If you’re new here, start with this post. I’ve struggled with acne most of my life, and it took me years to find a routine I felt good about sticking with. This is the order I use as a reference for my morning and night skincare, with links to the two steps I get into in more detail.
In this post
- My morning skincare routine
- My nighttime skincare routine
- How I think about the extra steps
- Save my routine for later
My morning skincare routine
I think about my morning routine in three parts. I cleanse, add the lighter layers, then finish with sunscreen. Here’s the order from my cheat sheet.
- Cleanse. My guide lists Prequel Skin Cleansing Oil and Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser.
- Tone. I use BYOMA Hydrating Milky Toner right after cleansing. Here’s how I use the milky toner.
- Treatment and eye cream. My morning guide lists Good Molecules 10% Azelaic Acid, followed by Good Molecules Firming Peptide Eye Cream.
- Finish with SPF. BYOMA SPF 50 is the sunscreen in my morning lineup.
What to keep on a busy morning
If you’re putting together a morning skincare routine from scratch, the easiest version is a gentle cleanser, moisturizer as needed, and sunscreen. The products in my guide give you an example of how to put the steps in order. You can use it as a reference and choose the steps that make sense for your own skin. A single gentle wash is a reasonable starting point, especially when you’re simply getting ready for the day.
Give your skin a minute of attention after washing. If it often feels tight by the time you’re ready to apply the next layer, consider how hot the water was, whether you scrubbed, and how your cleanser feels after rinsing. A moisturizer can be a more useful place to start than adding a few new serums. If you already use a treatment, keep its directions handy so you know where it fits.
Make sunscreen the last skincare step
Put sunscreen on after your other skincare and before makeup. Choose one labeled broad-spectrum with SPF 30 or higher, and remember easy-to-miss places such as your ears, hairline, and any exposed skin on your neck. If you’ll be outdoors, follow the label for how much to use and when to put it on. The American Academy of Dermatology’s sunscreen guide recommends reapplying every two hours outdoors and after swimming or sweating.
If you’re trying to figure out why your sunscreen rolls into little bits under makeup, try simplifying the layers beneath it for a morning. Use the full amount of sunscreen the label calls for, and skip an optional layer such as toner or eye cream to see if that changes how everything sits. You can move an extra hydrating step to the evening if that makes your morning easier.
My nighttime skincare routine
At night I start with the part I’m most consistent about: my double cleanse. I reach for the Prequel oil first and follow with Cetaphil. If you want the details on how I do both steps, I put them in Double Cleansing 101.
- Double cleanse. Prequel Skin Cleansing Oil first, Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser second.
- Tone. BYOMA Hydrating Milky Toner goes on after both cleansers.
- Treatment and eye cream. The nighttime guide lists Good Molecules Gentle Retinol Cream and Good Molecules Firming Peptide Eye Cream. I’d follow the directions on the treatment you use.
- Moisturize. Eucerin Intensive Repair Lotion is the moisturizer on my evening cheat sheet.
Take off the day before adding anything new
A nighttime skincare routine starts with getting sunscreen and makeup off gently. If one cleanser takes off what you wore, you can use one. An oil or balm first can be handy on days you wear long-wear makeup or water-resistant sunscreen. Try using your fingertips around the edges of your face and rinsing well so you can get to the next step without scrubbing. If you want to add toner, it goes after you’ve finished washing, unless your treatment instructions call for a different order.
Work around your treatment directions
If you’re adding a retinol product, read its directions before deciding when and how often to apply it. The AAD’s guide to retinoids and retinol recommends starting slowly to limit irritation and avoiding retinoids during pregnancy. For a prescription treatment, follow the instructions from your prescriber. If you’re unsure about using two treatments in the same routine, a pharmacist or dermatologist can help you check the combination.
Think about how the whole routine feels over several days. If you add an exfoliant and a retinol in the same week and then your face starts feeling dry or irritated, it’s harder to tell what changed. Keep the basics familiar when trying something new, and write down which evenings you used it. A short note like “Tuesday and Friday” is enough to help you spot a pattern later.
When you’re picking a moisturizer for the evening, pay attention to the finish and where you need it. A lotion can be an easy place to start if you prefer a lighter feel. If certain areas get flaky, you may prefer a cream there. The product on my cheat sheet is what’s listed in my routine. You can keep a moisturizer you already like in that same slot.
How I think about the extra steps
If you’re sorting through your own routine, I’d start by looking at what you already use. Write down the order and see where you get stuck. Toner and eye cream are easy steps to think of as extras if you want to keep things shorter. You can always come back to a step when you have a reason to try it.
Choose extras by the job they do
Look at your lineup and give each bottle a job. The cleanser takes off what’s on your skin, moisturizer helps with dryness, and sunscreen protects exposed skin during the day. A hydrating toner is an optional layer, and eye cream is a step you can include if you enjoy it. If you have two products you use for the same reason, try using one at a time to see which texture or finish you prefer.
Decide what you’d keep on a morning when you’re running late and on an evening when you’re ready to fall asleep. It helps to write those shorter versions alongside your full routine. If you’re building a routine around breakouts, I wrote more about what I wish I’d known when I was struggling with acne, including why it helps to change one thing at a time.
Save my routine for later
One way to use the guide is to write your own version next to mine. Put your products in the order you actually use them, and add any special directions next to the name. If a spot on the list stays empty, you can leave it that way. The point is to make the next step easy to remember when you’re standing at the sink.
I put my morning and evening lineups on one page so you can save the order and pull it up when you need it. I’ve also organized my skincare favorites by routine step so it’s easier to find a specific bottle.
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