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The order in which skincare products are applied can be just as important as the products and ingredients themselves; figuring out how to layer your skincare products of choice can help you get closer to your skincare goals by making sure that every ingredient you use gets the chance to do its job. Let’s talk about the science behind product layering, followed by a step-by-step approach to help you achieve your best skin yet.
How To Figure Out Your Skin Type
Determining your skin type is a crucial first step in creating an effective skincare routine, as your skin type directly influences the types of products you should use, and the order in which to apply them for them to be most effective.
To identify your skin type, start by washing your face with a gentle, simple cleanser, then observing how it feels after about an hour with no other products.
- If your skin feels tight or dry and you notice any areas of flakiness, you likely have “dry skin.”
- If your skin appears shiny or feels oily (especially in the T-zone), you may have “oily skin.”
- If you feel tight and dry in some areas (like on your cheeks) but oily and shiny in other areas (like the T-zone and chin), you likely have “combination skin.”
- If you don’t really feel any of the above and your skin looks and feels fairly soft but not dry or oily to the touch, you have “normal skin.”
How To Layer Skincare Products Correctly
Creating an effective skincare routine involves first selecting the right products with ingredients that are tailored to support your skin type, followed by properly layering those products so they can each do what they’re intended to without interfering with one another.
Each step in your routine should play a specific, intentional role in helping you reach your skin goals; we’ve listed below the general order of a very thorough skincare regimen, but you know your skin best, so don’t hesitate to tweak what products you do or don’t use based on your own individual results.
If you have questions about what ingredients and products you should be incorporating into your skincare routine, you can consult with a skincare professional such as your dermatologist or a licensed esthetician.
Here is a step-by-step guide on how to layer skincare products correctly to ensure you get the most out of your regimen.
Step 1: Cleanser
Starting with a gentle, hydrating cleanser to remove dirt, oil, and other impurities from the skin. A clean canvas allows subsequent products to penetrate and absorb more effectively into each layer of the skin, maximizing their benefits. Look for cleansers with clean ingredients that don’t strip your skin of its natural microbiome.
Step 2: Red Light Therapy
At-home red light therapy devices are an innovative, increasingly popular method for restoring radiance and glow to aging skin. Red light therapy should be used after cleansing, before applying toner, serums, moisturizers, or spot treatments. This ensures the skin is clean and can fully absorb the light's benefits, enhancing the effectiveness of subsequent skincare products.
If you’d like to treat your entire face at once, use our Wrinkle Retreat Light Therapy Face Mask. Ensure your face is clean and dry, and then place the mask over your face and secure it with the strap. Hold the power button until the red light turns on, then sit back and relax for the 10-minute duration of your at-home skincare treatment! It will automatically turn off when the treatment is done.
If looking to treat your neck and chest area, check out our Neck and Chest Rejuvenating Mask, and if you’re working with acne-prone skin, check out our 3-Minute Pimple Spot Treatment device, which uses both red and blue light therapy to target and treat pimples!
You also have the option of targeted section by section treatment with our 4-in-1 Skincare Wand. With red light therapy being our specialty, we’ve also formulated a specific product that actually helps to supercharge the effects of our red light therapy wand thanks to ingredients like hyaluronic acid to hydrate, peptides to help energize, and minerals to help skin visibly glow after treatment. (You can check out our Skincare Wand and Activating Serum here!)
With that, if you are utilizing the red light therapy wand with activating serum, you can apply the serum first before getting started with your wand. When using the wand, you’ll section your face off into four quadrants and work on one quadrant at a time. Apply a generous portion of the serum to the first area of the face you’ll be treating, then turn on the wand and glide it over that section of the face for about 3 minutes. Then repeat for the other three sections of the face for a total treatment time of about 12 minutes.
Step 3: Toner
Next, apply a balancing toner. Toners can tighten pores, making them appear smaller, while also providing an additional layer of moisture. Many toners also contain active ingredients like antioxidants and humectants that can soothe and hydrate the skin.
Step 4: Spot Treatment
For those dealing with pimples, zits, or dark spots, spot treatments can be applied next. These targeted products are specifically designed to deliver problem-specific ingredients directly to the problem versus being applied to the entire face. For example, one ingredient commonly used in spot treatments is salicylic acid, which works to decrease inflammation and swelling caused by pimples. Ensure the spot treatment is fully absorbed into the skin before moving on to the next step.
Step 5: Serums
Serums are potent formulations designed to deliver concentrated ingredients deep into the skin, capturing the essence of targeted skincare. While they may sound similar to spot treatments, serums are different in that they are applied to the entire face, and sometimes also the neck.
Apply serums after toning/spot treatments to target specific goals like brightening, hydration, or reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Pat the serum gently into the skin for optimal absorption.
Our Plumping Peptide Serum with Solabiome™ includes a proprietary blend of synbiotics and ingredients to strengthen and nourish your skin’s unique microbiome for a strong barrier that supports healthy-looking skin.Triple hyaluronic acid is also included to help hold in moisture, while avocado peptides strengthen and hydrate to visibly plump and soothe skin for that natural glow!
Step 6: Concentrated Active Ingredients
When layering products with high concentrations of specific active ingredients, it's crucial to understand how each ingredient may interact both with one another and with other ingredients in other layers. For example, combining vitamin C and retinol can cause skin irritation and reduce each ingredient’s effectiveness.
That said, retinol and other retinoid treatments are commonly used in this step, and serve as a powerful tool for reducing the appearance of skin aging by improving texture and complexion.
Step 7: Eye Cream
The delicate skin around the eyes requires a gentle product specifically formulated for the under-eye area. Apply eye cream after serums and concentrates to hydrate the skin while also addressing concerns like puffiness and dark circles. Use a gentle tapping motion to avoid tugging on the sensitive skin, and avoid getting the product into your eyes or on your eyelids.
Step 8: Moisturizer
Moisturizer is essential for locking in hydration and supporting your skin’s natural protective barrier. Apply it after eye cream to help seal in the benefits of the previous steps. Moisturizers are typically formulated specific to the different skin types, though you’ll also notice there are moisturizers that can suit all the skin types with the use of gentle but powerful ingredients.
Our Solabiome™ Nourishing Moisturizer is suitable for the dry, oily, and combination types we mentioned earlier, as well as for sensitive skin and skin that’s prone to acne. It’s formulated with three weights of hyaluronic acid and polyglutamic acid to help retain moisture in the skin for plumpness, softness, and suppleness. We also include collagen peptides to help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles for healthy-looking, glowing skin.
Step 9: Face Oils
Face oils can provide an extra layer of nourishment on top of helping to seal in moisture. Apply face oils after moisturizer to enhance hydration and give the skin a radiant glow. Select oils that are non-comedogenic to avoid clogging pores. If you have oily or combination skin, you may want to start with a very minimal amount to see if this step is beneficial to your skin, or if it’s a step that’s better skipped to avoid oiliness.
Step 10: Sunscreen
The final step in any daytime skincare routine is sunscreen, which protects the skin from harmful UV rays. You can check your moisturizer to see if it has SPF already incorporated into the formula; many daytime moisturizers will offer an SPF of 15 to 30, which is usually enough for your typical day to day routine. If you know you’ll be outdoors or in the sun for most of the day, applying a layer of face sunscreen is typically recommended.
What Skincare Products Should Not Be Mixed?
Understanding which skincare products should not be mixed is essential to avoid irritation and ensure optimal results.
- Retinol and vitamin C should not be used together as they can cause sensitivity and reduce each other's effectiveness.
- Benzoyl peroxide and retinol can lead to excessive dryness and irritation.
- Mixing AHAs (Alpha Hydroxy Acids) or BHAs (Beta Hydroxy Acids) with retinol can also be too harsh, potentially causing redness and peeling.
- Using multiple exfoliating products simultaneously can over-exfoliate the skin, leading to damage and increased sensitivity. Proper exfoliation is important, but it must be done with care to avoid these potential issues.
What’s the Best Skincare Routine For Sensitive Skin?
A skincare routine for sensitive skin requires gentle, soothing products to minimize irritation and maintain a healthy complexion. While the steps and layering order are mostly the same, it’s the products and ingredients that will change if you have particularly sensitive skin.
Begin with a gentle, fragrance-free cleanser to remove impurities without stripping the skin. Follow with a hydrating, alcohol-free toner containing calming ingredients like aloe vera or chamomile. Apply a soothing serum with hydrating and calming ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and niacinamide to address redness and irritation. If needed, use a spot treatment formulated for sensitive skin with gentle ingredients like tea tree oil. Choose a hypoallergenic eye cream free from harsh chemicals to nourish the eye area. Opt for a moisturizer rich in hydrating and soothing ingredients like ceramides, ensuring it is free from fragrances and dyes. For an extra layer of nourishment, use a lightweight, non-comedogenic face oil such as jojoba or rosehip. Finish with a mineral-based sunscreen containing zinc oxide or titanium dioxide to provide effective sun protection without causing irritation from chemical ingredients.
Common Skincare Mistakes To Avoid in Your Routine
With all the different ingredients, products, and treatments we can choose to include in our skincare routine, there are several common mistakes that can be made when it comes to a layering routine.
One frequent error is applying products in the wrong sequence, which can hinder their absorption and efficacy. For instance, applying a moisturizer before a serum can create a barrier that prevents the serum's active ingredients from penetrating the skin.
Another mistake is not giving enough time for absorption between layers, which can lead to pilling and reduced effectiveness. Additionally, mixing incompatible active ingredients as we’ve noted above can cause irritation and diminish their benefits. Overusing exfoliants or skipping sunscreen are also common pitfalls that can compromise skin health.
Conclusion
Knowing the right order to layer your skincare products can make a big difference in achieving that healthy, glowing complexion we all strive for. Start with a good cleanse, follow with a toner to prep your skin, and then apply your serums and spot treatments. Don’t forget to lock it all in with a nourishing moisturizer, and if it’s daytime, finish off with sunscreen to protect your skin from harmful UV rays.
Consistency and patience are key in any skincare routine, and by tailoring your steps and products to what your skin needs, you’ll be well on your way to a balanced and radiant complexion.
Sources:
- Salicylic Acid: Uses, Brands & Interactions
- An Open Label Clinical Trial to Evaluate the Efficacy and Tolerance of a Retinol and Vitamin C Facial Regimen in Women With Mild-to-Moderate Hyperpigmentation and Photodamaged Facial Skin
- Sunscreen FAQs.
- Sensitive skin: Active ingredients on the spotlight.
