How to Layer Skincare Products? If You Want the Best Results, This Is the Exact Order!

Achieving healthy, radiant skin requires more than just using the right products; it’s also essential to know how to layer them correctly because skincare order can significantly impact the effectiveness of each product. There are so many products out there, from cleansers to moisturizers, promising beautiful skin. But how do you know when and how to use them? Does vitamin C serum come before or after moisturizer? With so many questions and choices, it’s easy to feel a bit lost. Understanding the correct order of layering products can make a big difference in how your skin looks and feels. In this guide, we’ll break it down for you, making it easy to understand how to layer your skincare products and get the best results for your skin.

What Do You Need in Your Skincare Routine?

Understanding your skin type and specific concerns is foundational to building an effective skincare routine. Your skin type, whether oily, dry, combination, sensitive, or normal, dictates the products and ingredients that will work best for you. Additionally, understanding your skincare concerns, such as acne, fine lines, hyperpigmentation, or dehydration, allows you to choose products tailored to address those issues. For a basic skincare routine, you will need cleanser, toner, moisturizer, and sunscreen. Depending on your specific concerns, you might include serums or treatments with active ingredients like vitamin C, retinol, hyaluronic acid, or niacinamide to address issues like fine lines, dark spots, or acne. The next step is understanding the correct order of face products to maximize their effectiveness and achieve the best results.

The Right Order: From Lightest to Heaviest Formulas

It’s common for every skincare beginner to wonder whether to start with moisturizer or serum first. The golden rule to remember is to layer your products from lightest to heaviest. This means that your lightweight liquids will come first, while your heavier and thicker creams will be the ones to end with. The basic product order is as follows: cleanse, tone, apply serum, moisturize, and finish with sunscreen (SPF). Following these steps allows each product to be adequately absorbed and work its magic, ensuring that your skin gets the care it deserves.

Cleanser

No matter your skin type, always use a gentle cleanser as it won’t disrupt the natural pH of your skin, and it won’t strip it from its natural oils. We recommend LUNA™ Micro-foam Cleanser 2.0 with ultra-hydrating amino acids, vitamin E, and soothing Centella Asiatica. Formulated with 87% natural origin ingredients, it gently washes away deep-seated impurities from your face and neck and restores the skin’s moisture barrier. For optimal results, pair it with LUNA™ 4 device to remove 99% of dirt, oil, and makeup residue while promoting circulation, lymphatic drainage, and absorption of active ingredients.

The only time you should use a different type of cleanser is if you have makeup on, in which case you should use a cleansing oil or balm to remove it thoroughly before moving on to your regular cleanser. Still, your cleanser should be detergent-free and without sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS).

Use a gentle cleanser

Toner

After cleansing your skin with a gentle facial cleanser, use toner to prepare your skin for the next steps in your skincare routine. With its water-like formula, toner has the thinnest consistency, and that’s why it comes right after the cleanser. Toners help restore the skin’s pH balance and remove any traces of dead skin cells, dirt, makeup, or oil your cleanser may have missed. This will also ensure better absorption of other products in your skincare routine.

Serum

After using a toner, it’s time to apply your serum. Serums are concentrated formulas filled with ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, and retinol, each targeting specific skin concerns. Serums usually have lighter consistencies than moisturizers, making them easier to absorb into the skin. Apply a pea-sized amount of serum and focus on areas with specific concerns.

Since serums are thinner and lighter than moisturizers, they can deeply penetrate the skin if applied first. Second, serums are packed with potent, active ingredients that you’ll want to apply directly to a clean face for maximum efficiency. And here’s a quick brief on what serum suits your skin best.

Here’s a quick brief on different serums listed by key active ingredients:

Vitamin C serum: If you want to brighten your complexion and eliminate dark spots, a vitamin C serum is perfect for you. Vitamin C is the key ingredient every skin type will benefit from as it protects the skin from sun damage and promotes collagen production.

Hyaluronic acid serum: If you have dry skin or want to prevent wrinkles, hyaluronic acid is the ingredient you need. This type of serum will help your skin retain moisture and keep it plump and hydrated. We recommend collagen-boosting SUPERCHARGED™ Serum 2.0, a nourishing formula with five hyaluronic acids, squalane, vitamin E, ceramides, amino acids, and panthenol. It’s clinically proven to increase type 1 collagen production significantly and increase skin moisture levels by 46% 2 hours after application.

Antioxidant serum: If you want to protect your skin from environmental damage and premature aging, an antioxidant serum is a must-have in your skincare routine. These serums are packed with powerful ingredients that combat the damaging effects of free radicals, which are responsible for premature aging. By applying an antioxidant serum regularly, you can expect to see a reduction in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and a more even skin tone. Additionally, antioxidants like vitamins C and E can help protect your skin from harmful UV rays and environmental pollutants, contributing to a youthful complexion. They also help brighten the skin and calm inflammation.

Glycolic acid serum: Glycolic acid is an AHA (alpha-hydroxy acid) that exfoliates the skin and unclogs pores. If you have oily or acne-prone skin, this type of serum will help to reduce breakouts and give you a more even complexion. Regularly using a glycolic acid serum helps fade hyperpigmentation, reduce the appearance of acne scars, and promote collagen production, leading to firmer and younger-looking skin. 

Retinol serum: Retinol, a derivative of vitamin A, is renowned for its ability to stimulate collagen production and increase cell turnover, making it a powerful tool in the fight against fine lines, wrinkles, and uneven skin tone. By encouraging the growth of new, healthy skin cells, retinol serums help minimize the appearance of pores and improve skin’s texture.

Moisturizer

After applying a serum, it’s time to lock in all the active ingredients with a moisturizer. While serums target very specific skin concerns, moisturizers protect your skin barrier. A good moisturizer will hydrate your skin, strengthen your skin’s barrier, protect it from environmental aggressors, and help your makeup go on smoothly. 

If you have oily skin, choose a lightweight, oil-free moisturizer that won’t clog your pores. For dry skin, opt for a thick, creamy moisturizer that will provide intense hydration. If you have sensitive skin, choose a hypoallergenic moisturizer that won’t irritate your skin. We recommend SUPERCHARGED™ Triple Intense Moisturizer, a luxuriously rich yet fast-absorbing gel cream clinically proven to increase skin moisture by 40% in just 15 minutes. 

For optimal results and long-lasting hydration, we recommend UFO™ 3 deep hydration device, which uses heating, cooling, and T-Sonic™ pulsations to push the active ingredients in your skincare deep into the dermis, where they work best.

Sunscreen

Last but not least, always finish your skincare routine with SPF, even if you’re staying indoors. SPF is crucial in protecting your skin from the sun’s harmful UV rays. Choose a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 and ensure it is broad-spectrum, meaning it will protect your skin from UVA and UVB rays.

Now that you know how to build a skincare routine, it’s time to put theory into practice. Gather up all of your skincare products and get ready to achieve healthy, radiant skin!