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Reviewed by Kimberly Samantha, Skincare Reviewer
A skincare routine is personal, and with so many products on the market it can be overwhelming to figure out what works for you. Individual results vary, but below is our recommended daytime and nighttime routine, listed in the order you should apply each product.
Key Takeaways
- A basic order is cleanser, optional toner, serum or treatment, eye cream, moisturizer, then sunscreen in the morning.
- Choose a cleanser for your skin type; gentle, non-foaming formulas suit dry or sensitive skin.
- Chemical exfoliants (AHAs/BHAs) are a gentler option than harsh scrubs for many people, but don’t overdo them.
- Finish every morning with a broad-spectrum sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher.
- Patch test new products and see a board-certified dermatologist for ongoing skin concerns.
Cleanser
The first step in any skincare routine is a cleanser, and there are different types for different skin types. If your skin is dry or sensitive, a gentle, non-foaming cleanser is usually the safer choice, since harsh foaming formulas can strip the skin of its natural oils; oily skin often does well with a gel or foaming cleanser. There is also the double cleansing method, where you start with an oil-based cleanser and then follow with a gentle cleanser.
The idea behind this method is that the second cleanse removes any dirt or makeup left over after the first. We recommend it for anyone who wears makeup or sunscreen every day. Here are some good cleansers for different skin types.
Soy Face Cleansing Milk
(nighttime or daytime use)
The best gentle cleanser we would recommend is the Soy Face Cleansing Milk cleanser from Fresh Cosmetics. This is a lightweight non-foaming formula with white hibiscus flower extract that contains amino acid-rich soy proteins, which help maintain the skin’s elasticity. This gentle cleanser is good for all skin types and leaves your face feeling clean, soft, and supple without feeling stripped of natural oils.
Truth Juice
(nighttime or daytime use)
A good everyday cleanser that gently exfoliates is Truth Juice by OLEHENRIKSEN, now sold as Truth Juice Gentle Glow Daily Cleanser. It uses PHA, one of the gentlest chemical exfoliants, to help lift dead skin, dirt, oil, and makeup. It’s formulated with orange fruit water and extracts like lemon, rose hip, and goji berry, and leaves skin feeling refreshed.
Tatcha Pure One Step Camellia Cleansing Oil OR Juice Beauty Stem Cellular Cleansing Oil
(mainly nighttime use)
Our favorite oil cleansers are the Tatcha Pure One Step Camellia Oil Cleanser and the Juice Beauty Stem Cellular Oil Cleanser. Both melt away makeup and impurities while leaving skin feeling hydrated, which makes them a good first step for double cleansing.
Toner
The next step is toner, which is optional. Toners can remove any leftover oil and dirt and help prepare the skin for the products that follow. A common misconception is that toner needs alcohol to fight acne. In reality, high amounts of alcohol can strip the skin of its natural oils and leave it dry and irritated.
If you have acne-prone skin, look for toners with salicylic acid (a BHA) or glycolic acid (an AHA), which help clear dead skin cells from pores. Use acid toners carefully, since too much exfoliation can irritate the skin. Everyone’s skin is different, so choose what works best for you, and see a board-certified dermatologist if your acne is persistent. Here are a few toners for different needs.
Rose and Hyaluronic Acid Toner
(nighttime or daytime use)
For balancing the skin while still hydrating, we like the Rose and Hyaluronic Acid Toner by Fresh. It’s formulated with rose petals and rose oil, along with hyaluronic acid for hydration. There are also many hidden uses for rose petals if you didn’t know!
Aloe Vera Toner
(nighttime or daytime use)
A gentle and affordable option is the Aloe Vera Toner by Mario Badescu. It’s formulated with aloe, suits most sensitive skin, and still does a good job of refreshing and hydrating the skin.
Clarifying Toner
(nighttime or daytime use)
For oily or acne-prone skin, a good choice is the Clarifying Toner by MURAD. It’s formulated without sulfates and uses grape seed extract, witch hazel, and algae extract to help clean pores without stripping the skin.
Eye Cream
The skin under the eyes is thinner and more delicate than the rest of the face. Many dermatologists suggest applying eye cream after serum and before moisturizer, though some people prefer to apply it first. Use your ring finger, the weakest finger, so you apply the least amount of pressure to the area. Eye creams target different concerns, but the best ones depuff, brighten, and hydrate.
Banana Bright Eye Crème
(nighttime or daytime use)
For dark circles, fine lines, and dryness, we like the Banana Bright Eye Crème by OLEHENRIKSEN. It’s a brightening, vitamin C-rich eye cream that helps reduce the look of dark circles, and its banana powder helps concealer go on more smoothly.
Origins GinZing Refreshing Eye Cream
(nighttime or daytime use)
For visibly brighter under-eyes, try the Origins GinZing Refreshing Eye Cream. It’s formulated with coffee beans, Panax ginseng, and magnolia extract to help tired eyes look more refreshed.
Serums and Chemical Exfoliants
Serums are where you can tailor your routine to your skin’s needs. Different serums target fine lines and wrinkles, hydration, resurfacing, and brightening. Some people believe exfoliating should be done with a sugar scrub or polish after washing the face.
However, harsh or gritty scrubs can irritate the skin, especially if it is dry, sensitive, or acne-prone. For many people, a gentler way to exfoliate is a chemical exfoliant serum with AHAs or BHAs, which dissolve dead skin cells. Start slowly, don’t over-exfoliate, and wear sunscreen daily, since AHAs can make skin more sensitive to the sun.
Drunk Elephant Glycolic Serum OR Honeymoon Glow Serum
(nighttime or daytime use)
For chemical exfoliation, we like Drunk Elephant’s glycolic serum (sold as T.L.C. Framboos Glycolic Night Serum) and the Honeymoon Glow Serum by Farmacy. Both use AHA/BHA acids to help with dullness, uneven texture, the look of pores, and uneven skin tone.
Tatcha Vitamin C Serum OR Glow Recipe Pineapple-C Brightening Serum
(daytime or nighttime use)
For brightening, we like the Tatcha Vitamin C Serum and the Glow Recipe Pineapple-C Brightening Serum. The Glow Recipe serum (sold as Pineapple-C Bright Serum) is formulated with vitamin C, pineapple juice, chamomile, and AHA, while the Tatcha serum (now sold as Violet-C Brightening Serum) combines vitamin C, AHAs, and Japanese angelica root extract. Both help fight the look of dullness, dark spots, and discoloration.
Advanced Night Repair
(mainly nighttime use)
For fine lines, we like Advanced Night Repair by Estee Lauder. This serum helps with the look of fine lines and wrinkles, dryness, dullness, and uneven texture, and is a nice addition to a nighttime routine.
Moisturizer
Moisturizer is a key step in any skincare routine. Different moisturizers offer lighter or richer hydration, and depending on your needs they can be used at night, during the day, or both. If you’re looking for hydration, one ingredient to look for is hyaluronic acid, which draws water into the skin and leaves it feeling soft and supple.
Tatcha Water Cream OR Sunday Riley Tidal Water Cream
(nighttime or daytime use)
Our favorite lightweight daytime moisturizers are the Tatcha Water Cream and the Sunday Riley Tidal Water Cream. The Tatcha Water Cream is oil-free and combines Japanese botanicals with lightweight hydration for a smoother look. The Sunday Riley cream is formulated with papaya enzymes, alpha-arbutin, hyaluronic acid, and tamarind extract to leave skin looking brighter and feeling hydrated.
Tatcha Dewy Skin Cream
(mainly nighttime use)
Our favorite nighttime moisturizer is the Tatcha Dewy Skin Cream. It’s a thicker, richer cream that delivers plumping hydration and antioxidant-rich Japanese purple rice for a dewy glow.
Ultra Repair Cream
(nighttime or daytime use)
For very dry skin, we like the Ultra Repair Cream by First Aid Beauty. It’s more affordable but still offers a rich formula that hydrates dry, distressed skin. It’s formulated with shea butter, allantoin, and colloidal oatmeal to help soothe the skin. If you have eczema, it’s best to work with a board-certified dermatologist on a treatment plan.
Goat Milk Soap
Some people prefer natural-based cleansers like goat milk soap. Goat milk contains lactic acid, an alpha-hydroxy acid that can help loosen dead skin cells, along with fats that can feel gentle on the skin. If your skin feels tight or dry afterward, switch to a gentler cleanser and follow with moisturizer.
Facial Oils
Facial oils are a nice addition to your routine, especially at night if you want extra hydration and an added glow. I listed two good options you can use as your skin needs them.
Drunk Elephant Virgin Marula Oil
(mainly nighttime use)
A great facial oil is Drunk Elephant Virgin Marula Oil. Its main ingredient, virgin marula oil, is rich in antioxidants and omega 6 and 9 fatty acids, and leaves the skin feeling moisturized, nourished, and balanced.
Superberry Hydrate + Glow Oil
Another great facial oil is the Superberry Hydrate + Glow Oil by Youth To The People, now sold as Superberry Hydrate + Glow Dream Oil. This oil is formulated with Maqui fruit and combined with açaí and goji berries to create a potent antioxidant elixir. It also has a balance of jojoba and sunflower oil to illuminate and revive dehydrated skin without weighing it down.
Lip Care
Some people tend to forget about their lips when they think about a skincare routine. However, it’s always important to remember to hydrate daily and exfoliate when needed. The best two products for this are the Advanced Therapy Lip Balm and the Sugar Lip Polish (both by Fresh).
The lip balm is formulated with orange extract and sea fennel to help keep lips soft and moisturized, making it ideal for overnight use or as a base layer for lipstick. The lip scrub has brown sugar crystals to buff away dry flakes along with shea butter and jojoba oil to nourish the skin.
Sunscreen
Sunscreen is the last step of your morning skincare routine and one of the most important. UV rays are a major cause of premature skin aging and dark spots, and they raise skin cancer risk. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher, reapplied about every two hours when you’re outdoors. The Unseen Sunscreen by Supergoop! is an invisible, weightless, scentless daily sunscreen that doubles as a makeup primer. It’s formulated with meadowfoam seed for hydration, red algae, and frankincense to soothe the skin.
Optional Extras: Essences and Face Masks
There are always optional products you can add, such as an essence for extra hydration that leaves skin softer. Face masks, used a few times a week, are another option, since they can target specific concerns you want to improve. Depending on what you’re looking for, they can give your skin a helpful boost.
Conclusion
Everyone’s skin is different, so what works for you might not work for someone else. Choose the products and routine that suit your skin type and needs. Before using a new product on your face, test it on a small spot, such as the inner elbow, twice a day for 7 to 10 days. With a consistent routine, you can help improve your skin over time. If you have a specific skin condition, a board-certified dermatologist can help tailor your routine.
Sources
- American Academy of Dermatology – Should I apply my skin care products in a certain order?
- Cleveland Clinic – The Correct Order for Skin Care Products
- American Academy of Dermatology – How to safely exfoliate at home
- American Academy of Dermatology – Sunscreen FAQs
- American Academy of Dermatology – How to test skin care products
Kourtney Anderson is a freelance writer for Successible Life and one of its most prolific contributors, covering makeup looks and techniques, skincare routines and ingredients, hair care and beauty shopping guides.