Here's Why Correctly Layering Your Skincare Routine Is So Important

Before you triumphantly celebrate compiling the perfectly personalized 15-step skincare routine, you'll want to double check you have the right order. Believe it or not, having the right products is only half the battle. The way you layer said products makes up the second part, and it's just as important. While it may seem like it doesn't matter what goes on first, the order makes a difference in how your skin handles what you feed it.

According to Huda Beauty's blog, "If you don't apply your skincare products in the right order you could prevent them from being fully-absorbed, which means they won't be as effective." So if you decided to apply your serum before an essence or sunscreen before your moisturizer, your complexion isn't able to soak up all the benefits. Here's a helpful food anecdote: if you put peanut butter on bread before honey, it's harder for the honey to seep through. But if you put honey on first, it can quickly slip through the bread's pores. So while this may not be an ideal situation for toast, that's exactly what you want when it comes to skincare.

Okay, what is the correct order then? With an endless list of serums and four types of cleansers and moisturizers, how do you remain calm when you have to rack your brain twice a day? The rule of thumb is to start with your thinnest products and work your way up to the thickest (via Glamour UK). Obviously, your cleansers will always come first, no matter how thick, but after, go by weight. Toners and essences should be followed by serums, followed by eye cream, then your moisturizer. If it's your morning routine, add SPF at the end, and at night you can finish with an oil if you please.

Huda Beauty's post provides an extremely helpful breakdown of this for morning and night, and even includes those confusing occasional steps like sheet masks. According to the brand, masks and spot treatments should go between toners and serums, and if you use oil during the day, use that before sunscreen. For nighttime, they suggest that exfoliants should precede toner but follow cleansing. Now that you know the basics for layering, you should only expect the best from your products.