You can find that getting products in the right order is even more confusing than finding the right product. You may understand what a cleanser does and have a toner in the cabinet, a serum sample and a moisturizer next to the washbasin, but still get stuck thinking you know how to put them together. For those just starting a skincare routine, the most important rule of thumb is to consider the function of each product, rather than thinking about how many products you can put on your skin.
Cleanser should be first in order to clear your skin of makeup, sunscreen, dirt and oil in preparation for further cleansing. The skin should be cleaned with gentle pressure rather than force, assuming that the skin is not going to get any more clean if you scrub harder. If the skin is visibly irritated or feeling tight, you will want the cleansing stage to be very gentle. Make sure that the skin feels well-balanced and not overly dry or irritated before proceeding to the next step.
The toner or hydrating mist can come after the cleanser as part of a routine if you choose to include it. Keep toner basic at the beginning. Do not use a lot of cotton and friction to apply the toner, and do not add other actives to the skin that you do not fully understand. A basic toner will refresh the skin and make it ready for the next step, but don’t feel like you need to use a toner as part of your facial cleansing all the time.
Serum is often the point where learners start to add too much. Serums tend to have light consistency and targeted purposes, but that doesn’t mean you have to start using more than one at a time as a beginner. Be sure that you are fully reading and understanding the label of what the serum is designed to help with before you add it to the mix. If your skin is irritated, heated, or feels uncomfortable, you are probably better off not adding a serum to your routine that day.
Moisturizer usually comes last in order to complete the skin-care routine and minimize dryness from the cleansing and/or other light product steps. Do not apply too much, and try to match the level of moisturizer to the visible and felt condition of the skin. A particularly dry, cracked patch may warrant more product, while very oily areas may not need a thick layer. Apply the moisturizer well and notice whether the skin absorbs the product, if it seems to sit on the surface, or whether you have left a residue behind.
Masks are often placed differently than standard daily wear products, since most masks are used after cleansing but before moisturizer, and are designed to be removed. It is important to note how thick a mask needs to be applied, how much time the mask requires for use, and the correct method for mask removal. A mask is too much applied too heavily, or left on the skin too long, to allow the skin to give you an accurate reading of your reaction. Use a timer, apply an even application using a clean mask brush or spatula, and remove the mask without tugging or scraping it.
One simple way of practicing product sequencing that won’t stress the skin is to lay out the products you have for daily use on an empty plate and talk through the order of use before using the product. Describe to yourself what the product does, how you apply it, and why you might not use it that day. Speaking out loud will help you develop better decision-making skills than if you were to just memorize a routine. A good daily basic routine is not the one with the longest product list; it is the one that uses only those cleansers, toners, serums, moisturizers and masks that make sense to put in a facial at that time.