In what order do I use my Skincare products?

One question I get almost every day in the salon is: “Barbara, in what order should I actually be using my skincare?” And often the next question follows straight away: “Do I really need all those products?”

I completely understand why there’s so much confusion about this. These days there are so many brands, products and step-by-step routines that it’s easy to lose sight of the wood for the trees. And honestly, I don’t believe everyone needs an elaborate skincare routine. We all have a different life, a different skin type and a different amount of time. Above all, a routine should suit you.

That’s why I always say: quality over quantity. I’d rather have a few lovely products with high-quality, skin-friendly ingredients than a cupboard full of jars you never end up using.

From light to rich: the right order for your skincare

The order in which you apply your skincare is actually quite logical: you work from light to rich. Lighter products, like a toner or serum, are absorbed into the skin more easily. Richer products, like a cream or face oil, then form a protective layer that helps to lock in moisture and support your skin barrier.

The order of the products depends mainly on the difference in substance; an oil does not have the same "structure" as a hydrating cream. And by structure I actually mean the molecular structure. This sounds a little bit technical, but in short: some substances have a denser structure than others. The molecules are closer together.

So the right order for your skincare routine looks like this:

1. Cleanser (in the morning, with water)

2. Toner or lotion

3. Serum

4. Cream (moisturiser)

5. Face oil (natural oil, not mineral oil: read more about mineral oil)

Using an oil-based serum? Then apply it after your cream instead.

Do you use an eye cream? Read when and how to use eye cream.

Doing a double cleanse? First use the oil based make up remover, then the Purifying Cleanser.

Using a day cream with SPF 20+? Always apply it as the very last step.

Don’t forget your skin barrier

Customers also ask me whether it isn't especially important for skincare to penetrate very deeply into the skin. That is partly true: active ingredients must also penetrate the skin where they can optimally stimulate and nourish all functions.

Something I find just as important to share is that skincare isn’t only about what happens deep within the skin. The outermost layer deserves plenty of attention too. Every day your skin is exposed to sunlight, air pollution, exhaust fumes and blue light from screens. A strong skin barrier helps your skin protect itself against all of this, and hold on to moisture.

That’s why I love working with high-quality, botanical skincare that’s rich in antioxidants. This way you care for the deeper layers of the skin while giving the surface exactly what it needs.

And perhaps most important of all: never feel pressured to follow every step. Only using a toner and a face oil? That’s perfectly fine. Apply the toner first, then the oil.

The best skincare routine isn’t the longest or the most expensive. It’s the one that suits your skin and that you genuinely enjoy using every day.

Love,

Barbara Baars
Skin Specialist