How to Layer Your Skincare Products—And Why it Matters
Confused about which skincare product goes where? This texture-based guide breaks down the correct order to apply your skincare—plus tips for better absorption and results.
Gather up, skincare students, for another lesson in skincare basics.
If you've ever stood in front of your bathroom mirror, clutching five different skincare products and wondering what goes first, you're definitely not alone. Skincare layering may feel like it’s a complicated ritual, but it really doesn’t have to be. For the most part, it should be a fairly intuitive, easy process, especially if you know what to look for.
For me, the best guide has always been texture.
Whether you have two steps or ten, understanding how different textures interact will help you layer your products for maximum effectiveness—and minimal wasted effort. So, here’s my easy, texture-focused guide to getting it right, every time.
Why Texture Matters in Skincare Layering
Think of your skin like a sponge. Lightweight, watery formulas absorb much faster than heavier, thicker creams. If you apply a thick cream first, you're creating a barrier that prevents anything lighter from sinking in properly.
By applying your skincare from thinnest to thickest texture, you ensure that every product can penetrate and do its job effectively.
Bonus Tip: If you can make the time, I highly recommend waiting 1-2 minutes between each step, so one product has time to fully absorb before the next one goes on. I like to multitask, and answer emails first thing in the morning while doing my routine, so I can space out my skincare better.
How to Layer Your Skincare Products
Here’s the simple texture-based rule of thumb:
Light (Watery) → Medium (Lotion, Gel) → Heavy (Creamy, Oily)
Now, let’s break it down step-by-step:
Step 1: Cleanser
OK, OK, I know this may sound obvious to many, but I recently saw a YouTube video of a celebrity skincare routine (I shall not name names) where said celebrity applied a sheet mask to their face before cleansing. So, I thought it would be important to state, for the record: anything you apply before you use a cleanser is simply going to get washed away.
Cleansing should be the first step of your routine, and helps you create a clean canvas to absorb all the subsequent skincare.
For the morning: A gentle cleanser, or if you’re very dry, even just a splash of water will suffice
For night time: I recommend a double cleanse, especially if you wear makeup or thick layers of sunscreen
Step 2: Your Most Watery Products (Toners, Essences, and Some Serums)
The first product(s) you want to apply after cleansing are those with water-like consistency. This is usually going to be your toners or essences, but can sometimes also be serums.
If you have multiple watery products in your routine, I always recommend using the one with a strong active ingredient (e.g. vitamin C, AHAs, BHAs, retinoids etc.) first.
Here’s my morning routine as an example: I have 2 products in my routine that are extremely watery—my Geek & Gorgeous vitamin C serum & my Anua Rice Ceramide milky toner. I always apply the vitamin C serum first, straight after cleansing, and follow it up with my toner (even though conventional logic may say toner first).
This works for 2 reasons: First, applying the strong vitamin C on dry skin prevents it from absorbing too quickly into my skin, and causing irritation. Second, my toner is a little more milky than watery, which, texturally, makes more sense to follow the serum.
Step 3: More Viscous (But Still Water-based) Serums and Ampoules
Next come your viscous, tacky products (usually serums or ampoules, but some essences as well). These are still water-based, but tend to be a little stickier or slimier to touch.
I’m clearly in my Korean beauty era at the moment, which is why all the tackier products in the image above are K-beauty favorites, but this rule would apply for pretty much any serum you choose to use in your own routine.
If you’re a fan of sheet masks (which are essentially just pieces of cloth soaked in serum), they’d also usually go here.
Step 4: Products With a Creamy Consistency
Follow up your treatment steps with your nourishing creams—including eye creams, moisturizers, emulsions, and barrier repair creams. If you have more than 1 such product in your routine, apply them in order of thickness with the lightest going first and the most occlusive one going on last.
If you’re not sure about the order, look at the ingredients list to identify occlusive ingredients. Occlusives, like shea butter, petrolatum, and castor oil, create a protective barrier over your skin, which means anything you apply on top of them will most likely go to waste.
Step 5 (Day): Sunscreen
The final step of your morning routine HAS to be sunscreen—do not fight me on this—with at least SPF30 PA+++ to protect against both UVA and UVB rays. Do not mix your sunscreen with your moisturizer, or makeup, or other skincare ingredients. I’ve seen people do this, and it’s harmful because it can cause the sunscreen’s formula to break down and become ineffective.
If you have the time, wait at least 5-10 minutes after the rest of your skincare routine to apply your sunscreen.
Step 5 (Night): Optional Oil
If your skin is extremely dry, you may want to consider adding a facial oil, either as the last step of your night time routine, or by mixing a few drops along with your moisturizer and applying them together.
I do not recommend using a facial oil during the day time because it can also break down your sunscreen’s formula.
Some Exceptions
The method above works like a charm in about 99% of cases, but there are some products I make an exception for, and those are extremely strong and potentially irritating products. This includes high percentage retinoids, exfoliating acids, and products that mimic micro-needling, like the VT reedle shot.
Regardless of texture, these products are best applied on clean, dry skin, first thing after cleansing. This prevents them from absorbing in too quickly and exacerbating any sensitivity. Most of these are also designed to improve the penetration of products layered on top of them, so applying them first is beneficial for the rest of your routine too.
Ideally, you want to follow these up with barrier strengthening ingredients like ceramides, squalane, aloe vera etc.
Final Tips for Skincare Layering Success
In short: texture is your skincare compass. If you’re ever confused, just start with the most water-like product and end with the richest, thickest one. Here are a few more tips to help you along your way:
Give your products a few minutes to absorb between layers. You don't need to wait forever, but letting your skin drink up a product before moving to the next step can prevent products from pilling and feeling sticky or heavy.
Don’t overcomplicate it. If you’re rushing through 10 steps you barely understand, your skin might be overwhelmed. Focus on a few high-quality products and apply them in the right order.
Adjust for your skin's needs. Some days, you’ll feel fine with just a cleanser, hydrating serum, and sunscreen, and somedays you may feel like you need 5 more steps. That’s perfectly OK! Listen to your skin, and adjust as you go along.
Let me know if these tips helped you rething your routine. And until next time, happy layering!
About The Skinimalist
Hi, I’m Mal, a 30-something recovering skincare addict, and this is my blog. A space where I attempt to de-influence you from chasing trends and buying more skincare products you may not need.
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Confused about which skincare product goes where? This texture-based guide breaks down the correct order to apply your skincare—plus tips for better absorption and results.