When it comes to skincare, it can be hard to know what to do. In fact, research shows that up to 80% of Americans aren't even sure which way to wash their face!

It seems as though everywhere you look, there's a different product or potion to try. Which ones are the best for your skin? How do you apply them? Is there a rhyme or reason to the order in which you slather them on?

Turns out, the answer to that last question is a resounding "yes".

Today, we're taking a look at the proper skin care routine order to follow, from start to finish. Following these steps can help each product absorb more effectively and boost the overall effects of your regimen.

Read on to learn everything you need to know!

Why Your Skin Care Routine Order Matters

As long as we're using good, high-quality products on our skin, we should be able to put them on in any sequence, right?

Not so fast.

You want to make sure that your skin maximizes its use of each product, and applying them arbitrarily can diminish their effects. After all, these products are packed with nourishing key ingredients, including antioxidants, peptides, collagen and more. Those components are designed to enter our skin, but they can only do so in small amounts. 

That's why it pays to learn the correct way that you should be layering skin care products. Doing so helps your skin accept the substances you're counting on to help it look hydrated, younger, and more radiant. 

Layering Your Skincare Products: A General Guide

Let's start with a few basics. 

Generally, it's best to apply your skincare products in order of consistency, starting with the thinnest product and finishing with the thickest.

Yet, while that's a great rule of thumb to remember, there's a caveat.

Consistency is important, but ingredients are more important. You should begin your regimen by applying the products with the most high-powered, important ingredients first. These are the ones that will penetrate into your skin the deepest, followed by any products you layer on top.

Most of the time, these two rules complement each other. For instance, lightweight serums tend to be more potent and powerful than thicker, hydrating face oils.

Still a little confused over the exact steps to take? We've got you covered.

Your Morning Routine: Step by Step

As soon as you wake up, you're most concerned about protecting your skin from three things:

• The sun
• Environmental elements
• Air pollution

Of course, these issues aren't as relevant in the evening. That's why your daytime and nighttime routines will differ.

In the morning, you'll follow a simple, six-step routine. While this might sound involved, once you have your go-to skincare products in place, it takes only minutes to perform. Let's take a look at each step.

Step 1: Cleanser

Your face doesn't get too dirty overnight, and scrubbing it with a harsh cleanser first thing in the morning can dry it out. That's why it's OK to simply splash it with warm water before applying any products.

If you want that squeaky-clean feeling, use a mild cleanser, like our Gentle Superfood Liquid Cleanser, designed to fit any skin type. 

Step 2: Toner

For all their benefits, toners remain underappreciated. However, we're here to change your mind on these little wonders! 

Not only do toners help remove environmental toxins from your skin, but they can also help refresh your complexion, minimize the appearance of your pores, restore your skin's pH balance, and more.

For best results, skip the harsh toners laden with alcohol and other chemicals and stick with all-natural varieties, like our Butterfly Pea Mist Toner.

Step 3: Serum

Serums are hot tickets in the skincare industry, and it's easy to see why. These treatments are super-concentrated and designed to target specific problem areas, such as acne, fine lines, dryness, and other concerns. 

Because they include such critical ingredients, it's best to apply these right after applying your toner. Otherwise, if you layer them on top of your other products, they lose their potency and can't absorb as well.

A quick search will reveal that the market is filled with all kinds of serums! Most of these are best to save for the nighttime, as they contain strong ingredients (like retinol) that can make your skin more sensitive to the sunlight.

For the daytime, stick with an antioxidant serum, such as our Hibiscus Infused Vitamin C Serum. This gentle, quick-absorbing serum is jam-packed with super ingredients including vitamin C, hibiscus flower, and hyaluronic acid and is perfect for all skin types. 

Step 4: Eye Cream

If you're younger, you might not think too much about eye cream. Yet, this is one step that you can't afford to skip. 

Over time, your eyelid skin can become thin and start to sag. Applying a nutrient-rich eye cream with SPF as early as your 20s can help keep that skin as thick and healthy as possible. This way, it can stay taut and smooth down the road.

While you might not see dramatic results overnight, stick with it. Adding it as a regular step in your skincare routine can help add elasticity to your eye area, helping reduce any fine lines or collagen loss that come with age. 

Step 5: Moisturizer or Face Oil

"Wait. I have oily skin. Won't a moisturizer or face oil make my skin more oily?"

As contradictory as it might seem, these products are must-haves for every skin type.

In fact, if your skin is more on the oily side, a specially-formulated face oil can actually help balance your sebum production, reducing excess oil production and leading to a more balanced complexion. Sebum is the oil that your skin naturally secretes to moisturize your skin and protect it from outside irritations. 

Still, for all its benefits, sebum isn't enough to keep your skin as hydrated as it needs to be. Between the sun, weather, and damaging chemicals we encounter on a daily basis, we all need a little moisture boost. Our Repair Facial Oil, infused with chamomile tea and jojoba oil, absorbs seamlessly into your skin for instant softness.

To help it work as hard as possible, apply it when your skin is still a little damp, right after your serum.

Step 6: Sunscreen

If you only have time for one of these six steps, make it this one. Although it's the last part of your daytime skincare routine, it's the most important part. 

Both physical and mineral sunscreens are ideal to apply right after your moisturizer in the morning. Both of these work by physically blocking UV rays from penetrating your skin.

If you use a chemical sunscreen, they're most effective when applied directly to your skin (not layered on top of it). Yet, doing so can make it more difficult for your other skincare ingredients to penetrate.

For that reason (and many others), it's always best to stick to a physical or mineral sunscreen, preferably one with zinc as the active ingredient!

Nighttime Routine Alterations

At night, you're more focused on nourishing and enriching your skin, rather than protecting it from the elements. That means you'll still cleanse and tone your skin as you did in the morning. You'll also apply the same eye cream. However, you'll switch out your serum, add a richer moisturizer, and skip the sunscreen altogether. 

Let's take a look at a few smart changes to make when the sun goes down.

Add an Essence

Right after you apply toner, why not add a nighttime essence into the mix?

This is a kind of concentrated skincare booster that's designed to add an extra layer of hydration. More lightweight than serums, they're an easy addition that can help moisturize your skin even more!

Swap Your Serum

For nighttime use, look for serums that restore, repair and rejuvenate while you sleep. In addition to anti-aging serums, you might also have spot treatments to apply at this part of your routine. These can include:

• Prescription medications
• Exfoliative peels, masks
• Retinol creams

While it's tempting to layer all of these on top of each other, doing so doesn't make them more powerful. In fact, it has the opposite effect. Assess your skin's current condition and let that guide which products you use.

Amplify Your Moisturizer

You won't use sunscreen at night, so moisturizer is your last step. 

Rather than using the same one you used earlier in the day, opt for one that's a little richer and more indulgent. Your skin has several hours to absorb this product, and a thicker one can help maintain your skin's water content while you doze!

Health and Skincare Products You Can Trust

In your quest to keep your complexion feeling fresh and looking great, it's easy to do a ton of research on the subject of skincare. From the correct skin care routine order to the specific components to use, there's a lot to learn.

We know because we've studied it, too.

Not only are we dedicated to creating the best health beverages on the market, but we're also skin fanatics who happen to know that the most effective and powerful skin-loving ingredients are found in nature, not in a test tube. 

Check out our tea infused skincare selection to give you the healthy skin you've been looking for.