Skincare Layering: The Best Order for Your Skin Care

What is layering?

Layering, in short, describes the art of applying skincare products in successive layers. Following a specific application sequence ensures that the active ingredients in each product can achieve their maximum effectiveness and work together optimally. That's the simplest definition of this approach. Why layering is so important in skincare, how it works best, and what else you should consider will be explained in the following sections.

 

Why is layering important in skincare?

To delve into the topic of layering, it's essential to understand that skincare products can be broadly divided into two categories: water-based and lipid-rich. The first category typically contains higher concentrations of active ingredients. This includes serums, concentrates, and ampoules. These products are usually applied first, after cleansing. Since they are designed to deliver the most intensive effect, it makes sense to use them when the skin is particularly receptive. The lipid-rich products are then applied after the lighter, more fluid products. The active ingredient complexes in lipid-rich skincare products are generally formulated to help retain and anchor the active ingredients of the preceding products within the skin. Richer products with higher lipid content help the skin barrier to close, making them ideal for the subsequent steps of the routine. Reversing this basic order would seal the skin barrier prematurely, preventing the more water-based products with their more concentrated active ingredients from penetrating effectively. In this scenario, the individual products would hinder each other rather than complementing one another.

 

Sequence? Steps? If so, how many?

When searching for layering tutorials, you'll find everything from simple five-step routines to elaborate twelve-step programs. Let's be honest: on an average day, you won't have the patience or time for twelve separate steps. In fact, your skin doesn't even need all those steps every single day. Exfoliants and masks, for example, are additional treatments that are valuable from time to time, but definitely not necessary every day. Routines with fixed steps are all well and good, but in our opinion, there should always be plenty of room for individuality in skincare. That's why we prefer to present you with a basic, yet still adaptable, sequence instead of fixed steps. This way, you can adjust how many steps work best for you.

 

The classic order

Our classic skincare routine consists of a cleanser , followed by a toner , then serums and boosters , finally a moisturizer , and sunscreen for daytime use.

Cleanser

Some guides consider facial cleansing morning and evening an optional step. For us, it's one of the few non-negotiable elements of a routine. First and foremost, thorough cleansing is essential to wash away any bacteria that could otherwise cause breakouts. Beyond that, it doesn't matter whether you have oily skin with lots of sebum or dry, flaky skin; throughout the day and night, tiny particles accumulate on your skin. If you skip cleansing, you're applying your skincare products directly onto this fine layer, causing them to pill and absorb less effectively. When sebum and dead skin cells clog your pores, it's not easy for products to penetrate – makes sense, right?

Your cleanser should ideally be mild and contain no harsh surfactants or alcohols. Apart from that, you can use practically any cleanser. We recommend choosing one that suits your skin type.

Read more about this topic in our article on cleansers .

toner

Toners are also known as facial toners. They are an excellent way to moisturize, introduce initial active ingredients into the skin, and prepare it for further skincare. With our brand-new Revival Toner, we finally have the toner our community has been longing for in our skincare line.

Serums and boosters

The field of serums and boosters is vast, and there's at least one suitable product for virtually every skincare goal – usually several. As mentioned earlier, water-based serums, boosters, and concentrates should be applied first, followed by the lipid-rich boosters with their creamier consistency.

Moisturizer

A moisturizer does more than just provide extra hydration, as the name suggests. A day or night cream also seals in the previously applied active ingredients and stabilizes the skin barrier. Similar to cleansers, we recommend choosing a moisturizer that suits your skin type. This ensures the perfect finishing touch.

sun protection

Logically, sun protection is only relevant during the day. However, it's especially important because UV radiation can cause damage at any time. Our Daily SPF 50+ Moisturizer not only offers SPF 50 protection against UVB radiation, but also protects against UVA radiation and blue light.

 

What should be taken into account?

Now for the exceptions to everything we've just established, because: Safety first! Number one: Not all skin can tolerate two facial cleansers a day. This depends on your skin type and condition, but also on the individual. If you have dry, sensitive, irritated, or dehydrated skin, you should carefully test how many facial cleansers your skin can tolerate and which cleanser works best. Number two: You should always pay attention to what's good for your skin and which active ingredients work well together. Some skin doesn't cope well with an extensive skincare routine and then develops more problems (keyword: over-care). Some active ingredients are also not suitable for combining because they can cause irritation together. On our product pages, you'll always find relevant information if the main active ingredient of a product is incompatible with others.

 

Our favorite tips and tricks

We're happy to share our insider tips on layering with you.

The rule of thumb: work your way from thin or watery consistencies to thick or rich ones. A simple but extremely effective rule. This also prevents the rolling effect.

Breaks: Another good way to prevent toothpaste from peeling is to take short breaks. Five to ten minutes between layers is usually enough. This can easily be combined with the rest of your morning routine: simply have breakfast after the first layer, brush your teeth after the next, and you've already filled those short breaks.

Mix & Match: Some skincare products can be mixed and applied together. This saves you a step in your routine, which can be incredibly convenient. Admittedly, everyone has different preferences, and not everyone enjoys mixing. Some prefer their products neat, while others are happy with a little dilution. For all you mixing enthusiasts, we recommend the following: Water-based boosters and serums mix particularly well. For example, you can mix our Vitamin C 15 Booster or our Niacinamide Booster with the Hyaluronic Acid Booster and apply it together. Facial oils don't have to be applied separately either. You can simply add them to your moisturizer.

Organization: Many people find it helpful to follow a routine if they write it down in a plan and hang it up somewhere in the bathroom. Arranging the products in the correct order in the bathroom cabinet can also help prevent confusion.

 

Extras: When should I apply masks, peels, or eye care products?

Earlier, we mentioned that some steps in a routine aren't necessary every day and are more like an extra pampering session for your skin.Exfoliation and masks are such optional steps, and every two to three days is sufficient. Exfoliation is beneficial for supporting the skin's renewal process, while masks provide particularly intensive effects. Neither of these are part of our skin's daily requirements. It's best to treat these two categories as separate steps. Of course, if you like to create a schedule, you can still include them on the appropriate days. Both exfoliation and masks are best applied directly after cleansing, when the skin is most receptive. Additionally, masks and mechanical exfoliants (also known as scrubs) are rinsed off. Applying them later could potentially remove some of the previous products. While chemical exfoliants don't need to be rinsed off, the application sequence is the same as for masks and mechanical exfoliants.

Eye care is another extra step in your routine. However, this only concerns a very small area of ​​the face. It's best to apply an eye cream like our Refining Eye Cream directly before your moisturizer.

Last but not least, the most important thing

We can't stress this enough: Our skincare routine is as individual as each and every one of us. Therefore, it should above all be enjoyable and not turn into a stressful or obsessive chore. Sure, skincare is also self-care and contributes to healthy skin, but if you're completely exhausted in the evening and skip your usual routine or only do the bare minimum, that's perfectly fine. It's not the same as taking medication.

There aren't really any hard and fast rules. You set the rules yourself, based on what works best for you and your skin. There's no rule that says you always have to apply a watery booster followed by two richer ones, or even a specific number of products. Some people are perfectly happy with just one or two products, while others can't get enough and their skin can handle more steps in a routine. Sometimes your skin simply needs extra attention, and other times there's not much to improve. Similarly, some people prefer watery or gel-like textures, while others find creamier consistencies more suitable. To each their own.

Our suggested order isn't set in stone, but simply a very general guideline. For example, a sunscreen that also moisturizes can make moisturizer unnecessary. Similarly, not everyone considers toner essential. A hydrating hyaluronic serum can provide sufficient moisture on its own. A routine should always be adaptable and tailored to the individual.

Therefore, our advice is: Feel free to seek advice, but also absolutely follow your intuition. If you're pressed for time, don't stress yourself out with who-knows-how-many steps and feel free to skip any steps that would only stress you out more. And if you think to yourself, "Okay, today I'm going to indulge myself completely," then go for it!