What Order Should You Apply Your Skincare Products? A Dermatologist Explains

Skincare doesn’t need to be complicated. For most people, the basics are straightforward: cleanse, treat, moisturize and protect.

The exact order can vary depending on the formulas you use, but a consistent routine that works for your skin is more important than having the most complicated one.

What order should you apply skincare in the morning?

A simple morning routine could look like:

1. Cleanser: Use a gentle cleanser or simply rinse your skin with water, depending on your skin’s needs.

2. Treatment or serum: Apply your treatment product. In the mornings, I recommend an antioxidant serum, like RoC’s Multi Correxion Revive + Glow Daily Serum, according to their individual directions.

3. Moisturizer: Follow with moisturizer if your skin needs extra hydration. Some people with oilier skin can skip this step, as many sunscreen formulas double as hydrators.

4. Sunscreen: Finish with a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher. Sunscreen should always be the final step in your morning skincare routine before makeup.

What order should you apply skincare at night?

At night, your routine can be just as simple:

1. Cleanse: Remove makeup, sunscreen, oil, and buildup from the day.

2. Treatment or serum: This might be retinol-containing formula, like RoC’s Retinol Correxion Line Smoothing Triple Serum, or another targeted treatment like a dark spot corrector, depending on your routine.

3. Moisturize: Finish with moisturizer as needed to hydrate and support your skin barrier.

Do you need a serum, eye cream, and moisturizer?

Not necessarily. A good skincare routine is about addressing your specific needs, not checking off as many product categories as possible.

That said, the skin around the eyes is especially thin and is often one of the first areas where people notice visible signs of aging. If you’re concerned about the appearance of dark circles, puffiness, crow’s feet, or dryness around the eyes, I recommend incorporating an eye product specifically formulated to target those concerns.

Does “thinnest to thickest” always work?

You may have heard that skincare should always be applied from the thinnest consistency to the thickest. This rule can be useful, but it shouldn't override the directions for an individual formula.

As skin becomes drier with age, you may find that a richer moisturizer is especially helpful at night. Look for formulas that help seal in moisture and support the skin barrier while you sleep, like RoC’s Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Rich Cream.

Some products have specific application instructions based on how they were formulated and tested. When in doubt, follow the label!

How many skincare steps do you actually need?

More products don’t automatically mean better results. Oftentimes, the more complicated a skincare routine is, the more I see patients drop-off of sticking with that routine.

For most people, a cleanser, moisturizer, treatment/serum step and daily sunscreen are all you need.

The best skincare routine is ultimately one you can stick with consistently.

What’s the dermatologist takeaway?

Start with the essentials and build up from there. Cleanse gently, use targeted treatments according to their directions, moisturize based on your skin’s needs. Always finish your morning routine with broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should sunscreen go before or after moisturizer?

Sunscreen should always be the final step in your morning skincare routine before makeup.

Does eye cream go before or after moisturizer?

I typically recommend applying eye cream before moisturizer so you can apply your targeted eye treatment directly to the delicate skin around the eyes, then follow with moisturizer on the rest of the face.

Do I need both a serum and moisturizer?

Not everyone does. Serums and moisturizers can serve different purposes, so choose products based on your skin’s needs and the benefits of the formulas. Some products can also serve more than one role in your routine. For example, RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Rich Cream combines a retinol treatment with rich moisturization in one step.

How many skincare products should I use?

There isn’t an ideal number. The best routine for you is a simple one that you stick to consistently.  

*A physician giving advice on a brand site should carry an "educational" purpose and is not medical advise