Is There a Correct Skincare Order?

Do you know the best order of skincare products for your routine? While some steps may be obvious, others are not so much. Just as important as the products you choose for your skin is the way you apply them, and of course, the order.

Our experts weigh in on the best order for skincare products, so you can reap the full benefits of each step and product's unique ingredients for the best results.

Why Skincare Order Matters

• Absorption: Lightweight products, like facial serums, absorb best before heavier creams and oils, maximizing hydration.
• Active ingredients: Proper cleansing with facial cleansers and chemical exfoliants allows treatments to penetrate effectively.
• Morning vs Night: AM routines protect the skin with antioxidants and sun protection; PM routines focus on repair and hydration.
• Effectiveness: Following the correct order ensures each skincare product delivers maximum benefit to your skin barrier and overall skin health.
• Skin safety: Using potent actives out of order can cause irritation, especially for sensitive, dry skin, or reduce efficacy for oily skin types.

What Order To Apply Skincare

Step 1. Pre-Cleanse

The secret to an effective, thorough cleanse starts here. Start with a makeup remover to purify and remove any traces of makeup, excess oils, and other debris from the face and delicate eye area.

Step 2. Cleanse

The most important step in any skincare routine—but often the most rushed or overlooked, cleansing is the key to setting the rest of your skincare products up for success. Why? Quite simply, cleansing removes all that excess oil, any leftover makeup residue, free radicals that have built up over the day, and any other impurities.

Why do you need to pre-cleanse and cleanse at night? It’s important to wash the day away with your pre-cleanser, then go in for a deeper cleanse with your skin type-specific cleanser. Find the best cleanser for your skin type within Glo Skin Beauty’s collection.

Step 3. Exfoliate

Exfoliation encourages the cell regeneration process, removes dull surface cells and removes debris from follicles to keep skin clear. It can also break up areas of discoloration to reveal brighter skin. One of the benefits we love most though, is how exfoliation products helps clear the skin to allow other products to absorb more easily.

Start by exfoliating once a week in the morning or evening (but not both) and increase if needed to up to five times per week. You can use a liquid exfoliant or a scrub, depending on your skin's needs. Discover our dermatologist-approved exfoliators to get glowing skin.

Step 4. Mask

Treat your skin with a face mask one to three evenings per week to nourish your skin beyond the uppermost layers. Finding the best face mask for your skin depends on your needs. Are you looking for brightening or detoxifying effects? Glo Skin Beauty’s facial mask collection is uniquely formulated to provide a spa-like experience at home with effective skincare ingredients.

Step 5. Tone

Toners assist in evening out the porosity of the skin, giving your serum and moisturizer a smoother, more even application. Tone after cleansing both morning and night. We love our nutrient-loaded facial mists for this.

Step 6. Antioxidant + Serum

A serum is the ultimate product for transforming your skin. Serum formulations are concentrated and absorbed quickly to the deeper layers of the skin, delivering active ingredients to target your skin issues.

During the day, use a vitamin C serum for its antioxidant benefits. Vitamin C protects the skin from free radicals while promoting healthy collagen and skin brightness.

At night, use a treatment serum that targets your skin conditions, whether it’s acne, sensitivity, hyperpigmentation, uneven texture, or aging. With continued, regular use, serums will help you tackle any skin concern and get one step closer to the radiant, healthy complexion you desire. For products with retinol, allow up to 30 minutes for penetration prior to applying moisturizer for optimal benefits.

Step 7. Eye Treatments

After allowing your Vitamin C or EGF serum to sink into your skin, follow it with a nourishing eye cream. An eye cream or serum will deliver targeted ingredients precisely dosed for the delicate eye area—where the skin is a little thinner to help brighten, de-puff, and reduce the appearance of dark shadows and fine lines. Pat your eye cream gently into this area, never rubbing or pulling at the skin.

Step 8. Moisturize

Next, help your skin maintain its optimal moisture level by using a moisturizer morning and evening that helps seal and treat surface dehydration. Regardless of skin type, it’s important to moisturize twice daily. It not only encourages healthy cell turnover but also helps fight the signs of aging. You may wish to use a lighter moisturizer for day and a richer cream like our Bio-Renew EGF Cream at night, depending on your skincare needs.

Step 9. Sun Protection

We can’t stress enough the importance of SPF all day, every day, even in winter. Daily application of SPF 15 or higher sunscreen reduces the risk of developing melanoma by 50 percent, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation. Don’t just apply it to your face, apply sunscreen to all exposed areas of skin including your chest, neck and the back of your hands each morning.

Making Skincare Simple

Following the right skincare regimen and skincare routine can make a big difference when using multiple products in one session. By starting with a facial cleanser, layering serums, using a face toner, and finishing with a face moisturizer, you can optimize absorption, protect your skin barrier, and maintain lasting hydration.

Explore Glo Skin Beauty’s line of dermatologist-approved skincare products to support dry skin, oily skin, or any skin type, making it easy to build a hydrating skincare routine that works for your needs.

Key Takeaways

• Start with a facial cleanser to remove impurities, then layer your products from thinnest to thickest (face toners → facial serums → moisturizer) to ensure deep hydration and absorption.
• Maximize results by using Vitamin C in the morning for protection and Retinol at night for repair.
• Finish every skincare routine with a face moisturizer to support your skin barrier, and never skip daily sun protection to prevent signs of aging.