How to Layer Skincare Products for effectiveness?

The idea to layer skincare products for effectiveness is a new one. It helps to keep the skin healthy and moisturised, and reduces the need for additional products from your routine. Layering can also build up a protective barrier, allowing your skin to have lasting results.

The correct order in which to layer skincare products is as follows:

Cleanser
Vitamin C serum
Hyaluronic acid Serum
Sunscreen

It is generally best to use different cleansers and toners within the same day. You can use the same products both days of your routine if you are feeling extra special or sped up on time for whatever reason. Otherwise you need a new cleanser for day two!

People with dry skin should use an oil-based cleanser on their second cleanse. People with normal/combination skin should use their second cleanser as an oil-based cleanser, and follow it up with a water-based one.

If you follow this order of products, you will get the most full effect from your routine. Avoid approaching layering from the perspective of needing more products; rather, be focused on getting to know your best products and choosing the ones that work best for you. The first order is simply a list of products in a particular order; every skincare routine is different so there is no one correct way to layer. This order is also something that can be changed daily for maximum effectiveness.

I would like to point out that layering can be used to build up a protective barrier on the skin, as well as moisturize and cleanse. For my dry skin, I always use a facial oil on the second day of my routine. I also use vitamin c and hyaluronic acid serums alternating their use in the evenings so that my face never gets too much vitamin c or hyaluronic acid.

Serums/Vitamin C:
Toner:
Moisturizer:

You may be wondering, "why am I putting the toner after the serum?" This is because the serum helps prepare your skin for the toner. The hydration from the moisturizer and coldness of a toner can cause clogging or congestion. This can lead to breakouts. Putting them in this order helps avoid this problem."

If you're new to incorporating skincare into your daily routine and are feeling overwhelmed, don't worry! We are going to break down what products should go when and some dos and don'ts.

1. Cleansers:

You can use any cleanser for this first step. You can even skip it! However, a clean face is always better!

2. Toners:

This step is optional but recommended. Toners help prep your face for the next steps, add hydration and clear out any impurities left behind from the cleanser. Water is probably what your skin needs most at this point so a hydrating formula works best here.

The simplest method of layering skincare is in terms of a cleanse-mask-serum protocol. It involves cleansing, followed by a mask, and then applying serums, after which the moisturizer is applied. For perfect layering, the serum needs to be placed immediately above the moisturizer after application.

There are also other ways to layer skincare products, however they do not work as well. Two of these methods include layering serums before moisturizers and applying serums last on top of moisturizers. Both are less effective than the cleanse-mask-serum protocol outlined above.