ingredients.
Exfoliating toners help remove dead skin cells from the surface of the skin, serving a brighter complexion and something altogether smoother. Exfoliating toners can further be great for acne-prone skin types, as they can help to clear pores, clarify congested areas of the complexion and prevent breakouts from reoccurring. Combine with one of the best spot treatments for optimum results.
REN Clean Skincare Ready Steady Glow Daily AHA Tonic
3. Serums
Hydrating serums, like the best hyaluronic acid serums, can also be used in the evening.
In terms of evening-specific ingredients, if you have read about retinoids and want to incorporate one into your routine, either in serum or cream form, they are best used at night. “I highly recommend retinol, which should be used at night after cleansing,” says Dr Ewoma. It’s best introduced in your mid-to-late twenties and is “a gold standard ingredient that addresses a multitude of concerns in one go,” explains Dija. For instance, it can help to “rebuild collagen, fade hyperpigmentation, smooth the appearance of skin and balance oil.”
Bear in mind that retinoid creams and serums are potent, so should be introduced into your skincare routine gradually. But the payoff is worth your patience, with retinoids helping to rid blemishes and dark spots, boost your skin’s natural collagen production, promote cell turnover and address the visible signs of skin ageing. Apply your retinol serum first, wait 10–15 minutes, then layer any other serum(s) second.
4. Eye cream (optional)
Yes, you should really be using a dedicated eye cream – and no, your regular water-based moisturiser won’t cut it. The skin around your eyes is not only thinner than that across the rest of the face, but drier, too. Further to this, the skin there is easily stressed there because it contains a large number of lymphatic vessels, which carry waste products, germs and damaged cells away from the body’s tissues. With that in mind, your under-eye area requires a targeted treatment if you wish to reduce redness, puffiness, bags and fine lines.
What to look for in the best eye cream? This depends on whether you’re looking to target dark circles, puffiness, fine lines, or overall skin laxity and thinning skin. That said, a well-formulated product will be gentle while being effective, and it’ll contain active ingredients tailored to the delicate skin around the eyes. Here are some of our top recommendations.
5. Moisturiser
As your final step, apply a richer moisturiser or one of the best night creams. These layer over the top of any facial serums, ensuring your skin gets enough nourishment while you get your eight hours and supporting the skin’s repair mechanisms.
Here, the best face oils also act as a moisturising step, ideal for dry skin that needs even more nourishment. Applying one at night gives it more time to absorb – you could also mix a couple of drops into your dry skin moisturiser to supercharge it.
The recap: best skincare routine for beginners
- You can still build a good routine on a budget. “Make sure you don’t get sucked into believing that the cost of a product is by any means a marker of its effectiveness,” says Dr Anjali.
- Wash your face daily – once in the morning, twice in the evening to remove make-up, sunscreen and pollution.
- Layer your serums and moisturisers from thinnest consistency to thickest, excluding sunscreen, which is always the final morning step.
- Don’t skip sunscreen; apply it every day to ensure your skin is protected from damaging, ageing UV.
- Vitamin C is ideal for daytime use, retinoids and exfoliants in the evenings, and hydration any time.
- More is not more; you don’t need a seven-step skincare routine if you can keep it simple. Dr Anjali agrees: “There is definitely such a thing as too many active ingredients. Applying a large number of active ingredients onto the skin can trigger allergy, sensitivity or irritation. It is much better to identify one or two skincare concerns, then use multi-purpose ingredients to address these.”
- Consistency is key – you’ll get the best results by maintaining your routine and applying your morning and evening skincare products daily.
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