Your Morning Skincare Routine: In What Order Should You Apply Products?

a woman moisturizing her face

Updated 04/28/22. To get the most out of your morning skincare routine, it’s important to do three things: choose products formulated for your skin type, use them correctly, and finally, apply them in the right order. Doing these three things every morning will give your skin maximum benefit throughout the day as it’s subjected to UV rays, pollution, and environmental stressors.

In this post, you’ll learn the exact order you should be applying your products for the perfect morning skincare routine. I’ve also included some helpful tips and answers to FAQs to clear up any confusion you might have. Let’s go!

5 Guidelines for an Effective Morning Skincare Routine

  • Your morning skincare routine should be slightly different from your nighttime skincare routine. That’s because your skin has different needs at different times of day (did you know your skin has its own circadian rhythm?). Daytime is all about protection. Nighttime is all about repair.
  • The main focus of your morning routine should be UV protection.
  • You should try to perform your routine rather quickly. In fact, you have a one-minute window after cleansing to apply your next product. Otherwise, you risk moisture loss. I call this the “Golden Minute Rule.”
  • Avoid using face oils in the morning. They can dissolve sunscreen, making it less protective.
  • As I said before, it’s so important to choose products formulated for your specific skin type! If you don’t know your skin type, take the Skin Type Quiz to find out.

How Your Skin Functions in the Morning

  • Skin cells have the highest water content
  • Natural antioxidant protection is increased
  • The skin’s natural barrier function improves to defend against environmental stressors
  • Improved barrier function means products are less likely to penetrate than they are at night
  • Mitochondrial energy needed for cell health is at its lowest
  • The rate of cell growth and production is decreased
  • DNA protection is increased

The Correct Order To Apply Morning Skincare Products

Step 1: Cleanser

Cleansing is a key step for the performance of your daytime products. You never want to skip this step. Learn why cleansing your skin in the morning is so important.

I recommend using a gentle, sulfate-free foaming cleanser in the morning. They contain surfactants that can cut through oil without leaving the skin feeling tight or dry. (Personally, I use and recommend the Mint Renewal Cleanser. I formulated it with peppermint oil and jojoba beads to instantly polish and refresh the skin.)

Once you’ve finished cleansing your skin, immediately go to the next step in your routine. Remember, you want to work fast!

Step 2: Toner

Toners are misunderstood, but they are very important to use and serve many purposes for the skin. In fact, they serve 5 major purposes. Just make sure you’re using an alcohol-free toner, as they’re generally more gentle and hydrating than alcohol-based toners. The latter are often drying and irritating, especially to sensitive skin types.

Apply all over the face using a thin toning cloth to avoid product waste. Leave it damp on the skin and go to the next step.

Step 3: Vitamin C Serum

The next step in your morning skincare routine should be to use an antioxidant serum, like the Vitamin C&E Treatment. Skin experts agree that using a well-formulated vitamin C serum in conjunction with your sunscreen is the most effective way to protect your skin cells from environmental damage caused by UV light, pollution, and debris. With time, it can also help brighten dullness and dark spots, so it’s a win-win!

All you need to do is apply a dime-size amount to your entire face and neck. Your skin should still be damp from your toner, so spreadability should be easy. Once you’ve applied it, let the serum absorb for 60 seconds before applying moisturizer.

Step 4: Moisturizer With Sunscreen

Next up? Sunscreen. This is by far the most important part of your morning skincare routine.

Most sunscreens double as moisturizers because they contain ingredients that act as emollients, occlusives, and humectants. This is why sunscreen feels like a moisturizer when it’s applied to the skin. Despite this, people tend to think they need to use both a moisturizer AND a sunscreen, separately.

As long as you’re using a sunscreen formula that feels like it’s giving you the right amount of moisture, it can be used as your morning moisturizer. Granted, some formulas pill up and aren’t so compatible with liquid foundation. You just have to find the one that works for you. Once you do, commit to using it every single day, rain or shine.

Are You Making This Sunscreen Mistake?

People go wrong when they apply an additional moisturizer or a face oil either over or under sunscreen. This could very well interfere with it, making it less effective at protecting your skin. In fact, oil can dissolve your sunscreen without you realizing it.

As mentioned above, sunscreen can double as a moisturizer. You just have to find the right one. Think of it as a 2-in-1 product. It’s better that you do this than risk UV exposure, because, trust me, it’s a lot easier and less expensive to prevent lines and wrinkles than it is to get rid of them once they appear.

What Kind of Sunscreen Is Best, Physical or Chemical?

I recommend using sunscreen that contains both physical and chemical blockers. I believe this gives your skin the best of both worlds. (Read more about the difference between chemical and physical sunscreen.)

Step 5: Eye Cream (Optional)

The reason why I say this is optional is that some eye creams use rich oils and feel greasy. This could negatively affect your sunscreen and makeup. That’s why, if you want to use eye cream as part of your morning skincare routine,  I suggest choosing a lightweight formula, like an eye gel. These types of products will wear better throughout the day.

Step 6: Blemish Spot Treatment (Optional)

There is definitely confusion about the order in which to apply a blemish spot treatment during your morning skincare routine. If you apply it before your sunscreen/moisturizer, even if you let it dry, your moisturizer will re-wet it and break it down. This makes it less effective. Here’s what to do instead…

  • Wipe the blemish with a damp cotton swab to remove the skincare products that you just applied.
  • Apply the spot treatment and let it dry.
  • Lightly pat (don’t rub) a tiny amount of sunscreen back over the affected area.
  • Proceed with concealer if you choose. Ideally, your concealer would have sun protection. A mineral-based one is the best.

Step 7: Makeup

People think they should go without makeup to let their skin “breathe,” but I believe makeup should be worn every day. That’s because it plays an important supporting role in a morning skincare routine. Find out more, here.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are a few FAQs I get asked concerning peoples’ morning skincare routines.

How Do I Reapply Sunscreen Throughout the Day?

You should definitely be reapplying sunscreen throughout the day to ensure your skin stays protected from harmful UV rays. Here are four ways to reapply sunscreen over makeup.

I Have a Prescription Acne Medication. When Would I Apply That?

Consult your doctor to find out when you should apply your prescription medication in your morning skincare routine. It’s worth noting that many of them can be used at night. Again, your main focus during the day should be sun protection.

What’s Your Opinion on Layering Serums?

I recommend rotating serums (using different serums on different nights) vs. layering them. That’s because the skin can only absorb so much, so you might be wasting money if you’re layering multiple serums on top of each other. At a certain point, the serums won’t be able to be absorbed to deliver their full potential.

There you have it. If you follow my advice and perform your morning skincare routine with the right products for your skin type and in the right order, you’ll get the very best results!

Next, learn how to create the perfect nighttime routine.

Disclaimer: Content found on www.ReneeRouleau.com and Blog.ReneeRouleau.com, including text, images, audio, or other formats were created for informational purposes only. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website or blog.

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  1. I used the Mattifying gel moisturizer in the morning then apply the sunscreen last , does the moisturizer decreases the effectiveness of the sunscreen? I like using the mattifying moisturizer bc i have oily skin and it keeps the oil at bay but also need a sunscreen. My question is can I use both layering them moisturizer then sunscreen without reducing effectiveness
    Thanks

    Posted By: Michael  | 

    Reply
    • Since you have oily skin the hydrating ingredients in the Weightless Protection SPF 30 should be enough to be both your moisturizer AND your SPF, no extra steps needed. We suggest Mattifying Solution for only skin type 1 to use in the evening. An ideal skin type 1 morning routine would be AHA/BHA Blemish Control Cleanser, Balancing Skin Tonic, Skin Correcting Serum, Weightless Protection SPF.

      Posted By: Renée Rouleau  | 

      Reply

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