How to Build a Skincare Routine and What Order to Apply It In
A common order is cleanser, serum, eye cream, moisturizer, and SPF by day. Here’s the AM and PM order, where Retinoids go, and a simple starter routine.
Key Takeaways
A common skincare order is cleanser, then serum or treatment, then eye cream, then moisturizer, with sunscreen as the last step in the morning, and the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) suggests applying any medication or treatment right after cleansing.
The usual rule of thumb is thinnest to thickest, so watery serums tend to go on before richer creams, and a product’s own directions take priority wherever they differ.
Retinoids typically sit in the evening routine, right after cleansing, and a dermatologist quoted by the AAD suggests starting every other night and wearing sunscreen by day.
A starter routine can be as short as a gentle cleanser, a moisturizer, and a broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher in the morning, with anything new added one product at a time.
The AAD suggests testing a new product on a quarter-sized spot twice daily for 7 to 10 days before it goes on your whole face, which may help you see how your skin responds first.
The Order Skincare Products Usually Go In
Most skincare routines follow the same basic order: cleanse, apply a serum or treatment, add an eye cream if you use one, moisturize, and finish with sunscreen in the morning. The American Academy of Dermatology lays out the same sequence and notes that the order you apply products in affects how well they work. Building a routine from scratch tends to be simpler than it looks, too, because three products cover the basics and the rest can be added slowly.
Below, we cover why thinner products usually go first, the morning and evening order step by step, where Retinoids and exfoliating acids fit, how to patch test and add one product at a time, and a starter routine you can build on.
Why Thinner Products Usually Go on First
The usual sequence runs from thinnest to thickest. Watery serums and treatments go on first, closest to freshly cleansed skin, and richer creams follow, since a heavier layer tends to sit on top of whatever went on before it. Sunscreen is the one step that isn’t decided by texture: In the morning it typically goes last, over moisturizer and under makeup, which is where the AAD’s order puts it.
Where a product’s directions say something different, follow the label. Some formulas are made to go on bare, dry skin, some ask you to wait until they’ve dried before the next layer, and a prescription comes with instructions from whoever prescribed it. The general order is a starting point, and the directions on the bottle are the more specific guide.
The Morning and Evening Order, Step by Step
The two routines share most of their steps. Mornings end with sunscreen, and evenings are where many people put Retinoids and exfoliating products, so the versions differ mainly at the start and the finish.
Cleanse
The AAD’s first step is to wash your face with a gentle cleanser and pat it dry. At night, a cleansing balm or oil can help lift the day’s sunscreen and makeup, and some people follow it with a second, water-based cleanser. In the morning, a quick wash with a gentle cleanser is usually all this step asks for.
Serum or Treatment
This is the step for whatever does the most specific job in your routine, whether that’s a hydrating serum, an antioxidant serum, a Retinoid, an exfoliating acid, or a prescription. The AAD puts medication or treatment directly after the cleanser, so it goes on first. If you use two serums, the thinner one usually goes first.
Eye Cream
Eye cream typically follows the serum and comes before moisturizer. The AAD’s tip for the eye area is to use your ring finger, “because it is the weakest finger and will not pull too hard on this delicate skin.”
Moisturizer
Moisturizer comes next, morning and night. It’s often the thickest layer in the routine, and it may help skin feel softer and more comfortable through the day or overnight. A lighter texture in the morning and a richer one at night is a common split, though one moisturizer used twice a day suits plenty of people.
Sunscreen in the Morning
Sunscreen is the last step of the morning routine, before makeup. The AAD recommends a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher, at least 1 teaspoon for the face, and it notes that sunscreen takes about 15 minutes to start protecting skin, so it’s worth putting on before you head outside. Outdoors, the AAD suggests reapplying every 2 hours, and after swimming or sweating.
The AM and PM Order at a Glance
Step | AM | PM |
|---|---|---|
1. Cleanse | A gentle cleanser | A cleanser that lifts sunscreen and makeup, such as a balm |
2. Serum or treatment | A serum, if you use one | A serum, a Retinoid, an exfoliating acid, or a prescription |
3. Eye cream | Optional, patted on with the ring finger | Optional, patted on with the ring finger |
4. Moisturizer | A moisturizer, often a lighter one | A moisturizer, richer if your skin feels dry |
5. Sunscreen | Broad-spectrum, SPF 30 or higher | Not part of the evening routine |
Where Retinoids and Exfoliating Acids Fit
Both go in the serum or treatment step, right after cleansing and before moisturizer. What changes is how often you use them and what time of day they suit.
Retinoids: Retinol and other Retinoids usually go on in the evening. Tina Alster, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist quoted by the AAD, advises starting with the least-intense formula you can find, using it every other night, and building up slowly. Because Retinoids can make skin more sensitive to the sun, she pairs them with sun protection during the day.
Exfoliating acids: Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs), such as Glycolic Acid, and Beta Hydroxy Acid (BHA), such as Salicylic Acid, belong in the same treatment step. The AAD’s exfoliation guidance says how often to exfoliate depends on your skin type and method, that the more aggressive the exfoliation, the less often it tends to be needed, and that moisturizer should follow.
Retinoids and acids together: If you already use a prescription Retinoid or a Retinol product, the same AAD page suggests factoring it in before you add an exfoliating step, since exfoliating alongside them may leave skin feeling drier. Giving each its own night is one way to space them out.
Prescription treatments: A medication from a dermatologist goes on straight after cleansing, per the AAD, and its own directions come ahead of any general order.
How to Build a Skincare Routine From Scratch
Start with three products and add from there. Marisa Garshick, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist quoted in a 2025 AAD news release, put the principle simply: “consistency matters more than a 10-step routine.” With fewer products, it also tends to be easier to see what each one is doing.
A minimal morning routine: A gentle cleanser, a moisturizer, and a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher.
A minimal evening routine: A cleanser that takes off the day’s sunscreen and makeup, then a moisturizer.
Your first addition: A serum or treatment chosen for the one thing you most want to work on, such as uneven-looking texture or the look of fine lines, placed between cleanser and moisturizer.
A patch test before full-face use: The AAD suggests applying a new product to a quarter-sized test spot twice daily for 7 to 10 days, somewhere it won’t be rubbed or washed away, such as the bend of your elbow. If the spot turns visibly red or swollen, or feels itchy, the academy advises washing the product off and not using it again.
One new product at a time: Dr. Garshick’s advice in the same release is to “introduce one new product at a time to ensure your skin can tolerate it.” Giving each addition a few weeks of consistent use before the next one also makes it easier to tell what’s working.
What to Look For on the Label at Each Step
A gentle cleanser: The academy’s face-washing advice is a gentle, non-abrasive cleanser that doesn’t contain alcohol, used with lukewarm water and your fingertips. For the evening, a balm or cleansing oil can help lift sunscreen and makeup before a second, water-based wash.
Hydrating ingredients in serums and moisturizers: Glycerin and Hyaluronic Acid, often listed as Sodium Hyaluronate, are humectants, ingredients that help attract water to the skin. The AAD’s dry-skin tips name Glycerin, Hyaluronic Acid, Dimethicone, Shea Butter, and Petrolatum among the ingredients to look for, and note that creams and ointments add more moisture than lotions.
Retinoids and exfoliating acids by name: On an ingredient list, a Retinoid may appear as Retinol or as a Retinol Ester, such as Retinyl Palmitate. Glycolic, Lactic, and Mandelic Acids are Alpha Hydroxy Acids, and Salicylic Acid is a Beta Hydroxy Acid. Any of these belongs in the treatment step.
Fragrance-free wording: The same dry-skin guidance recommends products labeled “fragrance-free” for dry, sensitive-feeling skin, and notes that a product labeled “unscented” can contain chemicals that hide the odors of other ingredients.
Broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher: Look for broad spectrum, SPF 30 or higher, and water resistant on the label, as the academy recommends. The FDA regulates sunscreens as drugs, so each one carries a Drug Facts label with its directions, and a water-resistant claim has to state whether it lasts 40 or 80 minutes when swimming or sweating.
For specific products compared on these cues, see our guides to non-stripping face cleansers, moisturizers for sensitive-feeling skin, and non-comedogenic skincare products.
When to See a Dermatologist
If new products tend to sting, look visibly red, or leave your face feeling uncomfortable, or if you’re unsure how a prescription fits into your routine, a board-certified dermatologist can help you work out an order that suits your skin.
Frequently Asked Questions
What order should I apply my skincare products in?
A common order is cleanser, serum or treatment, eye cream, moisturizer, and then sunscreen in the morning, with makeup last if you wear it. That follows the AAD’s sequence and the thinnest-to-thickest rule of thumb. In the evening, the sunscreen step drops out, and any Retinoid or exfoliating acid goes in the treatment step, right after cleansing.
How do I build a skincare routine from scratch?
Start with a gentle cleanser, a moisturizer, and a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher in the morning, and a cleanser and moisturizer at night. Once that feels easy to keep up, add one serum or treatment for the concern you care about most. Patch test each new product first, and introduce one at a time so it’s easier to tell how your skin responds.
How long should you wait between skincare layers?
There’s no single rule, so the product’s directions are the best guide. Some serums ask you to wait until they’re dry before the next layer goes on, and the AAD notes that sunscreen takes about 15 minutes to start protecting skin, so it’s worth applying before you head outside.
Does eye cream go before or after moisturizer?
Usually before. Eye cream typically goes on after your serum, patted on with your ring finger as the AAD suggests for the eye area, and your moisturizer follows around it.
Do I need a different skincare routine for morning and night?
The order stays largely the same twice a day, with two differences. The morning routine ends with sunscreen, and the evening routine is where Retinoids usually go, since they can make skin more sensitive to the sun. A cleanser that lifts sunscreen and makeup also tends to earn its place at night.
Is a three-step skincare routine enough?
For many people it’s a reasonable place to start. A gentle cleanser, a moisturizer, and daily sunscreen cover the cleanse, moisturize, and protect steps in the AAD’s order, and Dr. Garshick’s point about consistency applies: A short routine you keep up tends to do more for you than a long one you drop after a few weeks.
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