Does it matter in which order skin products are applied?

The order certainly matters and we explain why. Putting your skin care products in the right order ensures that your skin gets the full benefits of each product.

The order of application is incredibly important. The skin's job is to keep substances out, but many of the skin care products we use have ingredients that we want to get into the skin. Only a small amount of these key ingredients can penetrate the skin, even if they are perfectly formulated and applied perfectly. If you do not apply the products in the correct order, you will not see the best results from your skin care regimen.

apply skin products in the correct order

A simple rule of thumb is to apply your products with the thinnest consistency to the thickest layer, or from liquid to oil. In general, think thin to fat! You also want to start with the products that have the most important ingredients to penetrate the skin (like antioxidants in serums) and finish with the products that need to sit on top of the skin like emollients and humectants in moisturisers.

The skin products morning regime

The morning routine revolves around sun protection and pollution protection, so leave your peels and skin products with retinol, for example, for the evening.

Cleaners(41)

Step 1: Clean the skin with a cleanser

In the morning, start by wetting your face with lukewarm water and a gentle facial cleanser made for your skin type.

Step 2: the toner

Most people choose to skip toners, partly because it is still believed that most toners are hard and irritate the skin. Fortunately, that is no longer the case. While they don't physically "shrink" pores, the new breed of toners can serve multiple purposes, including delivering antioxidants, B vitamins, and even toning acids. In addition, each type of toner is intended for a different skin problem, so it is important to use the right kind of toner for your skin problems.

But if you've never used a toner and your skin looks healthy, there's no need to use one. Toners are made to help restore the skin's pH levels after using old-fashioned soap. Facial cleansers are now so much more balanced than toners are no longer necessary. Alcohol-based toners contribute to dry skin by stripping the protective oils, and water-based toners are a poor means of getting active ingredients into the skin.

Toner (7)

Step 3: the (eye) serum

Serums are super concentrated, nutrient-rich products that address specific problems. It is therefore better to use it immediately after cleaning. There are various serums on the market today, but for the daytime we recommend an anti-oxidant serum. This offers a number of benefits – from dulling your skin's inflammatory response to eliminating and protecting damage from UV rays and environmental pollutants.

Serums(76)

Step 4: Eye Cream

It is essential to apply an eye cream every day, if not twice a day, from about the age of 20. It is about maintaining the health and thickness of the skin around the eyes. Improving the quality of the skin in this area early on prevents the skin around the eyes from easily losing sagging and suppleness later on.

For best results, it is important that you provide the skin with an eye cream daily. Using an eye cream regularly over time will keep the skin around the eyes elastic and can improve the skin of the eyelid and prevent premature fine lines or collagen loss. You can further protect the delicate skin around your eyes by choosing an eye cream with SPF or by applying sunscreen every day. Wearing sunglasses when you are outdoors also protects against UV light damage. This prevents unnecessary lines that can appear around the corners of the eyes by squeezing the eyes for a long time.

Eye cream (20)

Step 5: moisturizing day cream

Everyone needs a moisturizing day cream, even if you have oily skin. Even though your body has its own natural system that consists of glands that secrete oil (or sebum) to maintain a protective layer against the harsh outside conditions and infections. Still, most people need extra hydration after the devastation the sun, weather and harsh street chemicals have wrought on our skin.

Most experts recommend applying a moisturizer during the day while the skin is still damp. So this means the sooner you proceed with applying your serum, the sooner you will be able to lock in much-needed hydration with your moisturizer.

Day cream (36)

Step 6: Sunscreen

Sunscreen should be the last step in your daily skincare routine if you are using a physical or mineral sunscreen, which works by physically blocking the UV rays. This step gets tricky if you're using a chemical sunscreen.

Chemical sunscreens need to be absorbed into the skin to be effective, so applying it after your moisturizer will slow and hinder that. To be effective, chemical sunscreens need to be absorbed into the skin, so applying it after your moisturizer will slow and hinder that. But if you apply your chemical sunscreen before your cream, your cream won't work as well either, because the skin is covered with a chemical sunscreen.

So to avoid this and for many other reasons, we recommend a sunscreen with zinc and use it after your moisturizing cream. Zinc is safe, effective and provides the broadest protection against UVA and UVB rays.

As for those who like to use chemical sunscreens? Take a sunscreen that also offers moisturizing benefits so that you provide your skin with the daily hydration.

Sunscreen (5)

The evening routine of skin products

Since your skin naturally regenerates at night, the nighttime routine should focus on giving the skin what it needs. If your skin looks dull, you should exfoliate your skin. If irritated, moisturize and protect. Here's the best order of skin care products to make sure you get the most out of them:

Step 1: Cleanser (double)

To remove the dirt, grime, oil and make-up of the day, we recommend that you first remove your make-up with a special make-up remover before washing your face with a mild cleanser. Better yet, double cleanse, first using a cleansing oil to dissolve your makeup and then wash your face again with your regular cleanser.

So the first step is to remove your make-up. This is the step where you usually use a cleansing oil. The second step is to use a facial cleanser to remove all the excess sebum, dirt and makeup that you loosened in the first step. This keeps your skin fresh and perfectly prepared to absorb your skin for the products that follow.

If you use a peel, such as a facial scrub, use it in place of your cleanser after removing your makeup.

Cleaners(41)

Step 2: Toner

If you use a toner, apply it as you would in the morning.

Before going to sleep, it is also very good to layer different types of skin care boosters such as serum or serums for around the eyes. These are infused with various active ingredients with the aim of hydrating and nourishing the skin.

Since these are light, almost water-like formulas, after washing your face, apply them as you would a toner. If you use both, apply the toner first. The toner is more for cleaning. When using several serums, the same rules apply: from thinnest to thickest serum.

Toner (7)

Step 3: Eye Cream

In addition to tackling crow's feet and dark circles, eye creams can also serve to protect your delicate eye area from your other skincare products.

In general, you would want to apply your eye cream before other products to protect your eye area from potent ingredients that could potentially cause irritation.

Eye Cream(20)

Step 4: Serums and pads with extra strong ingredients

Like the rest of the body, the skin does most of its repair and regeneration while we sleep. That's why you use targeted skin care treatments in the evening, such as retinol serums, exfoliating products (peel pads and masks) and anti-aging serums that are infused with peptides, growth factors and other biologically active ingredients. Instead of building up all your treatment serums and creams in layers, we recommend choosing your evening serums based on the needs of your skin at the moment.

Too many steps increase the risk of irritation and decrease the chance of the desired result. Choose your evening treatment based on what your skin needs that night, not what you have in your bathroom cabinet.

Serums(76)

Step 5: moisturizing mask

If your skin is on the dry side, you can add a moisturizing cream mask or facial oil. Both product types are generally mild and can usually be used as often as your skin needs an extra boost of hydration.

Detoxifying/Clay Masks: For most people, once a week is enough.

mask (16)

Step 6: moisturizing night cream with extra nutrients

Some people use the same moisturizer during the day and at night. However, night creams are generally thicker and heavier and are designed to be absorbed over the course of several hours while you sleep.

Creams especially the heavier ones used at night create a protective coating on the skin to prevent evaporation of water while you sleep. Maintaining a high moisture level in the skin is key to healing and maintaining healthy skin. Using the right moisturizing night cream is the last step because nothing else gets through here.

Night cream(35)

Tips

At night, after you have washed your face and applied the serum and/or evening skincare product, you are ready to go to bed. Keep your night cream on your nightstand and apply it right before going to sleep. The usually expensive, special products have had just a little more time to penetrate the skin well before the skin is closed with the night cream

Any advice? Listen to your skin. Remember that you are unique and that no one else has the same skin. Whatever experts say, it's important to find what works for you and always be kind to your skin.

Dont's

Do not mix prescription medications (for acne or rosacea) or exfoliating products (such as AHA/BHA pads, peels, or detoxifying masks). Using both on the same night significantly increases your risk of skin irritation.
Also, do not combine retinol creams with exfoliating products.

Does it matter in which order skin products are applied?

apply skin products in the correct order

The evening routine of skin products

Beauty salon Amsterdam South