12 What Order To Apply Skincare Worth Trying

I stood in the skincare aisle at Target last Tuesday, clutching four different sticky bottles while a teenager side-eyed me. I literally had a glob of thick white cream sliding down my wrist because I was trying to figure out what order to apply skincare right there in the store. My face was a greasy, pilling mess. If you don’t know exactly what order to apply skincare, you’ll waste your expensive products. They just sit on top of your face looking like a glazed donut gone wrong. I spent years doing this backward. I’d slather on a thick oil and then try to push a watery serum through it. Spoiler alert. It doesn’t work. Let’s fix your routine so you aren’t literally flushing your money down the sink. I remember staring at a $169 bottle of serum, totally paralyzed because I didn’t want to mess it up. I’m going to walk you through exactly how I layer my products now. No fluff. Just the exact steps that actually absorb into your skin.

Always Start With Clean Hands And A Double Cleanse

I used to just splash water on my face and call it a day. Huge mistake. You can’t put good products over a layer of city grime and leftover SPF. Before you even touch your face, wash your hands. I learned that the hard way after a nasty breakout on my chin last year. I realized I was rubbing steering wheel bacteria straight into my pores. For the evening, a double cleanse is non-negotiable. I start with the DHC Deep Cleansing Oil. It costs exactly $29 for a 6.7 oz bottle at Target. I pump exactly two squirts into my dry palms. It smells slightly like olive oil and feels incredibly slippery. I massage it into my dry skin for a full 60 seconds to melt my waterproof mascara. It feels weird at first, like rubbing salad dressing on your face. But it works. Then I rinse it off with lukewarm water. Next, I follow up with a water-based cleanser. I’m currently using the Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser. You can grab a massive 16 oz pump bottle for about $12.99 at Walmart. I use one full pump. It has this milky, non-foaming texture that doesn’t strip my skin. If your skin feels tight and squeaky after washing, you’re doing it wrong. Skip the fat-free stuff. It tastes like wet cardboard, and the skincare equivalent is harsh, stripping cleansers. Your face should feel soft and plump. It literally feels like a mini spa treatment right in your own bathroom. You won’t regret taking the extra sixty seconds.

Apply Toners Or Essences To Prep And Balance

Think of your skin like a dry kitchen sponge. If you put a thick drop of dish soap on a bone-dry sponge, it just sits there. But if you dampen it first, it absorbs everything instantly. That’s exactly why toners and essences exist. A few months ago, I was wandering through Sprouts and saw a display of harsh, alcohol-based astringents. Don’t buy those. They smell like pure rubbing alcohol and will burn your moisture barrier off. Instead, you need a hydrating essence. I’m obsessed with the COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence. It runs about $25 for a 3.38 oz bottle. Yes, it’s actual snail mucin. It has a stringy, gooey texture that looks exactly like clear slime. I dispense two pumps into my palms. I don’t rub it. I gently pat it onto my damp skin. It feels incredibly cooling and slightly sticky for about thirty seconds before it fully sinks in. I tried applying this to dry skin once. It felt tight and weird. You have to apply it while your face is still slightly damp from cleansing. This step rebalances your skin’s pH so it’s ready for the heavy hitters. If you skip this, your expensive serums won’t absorb properly. I’ve noticed a massive difference in my skin’s hydration levels since I stopped skipping this step. It plumps up those fine lines around my mouth instantly. It’s a mandatory part of my morning and night routine now.

Layer Serums From Thinnest To Thickest When Figuring Out What Order To Apply Skincare

When people ask me what order to apply skincare, serums are usually where they get totally lost. The golden rule is simple. Thinnest to thickest. Watery stuff goes first. Goopy stuff goes second. If you put a thick serum on first, the thin ones can’t penetrate. In the morning, you need an antioxidant boost. I splurge on the SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic. It’s painfully expensive at $169 for a tiny 1 oz dropper bottle. I buy it directly from their site. It smells exactly like hot dog water. I’m not kidding. The scent is awful. But it works. I drop exactly 3 drops onto my fingertips and press it into my face. It’s completely liquid, like water. For the evening, peptides are where it’s at. I use The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum. It costs $30 for a 1 oz bottle at Target. It has a gorgeous bright blue color and a slightly thicker, slippery texture. I use 3 drops of this at night to help with collagen production. I used to mix my vitamin C and my peptides together in my palm to save time. Massive mistake. They canceled each other out and my skin got super red and angry. Keep them separated. Morning for vitamin C. Night for peptides. Your face will thank you. I literally set a timer on my phone to make sure I don’t rush it. You might also like: 15 Lovely Tips Korean Skincare That Changed Everything

Target The Delicate Eye Area With Precision

Eye cream is a highly debated topic. Some people say it’s just overpriced moisturizer. I strongly disagree. The skin around your eyes is paper-thin and needs specific care. I used to slather my regular thick face cream right up to my lower lash line. I’d wake up with puffy, swollen eyes that looked like I’d been crying for days. The heavy creams were just too much for that delicate area. Now, I use the Kiehl’s Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado. It’s $38 for a little 0.5 oz jar. I picked my last one up while doing a massive grocery haul at Kroger. They have a surprisingly good prestige beauty section now. It has a weird, thick, green texture that literally feels like mashed avocado. Here’s the trick. You only need a piece the size of a grain of rice for both eyes. I dip my ring finger into the jar. Your ring finger applies the least amount of pressure. I gently tap it along my orbital bone. That’s the hard bone right under your eye socket. Don’t put it on your eyelids or right under your bottom lashes. The product naturally travels upward as it warms up on your skin. If you apply it too close to the eye, it seeps in and causes blurry vision and stinging. I wait a full two minutes for it to absorb before moving on. I’ve repurchased it three times now. You might also like: 20 Gorgeous Acne Skincare Routine for Any Style

Address Blemishes With Spot Treatments Before Creams

Spot treatments are tricky. If you put them on at the wrong time, they either don’t work at all or they bleach your pillowcases. I used to put my acne cream on at the very end of my routine, right over my heavy moisturizer. It literally did nothing. The thick cream blocked the active ingredients from reaching my pores. Spot treatments need direct contact with your skin. I apply mine right after my serums have dried down, but before my moisturizer. Right now, I’m using the Paula’s Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster. It’s $39 for a 1 oz tube. It has a lightweight, creamy lotion texture that smells slightly chalky. I squeeze a tiny, pea-sized amount onto my index finger and dab it directly onto any angry red spots. I usually get hormonal breakouts along my jawline. I let it sit for about sixty seconds until it feels completely dry to the touch. If you rub your moisturizer on immediately after, you’ll just smear the spot treatment all over your face. That defeats the whole purpose. You want the active ingredients concentrated exactly where the pimple is. Be warned though. If you use too much, it will pill up into gross little white balls when you apply your moisturizer. A tiny dab is all you need. It saves my skin every single month. You might also like: 15 Gorgeous Aesthetic Anti Aging Skincare You Haven’t Thought Of

Seal In Hydration With The Right Moisturizer

This is the step that locks everything in. If you don’t use a moisturizer, all those expensive serums you just applied will literally evaporate into the dry air. It’s called transepidermal water loss. I buy the massive 16 oz tub of CeraVe Moisturizing Cream at Costco for about $17.99. It’s a thick, white, fragrance-free cream that feels like a protective blanket on my skin. I scoop out a nickel-sized amount. I apply it while my face is still very slightly damp from my serums. It spreads so much easier this way. If I wait until my face is bone dry, I end up tugging at my skin. For my friends with oily skin, thick creams feel disgusting. They feel like a greasy mask. If that’s you, you need a gel-cream. The Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream is fantastic. It’s $38 for a 1.7 oz jar. It has a bouncy, watery texture that feels freezing cold when you put it on. It absorbs instantly and leaves zero shine. I used to skip moisturizer entirely during the summer because I hated sweating it off. Big mistake. My skin overcompensated by producing ten times more oil. I looked like a slicked-back oil slick by noon. You always need moisturizer. You just have to find the right texture for your skin type. It creates a smooth canvas for your makeup, too.

Finish Your Evening Routine With Face Oil

Face oils confuse a lot of people. I used to put my face oil on before my moisturizer. My moisturizer would just slide right off my face and pill into a gross, sticky mess. Oils are occlusives. That means they create a barrier that nothing else can penetrate. Therefore, oil must always go last in your evening routine. It acts like a lid on a pot, keeping all the moisture trapped inside. I’m currently obsessed with the Sunday Riley Luna Sleeping Night Oil. It’s $55 for a tiny 0.5 oz bottle. It’s bright blue. Like, Smurf blue. It smells very earthy and herbal, almost like black licorice. I dispense exactly three drops into the palm of my hand. I rub my hands together to warm the oil up. Then, I firmly press my hands into my cheeks, forehead, and chin. I don’t rub it. Rubbing just moves the moisturizer underneath around. Pressing pushes the oil into the skin. I wake up with the softest, plumpest skin ever. However, if you have super acne-prone skin, you might want to skip this step. I tried using a heavy coconut oil once because a blog told me to. I woke up with three massive, painful cysts on my chin. Stick to lighter oils like squalane or rosehip if you’re prone to breakouts. It’s the ultimate luxury step in my routine.

Sunscreen Is Non-Negotiable And Always Last In AM

If you’re only going to do one skincare step, it has to be sunscreen. Period. I don’t care if it’s raining or if you’re sitting inside all day. UV rays come through windows. Sunscreen is the absolute final step in your morning routine. It goes on after moisturizer and before makeup. I used to try mixing my SPF into my foundation to save time. Don’t do this. It dilutes the protection and leaves you vulnerable to sun damage. I learned this while baking on a beach in Florida. I got a horrible, blistering sunburn right through my tinted foundation. Now, I strictly use a dedicated sunscreen. The EltaMD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46 is my holy grail. It’s $43 for a 1.7 oz pump bottle. You can sometimes find it at Walmart online. It has a lightweight, creamy lotion texture that smells faintly of zinc, but it doesn’t leave a white cast. I use a generous quarter-sized amount. I pump it onto my index and middle fingers. Two full finger lengths. I apply it all over my face and wait a full five minutes before touching my makeup. If you apply foundation too soon, the sunscreen pills up into annoying little flakes. Let it set. It’s the best anti-aging product you can buy.

Introduce Retinoids Slowly And Strategically At Night

Retinoids are the heavy lifters of skincare. They speed up cell turnover and build collagen. But they are also incredibly irritating if you use them wrong. I bought a tube of Differin Adapalene Gel 0.1% at Target for $14.99. It’s a 0.5 oz tube. The first time I used it, I slathered a huge glob all over my wet face every single night. Three days later, my face was peeling off in sheets. It burned to even smile. My skin was bright red and felt like sandpaper. Total disaster. You have to introduce retinoids slowly. I’m talking twice a week, maximum. You only need a pea-sized amount for your entire face. It has a cloudy, gel-like texture that absorbs instantly. The most important rule is that your face must be completely, 100% dry before you apply it. Water increases the penetration of the retinoid, which leads to massive irritation. I literally wait twenty minutes after washing my face before I apply my Differin. I put it on my dry skin, wait another five minutes, and then apply my moisturizer. It takes patience. But if you rush it, your moisture barrier will completely collapse. It’s a marathon, not a sprint.

Consider The Retinoid Sandwich When Deciding What Order To Apply Skincare

If you’re still struggling with peeling and redness from your retinol, you need to try the sandwich method. Figuring out what order to apply skincare when you have sensitive skin is a nightmare. This technique changed everything for me. Instead of putting the harsh active ingredient directly onto bare skin, you buffer it. First, you apply a thin layer of a basic moisturizer. I swear by the La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Balm B5. It’s $18.99 for a 1.35 oz tube. It has a thick, white, paste-like texture that feels incredibly soothing. I apply a very thin layer of this over my clean, dry face. I wait five minutes for it to sink in. Then, I apply my pea-sized amount of retinoid over the top of the moisturizer. I wait another five minutes. Finally, I apply a second, thicker layer of the Cicaplast Balm on top. Moisturizer, retinoid, moisturizer. A sandwich. This slows down the absorption of the retinoid just enough to stop the burning and peeling, but it still works. I used to wake up with stinging red patches around my nose and mouth. Since I started sandwiching, my skin is completely calm. It’s a brilliant trick for the winter months when your face is already dry and angry from the cold wind. It literally saved my moisture barrier.

Exfoliate Mindfully Only One To Three Times Per Week

Over-exfoliating is the number one way to destroy your skin. I used to scrub my face with crushed walnut shells every single day in the shower. I thought the burning meant it was working. I was literally scratching micro-tears into my skin. It took months to repair the damage. Throw away the gritty scrubs. Chemical exfoliants are much safer and more effective. I use the Paula’s Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant. It’s $35 for a 4 oz bottle. It has a watery, slightly oily texture that smells a bit like vinegar. I pour a quarter-sized puddle into my palm and pat it onto my face after cleansing. I only do this twice a week. If my skin is looking dull, I’ll swap it out for an AHA. The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution is only $13 for a massive 8 oz bottle. It looks like pale yellow water. I soak a cotton pad with it and swipe it over my face. Never use an AHA and a BHA on the same night. And never use them on the same night as your retinol. I made that mistake once before a date to Trader Joe’s to grab wine. My face was so red and inflamed, the cashier asked if I was having an allergic reaction. Stick to two nights a week. Your skin needs time to rest. It keeps my pores completely clear without the redness.

Don’t Forget Your Neck And Décolletage

We spend so much time and money on our faces, and then completely ignore our necks. I realized this last year when I caught a glimpse of myself in a harsh fluorescent mirror at Whole Foods. My face looked plump and glowing, but my neck looked dry, red, and crepey. It was a harsh wake-up call. Skincare shouldn’t stop at your jawline. Whatever you put on your face, you need to drag it down. I take my vitamin C, my peptides, my moisturizer, and my sunscreen all the way down to my collarbones. The skin on your neck is actually thinner than the skin on your face, which means it shows signs of aging faster. I even bring my face masks down there. Once a week, I use the Comfort Zone Active Pureness Mask to clear out my pores. It’s pricey at $50 for a 2 oz tube. It’s a thick, grey clay mask that smells intensely of tea tree oil. I apply a thin, even layer over my chin and down my neck. It dries down tight and chalky in about ten minutes. When I wash it off with a warm washcloth, my skin feels incredibly smooth. Treat your neck with the exact same respect you treat your face. You’ll thank yourself in ten years. It’s a tiny change that makes a huge difference.

Figuring out your routine doesn’t have to be a stressful science experiment. Just remember the basic rule. Cleanse, prep with watery liquids, treat with serums, moisturize, and protect with SPF. If you’re ever in doubt, thin to thick is your best friend. I’m so glad I finally stopped slapping products on randomly. My skin has never looked better, and I’m actually saving money because my products are finally working. Pin this guide so you have it saved for your next Target run. You’ve got this!