What’s the best order to apply your skincare routine?

With so much focus on finding the right skincare products for your skincare concerns, it can be easy to forget the order in which you apply these products is also important. Which products or ingredients work best together? When should you apply sunscreen? Our step-by-step approach equips you with the key principles to help you find the best order for your skincare routine.

Why does the skincare routine order matter?

The best skincare products are designed to help your skin reach its full potential. Beyond the products themselves, it’s important to also consider the order you apply them. For instance, some products need direct skin contact for absorption, while others still work well when applied at the end of your routine.

Why not just use less products? Research shows that a more comprehensive skincare routine which includes a cleanser, toner, eye cream, serum, day cream, and night cream promotes healthier-looking skin compared to a routine with only a cleanser and day cream.

Considering your skincare routine order, can help you to achieve soft, smooth, healthy-looking skin.

What are the key principles for ordering and layering products?

There are three key principles for ordering your skincare routine. Firstly, always cleanse as the initial step. Secondly, apply lighter skincare products – like serums – before thicker products. Finally, consistency is key. Studies show that a consistent routine can help improve some skin concerns, such as dry skin.

To ease yourself into a skincare routine, it’s best to try a few products before settling into a routine. You may see some immediate benefits from a new product, but sometimes skincare products take time to work. Once you have introduced a product, you should wait at least 28 days to see the potential benefit.

跟從一個常規的護膚程序

您的護膚程序應是恆常、性質溫和，並切合皮膚需要。因此，應避免使用過度刺激或令皮膚太乾燥的產品。

以下易於遵循的規則能助您掌握入門技巧：

1.每天最少洗面兩次，早晚各一次，運動後亦應洗面。睡前別忘記卸妝，以免阻塞毛孔。使用卸妝卸妝，然後使用性質溫和的潔面產品，如Cetaphil舒特膚溫和舒敏潔面泡沫，就能輕鬆清潔臉部。

緊記不要過度清潔皮膚，和使皮膚變得乾燥，因為皮膚會自行分泌油脂，提供皮膚屏障，並令皮膚變得光滑。最重要是保持皮膚水油平衡。

2.應使用不含皂鹼的潔膚產品，如Cetaphil舒特膚抗菌潔膚皂。它的低敏配方，不含任何具刺激性的化學成份，可保留皮膚中的天然油脂而不會令皮膚變得乾燥。

3.使用油性皮膚保濕產品，有助維持平衡皮膚油脂分泌，例如Cetaphil舒特膚水潤保濕日間乳液，不會堵塞毛孔並有助減少面部出油。

4.去除老化角質層，但不要過於頻繁。您需要根據您肌膚類型，制定合適的去角質時間表，但請緊記，過度去除角質層可能會導致皮膚泛紅和造成刺激。

5.使用能保留肌膚中的水份，同時能疏通毛孔的面膜。

6.每天塗抹防曬霜。建議暗瘡患者使用Cetaphil舒特膚的礦物防曬阻擋會導致皮膚損傷、曬傷、老人斑、皺紋和皮膚癌的 UVA 和 UVB 紫外線。

如果您屬於敏感肌膚，「T字位」（即額頭、鼻子和下巴）持續分泌油脂，而其他部位則較乾燥，可瀏覽我們所建議的混合性至油性皮膚的日常護理程序。

Step 1: Cleansing

Cleansing in the morning removes impurities from the night and prepares your skin for all the skincare goodness you’re about to apply.

Consider your skin requirements when choosing your cleanser. If dry or sensitive skin is a concern, use a creamy cleanser such as Cetaphil’s Gentle Skin Cleanser, which removes impurities while maintaining hydration. If you have oily skin, then Cetaphil’s DermaControl Oil Removing Foam Wash can remove excess oil without over-drying or stripping your skin.

Step 2: Serum

Serums are a secret weapon for your skincare routine. They’re packed full of concentrated ingredients, so a little goes a long way.

You should apply serums directly to cleansed skin for best results. Serums need direct access to skin for absorption, unlike thicker products like moisturizers which have greater penetrating ability.

If you’re concerned about skin brightness, you might want to consider a serum that contains vitamins and antioxidants, like Cetaphil’s Healthy Radiance Antioxidant-C Serum. If you have acne-prone skin then Cetaphil’s Gentle Clear Triple-Action Acne Serum may be a good choice as it contains salicylic acid, succinic acid, and niacinamide.

Step 3: Eye Cream

Whether it's the appearance of dark circles, fine lines, or puffiness, the skin under your eyes needs special attention. That’s where eye creams come in. These should be applied directly after serums, as they are also concentrated to target a key concern.

Use Cetaphil’s Hydrating Eye Gel-Cream to brighten and smooth the delicate skin under your eyes. With this gel-cream formula, your eyes will be left looking refreshed for that well-rested look.

The bottom line

A comprehensive daytime and bedtime skincare routine is the best way to look after your skin in the long term, but it’s important to get the order of your skincare routine right.

Once you know what order to apply skincare products, be consistent! Using your products every day, and maybe occasionally rotating them, can help your skin reach its full potential.