Tool
Routine order builder
Tick the steps you use and choose morning or night. The builder lists them in the order most brands recommend.
Short answer
Apply from the thinnest texture to the thickest: cleanser, toner, essence, serum, eye cream, moisturizer, face oil. In the morning sunscreen goes on last; at night a sleeping mask goes on last. When a brand gives its own order for its line, follow the brand.
Build your order
Time of day
Morning order
- 1CleanserRinse off first
- 2SerumThin to light gel
- 3MoisturizerCream or lotion
- 4SunscreenLast in the morning
This is the commonly recommended order, thinnest to thickest. When a brand gives a different order for its own line, follow the brand.
Why thinnest to thickest
Watery products spread easily on bare skin. Creams and oils form a layer on top, so anything thinner applied after them sits on that layer instead. That is why toners and essences come first, serums next and creams, oils and masks last. Sunscreen goes on last in the morning so nothing is layered over it.
- 01Cleanserrinse off
- 02Toner or softenerwater thin
- 03Essencewater thin
- 04Serumthin to gel
- 05Eye creamrice grain
- 06Moisturizercream or lotion
- 07Face oiloil
- 08SPF AM, last08Mask PM, last
How much of each
Brands commonly suggest small amounts: a rice grain of eye cream for both eyes, a pea of face cream, two or three drops or one pump of serum. Essences are poured into the palm or onto a cotton pad. The label on your product is the final word.
- Eye creama rice grainfor both eyes
- Face creama peaabout 0.3 to 0.5 ml
- Serum2 to 3 dropsor 1 pump
- Essencea coin-size pourinto the palm
Eye cream
Tap eye cream along the orbital bone with the ring finger, under the eye and over the outer brow bone, after serum and before face cream. More in the eye care topic.