How to Layer Your Skincare: A Simple Order That Works

One of the most common skincare questions is not which products to buy, but what order to use them in. Layering in the wrong order can make products less effective or cause irritation. Here is a simple system that works for most routines.

The general rule

As a general guide, apply products from thinnest, most water-like texture to thickest. Cleansers come first, followed by water-based treatments such as serums, then richer creams or balms, and finally sunscreen during the day. This allows lighter products to absorb properly before heavier ones create a barrier on top.

A simple morning order

1. Cleanse. Use a gentle face wash, such as the Larupa Glutathione Kojic Acid Brightening Face Wash, to start with clean skin.
2. Treat. Apply a serum like the Larupa 10% Niacinamide Face Serum with Zinc to clean, slightly damp skin.
3. Moisturize. A light moisturizer locks in the serum.
4. Protect. Finish with sunscreen on your face, and the Larupa SPF50 Tinted Ceramide Lip Balm for your lips.

A simple night order

1. Cleanse to remove the day, sunscreen and pollution.
2. Use a treatment soap on body or back areas if needed, such as the Larupa Salicylic Acid Body Acne Soap or Larupa Glutathione Kojic Acid Brightening Soap.
3. Apply serum.
4. Finish with a richer night moisturizer or balm.

Where actives like niacinamide and kojic acid fit

Active ingredients generally work best on clean skin, before heavier moisturizers. If you use more than one active, introduce them one at a time so you can identify what your skin tolerates well.

Common layering mistakes

• Applying sunscreen before treatment products, which can reduce how well actives absorb.
• Skipping moisturizer because a serum feels hydrating enough on its own.
• Adding several new actives in the same week, making it hard to tell what is causing irritation if it happens.
• Forgetting lips, which need their own SPF step.

A routine does not need to be long to be effective. Getting the order right matters more than the number of steps.