Building a Skincare Routine: Steps, Product Order and Skin-Type Guide

Most dermatology guidance converges on the same starting point: skincare does not need to be complicated to work. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) describes cleansing, moisturizing and sun protection as the three steps that form the foundation of a healthy routine, and warns that piling on extra products can irritate skin rather than improve it.

The Three Core Steps

According to the AAD, a cleanser should be gentle and non-abrasive, applied with the fingertips and rinsed off with lukewarm water in the morning, at night, and after heavy sweating. Moisturizer comes next, chosen to suit the individual's skin type. Sun protection is described by the AAD as the final step of every morning routine, in every season, regardless of skin type or weather.

The Correct Order to Apply Products

Beyond the basic three steps, the AAD recommends a specific sequence when additional products are used: cleanse first, then apply any treatment or medication, then moisturizer and/or sunscreen, and finally makeup if it is worn. The AAD also advises using the ring finger to apply products around the eyes, since it exerts the least pressure on that delicate skin.

The Cleveland Clinic lays out a similar order for a fuller routine: cleanser, serum, moisturizer and sunscreen in the morning; cleanser, a retinoid product, and moisturizer at night. The guiding principle, per the Cleveland Clinic, is to apply products from the thinnest, most water-based formula to the thickest, so lighter products can penetrate before heavier ones seal them in.

Morning

1. Cleanse with a gentle, non-abrasive cleanser
2. Apply a treatment or serum, if used
3. Moisturize
4. Apply sunscreen as the final step

Night

1. Cleanse again to remove the day's buildup
2. Apply a treatment such as a retinoid, if used
3. Moisturize to seal in hydration

The Cleveland Clinic notes that retinoids are generally used at night rather than in the morning, since sunlight can deactivate them. It also advises against combining a cleanser with a separate exfoliant in the same step, and against layering more than one serum at a time.

Matching Products to Your Skin Type

The Cleveland Clinic describes five skin types, each associated with different product choices.

Sunscreen: The Step Most Often Skipped

The AAD recommends a sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher that offers broad-spectrum protection against both UVA and UVB rays, and that is water resistant, while noting no sunscreen is fully waterproof or sweatproof. For full-body coverage, the AAD suggests about one ounce of sunscreen — roughly enough to fill a shot glass — with at least one teaspoon for the face alone.

The AAD advises applying sunscreen to dry skin about 15 minutes before going outdoors, and reapplying it approximately every two hours, or sooner after swimming or sweating. It recommends daily use on any skin not covered by clothing when going outside, since UV rays pass through clouds and are present year-round.

Keeping the Routine Simple

Both the AAD and the Cleveland Clinic frame simplicity as the safer default: the AAD warns that using several anti-aging products at once can irritate skin and make aging signs more visible, while the Cleveland Clinic advises sticking to one serum and avoiding duplicate categories of products, such as a cleanser and a separate exfoliant used together.