Skincare Routine Order:
Your Morning and Night Guide

It may seem like skincare routine order shouldn’t matter—it’s all being absorbed into your skin, right?

“It’s actually very important to apply your skincare in a specific order so you don't compromise the efficacy of your entire routine,” says Tyla Robinson, Global Product Development for Origins. As a general rule of thumb, after cleansing your skin, your skincare routine order should be thinnest to thickest. So, a watery-thin texture, like a toner, is applied before a richer and thicker texture—like an eye cream or moisturizer. If you stop and think about it, applying a more heavily textured moisturizer first could prevent thinner products—like serums or toners, from properly absorbing into skin.

Understanding your specific skin type is essential for choosing the right cleanser. Is your skin normal, oily, dry, or combination? Is your skin sensitive? Different cleansers are formulated to address specific skin types and concerns, so identifying your skin type is the best way to narrow down your options. For example, cleansers formulated for dry skin are typically creamier, while those for oilier skin tend to have a gel foaming texture. If you're looking for an everyday face wash that's gentle, our Checks and Balances™ Frothy Face Wash is a good choice for all skin types. Our Checks and Balances™ line now has a great cleanser for drier skin, Checks and Balances™ Milky Oil Cleanser, that works double-duty to help remove makeup and cleanse the skin. If you’re still unsure of the right cleanser for your skin type, take our Skincare Quiz to help find the right cleanser for your skin type or concern.

After you’ve applied your eye cream, the next step is moisturizer. Since you're getting ready to face the day, it’s wise to apply a moisturizer that hydrates. “Look for a moisturizer that’s compatible with your skin type and also protects skin from any pollution you encounter every day,” says Robinson.

No matter how tired you are, removing your makeup before bed is one of the most important nightly skincare steps. Day-old makeup can make skin appear dull and cause pores to look more noticeable. A gentle makeup remover or cleansing oil are great products to prep your skin for the next step in your nighttime skincare routine.

Up next in your nighttime skincare routine is eye cream. Like your morning routine, applying it as a later step, will allow for any treatments or serums you use beforehand to be absorbed into the skin as intended. You can use the same eye cream that you apply in the morning or find one specifically targeted toward nighttime or a specific under-eye concern, like fine lines or brightening dark circles.