The Right Order To Apply Your Skincare

Luckily, we’ve broken it down into ten easy steps (just skip those that don’t apply to you!) to take you from cleanse to creams without the headache. Read on and learn how to layer like a pro.

Cleanser
Cleansing is a chance to wipe the slate clean and give your skin a fresh start. Wash once to attack the surface grime, then repeat to clear deep into your pores.

Exfoliate
Exfoliating removes dead skin cells that clog the skin, allowing products like moisturiser in the later steps to penetrate deeper and be more effective. Not a daily essential, consider this a once or twice a week add-on.

Mask
Face masks can draw out impurities, remove excess oil, improve the appearance of pores and help hydrate skin (#goals!). Again, this is a step to add into your routine just a couple of times each week.

Toner
Soak a cotton pad in toner and swipe over your face and neck to remove stubborn dirt or make-up left behind after washing (yup, sometimes there’s still some left over). It will also help rebalance skin after washing - great if you live in a hard water area - remove excess oil and tighten pores.

Spot Cream
Blemish-busters, and any other topical treatment in your routine, should be applied now so that your skin can soak them up and really reap the benefits.

Serum
As a general rule, face nourishers like serums, moisturisers and oils should be applied starting with the lightest formulas. Serums are thin and full of active ingredients you want to drive deep into your pores, so start with them before you move on to fuller-bodied creams.

Eye Cream
A common mistake is applying eye cream last in your routine. Like serums, these creams are potent and need to be clear of barriers to absorb properly - so it makes sense to apply before your heavier moisturisers and oils. Gently does it, pat in delicately with your ring finger to avoid tugging the delicate skin.

Moisturiser
Now we reach that stalwart of any routine, moisturiser! Squeeze a pea-sized amount into your fingertips, rub together to warm, then press it into your face (use gentle upward strokes on your neck, too). This will encourage blood flow and wake up your skin without stretching it.

Oil
Oil is the bulldozer of skincare, easily penetrating through other creams, lotions and serums. Press it into your skin to seal your moisturiser down and deliver pore-refining, skin-brightening benefits.

SPF
Think of SPF as a protective barrier over all of your other skin-pampering products. Applying it last allows the other steps in your routine to work to their full potential and ensures the efficacy of your SPF isn’t diluted or altered.