Getting the best results from your skincare routine is about more than just choosing high-quality products. While this is important, do you understand how the way you apply them plays a huge role?

Properly layering skincare products allows each active ingredient to perform optimally without interference, thereby maximising efficacy and enhancing overall skin health. This systematic approach ensures that you are building a synergistic ecosystem on your skin, rather than simply applying products.

First, however, you need to understand the viscosity and molecular weight of your products. This will enable you to apply products in the correct order, starting with the thinnest and working up to the thickest, and moving from water-based to oil-based formulations. This ensures that lighter, more penetrative ingredients access the skin first, followed by richer textures that seal in moisture and active compounds.

Skipping this order can create a barrier that prevents certain products from being absorbed effectively, thus rendering them less potent.

Step one: Cleanser

A gentle, pH-balanced cleanser prepares your face by removing impurities and excess sebum without stripping the skin. This ensures a clean surface for product absorption.

Step two: Toner

Although they are optional, toners can help to rebalance the skin’s pH, provide light hydration and deliver active ingredients that create an environment in which the next steps can be more effective.

Step three: Treatment serums

These are typically lightweight, watery formulations designed to deliver concentrated doses of active ingredients, such as antioxidants or hyaluronic acid, deep into the skin. Thanks to their low viscosity, they penetrate the skin rapidly.

Step four: Targeted serums

Use serums designed to address specific concerns, such as vitamin C for hyperpigmentation or peptides for fine lines or redness. If you’re using multiple serums, consider the active ingredients first. For example, vitamin C should be applied before niacinamide to avoid deactivation, though modern formulations often mitigate this concern.

Step five: Eye cream

The delicate skin around the eyes deserves extra attention in the form of a specialised product, which should be applied before heavier creams. This allows the specialised ingredients to address concerns such as dark circles or fine lines without being diluted or occluded by a broader face cream.

Step six: Moisturiser

This crucial step should not be skipped. It provides hydration and creates a protective occlusive layer that seals in all the products you have applied. Choose a moisturiser that is appropriate for your skin type. Lighter moisturisers are best for oily skin, while richer creams are better for dry skin.

Step seven: Sunscreen

The final and arguably most important step in your morning routine is to apply a broad-spectrum SPF as the final layer. This provides essential protection against UVA and UVB radiation, preventing premature ageing and sunburn. It should be the final product you apply, allowing it to form an effective barrier.