Free tool

Skincare routine order builder

Tick the products you use and get them in the right order for morning and night, with a note on why each step goes where it does.

Tick the products you use

Your order updates as you tick. Optional steps can be skipped.

Rules of thumb

  • Layer products from thinnest to thickest (lightest to heaviest).
  • Cleanse first, morning and night.
  • Sunscreen is the final skincare step in the morning; makeup, if you wear it, goes on after.
  • Use retinoids at night in place of your daytime serum.
  • Stick to one serum at a time to start.
  • Using too many products, especially several anti-aging products at once, can irritate skin.

Your routine

Morning

    Night

      Questions

      What order should I apply skincare in?

      Cleanse first, then apply treatment products such as toner and serums, then moisturizer. In the morning, sunscreen is the last skincare step, with makeup on top. As a rule, layer products from thinnest to thickest.

      Should I use vitamin C in the morning or at night?

      Dermatologists suggest vitamin C in the morning because it acts as a backup to sunscreen. Retinoids go on at night, in place of your daytime serum.

      Do I need to wait between skincare steps?

      For most products, no set wait is needed. Apply sunscreen about 15 minutes before going outside. With prescription tretinoin, wait 20 to 30 minutes after washing so skin is fully dry.

      How many products should I use?

      Fewer is usually better: too many products, especially several anti-aging products at once, can irritate skin. Add one new product at a time and test it on your inner arm twice a day for 7 to 10 days first.

      Sources

      1. Should I apply my skin care products in a certain order? (American Academy of Dermatology)
      2. The Right Order To Apply Your Skin Care Products (Cleveland Clinic; reviewed by dermatologist Sean McGregor, DO)
      3. Double Cleansing Explained (Cleveland Clinic; dermatologist Jane Wu, MD)
      4. How to safely exfoliate at home (American Academy of Dermatology)
      5. Which pharmaceutical skincare you shouldn't mix and why (British Skin Foundation)
      6. Vitamin C Serum Benefits (Cleveland Clinic; reviewed by dermatologist Melissa Piliang, MD)
      7. Niacinamide: What It Is and Its Benefits (Cleveland Clinic)
      8. Chemical stability of adapalene and tretinoin when combined with benzoyl peroxide in presence and in absence of visible light and ultraviolet radiation (Br J Dermatol, 1998)
      9. Tretinoin (topical route) precautions (Mayo Clinic)
      10. Dermatologists' top tips for relieving dry skin (American Academy of Dermatology)
      11. How to apply sunscreen (American Academy of Dermatology)
      12. Sunscreen: How to Help Protect Your Skin from the Sun (FDA)
      13. Skin care tips dermatologists use (American Academy of Dermatology)
      14. How to maximize results from anti-aging skin care products (American Academy of Dermatology)
      15. How to test skin care products (American Academy of Dermatology)

      This tool is general information, not medical advice. Patch-test new products and ask a dermatologist about skin conditions.