Skincare routine order

Thinnest to thickest

Dermatologists order a routine from the lightest, most watery product to the heaviest, so thin products like serums can soak in before a thick cream goes on top. It is practical advice from dermatologists, not the result of a trial.

thinthick

SourcesCleveland Clinic

Treatments go on first

If you use a medicine or treatment on your skin, like an acne product, the American Academy of Dermatology says to apply it right after cleansing. Then moisturizer and/or sunscreen, then makeup. That is why the tool puts treatments before serums and creams.

SourcesAAD: product order

Sunscreen is the last step

In the morning, sunscreen goes on after moisturizer as the final skincare step, and makeup goes on after it. The FDA says to apply it 15 minutes before sun exposure and reapply at least every two hours. The FDA asks for broad-spectrum SPF 15 or higher; the AAD recommends SPF 30 or higher.

SourcesCleveland ClinicFDA: sunscreenAAD: sunscreen

Retinoids at night

The AAD advises using retinoids only at night, starting every other night, with sun protection by day. For prescription tretinoin, Mayo Clinic says to apply it at bedtime and to wait 20 to 30 minutes after washing, because it can irritate wet skin. The Differin (adapalene) label asks for once a day, at the same time each day.

SourcesAAD: retinoidsMayo Clinic: tretinoinDifferin label

Acids and the sun

The FDA says alpha hydroxy acids like glycolic acid can make skin more sensitive to the sun, and advises sunscreen while you use them and for a week after. It also advises sun protection with beta hydroxy acids like salicylic acid. So the tool keeps AHAs for the night, and off retinoid nights.

SourcesFDA: AHAsFDA: BHAs

Benzoyl peroxide: let it dry

Benzoyl peroxide can bleach clothes, fabrics and hair, and makes skin more sensitive to sunlight (NHS). DermNet advises letting it dry completely before skin touches clothes or bedding. In a lab test with light, it broke down more than half of tretinoin, a stronger cousin of retinol, in about 2 hours, so the tool keeps it away from retinol. Adapalene stayed stable.

SourcesNHSDermNetMartin 1998

Eye cream and face oil

Cleveland Clinic’s dermatologist puts eye cream after serum and before moisturizer, and face oil right before moisturizer. Face oil is mainly for dry skin, since oils can be occlusive and lead to more acne. Around the eyes, the AAD says to use your ring finger, the weakest one.

Check if your oil may clog pores →

SourcesCleveland ClinicAAD: product order

How long to wait

No study we found sets an exact wait between layers. The few timings we found come from drug guides and labels: prescription tretinoin 20 to 30 minutes after washing (Mayo Clinic), adapalene dry before sunscreen if you use it by day (FDA label), azelaic acid gel dry before makeup (Finacea label), sunscreen 15 minutes before going out (FDA).

SourcesMayo Clinic: tretinoinDifferin labelFinacea labelFDA: sunscreen