How you prepare your skin for the day vs before you go to bed is a totally different game.

Your morning routine is all about protecting your skin from UV rays, dirt, oil production, makeup, and pollutants. In contrast, your nighttime routine should concentrate on restoring and recuperating your skin while you sleep.

Why Your Skincare Routine Order Matters

Applying the right skincare products at the right time will help maximize the superpowers of each product in your routine. Between cleansers, serums, and AM versus PM moisturizers, your skincare routine can quickly go south if you’re not applying your products in the correct order.

Make the most of your morning & evening skincare routine by following our step-by-step guide to layering your products.

Your Daytime Skincare Regimen 

Step 1: Cleanser

Start your day with a gentle cleanser to help wake you up and prepare your skin for the rest of your routine.

A low-PH water-based cleanser in your morning routine can help deep clean the skin without causing redness or irritation.

Step 2: Toner

Toner helps prime your skin for ingredients to be better absorbed later on in your routine. Choose a toner that’s right for your skin type. Some toners are packed with hydrating ingredients to nourish the skin, while others are formulated with chemical exfoliants to treat acne and bumps.

Step 3: Serum

Unfortunately, your face is up against a lot during the day (think dirt, exhaust fumes, pollutants, your dirty phone screen). Serums are like shots of highly concentrated nutrients, hydrators, and antioxidants for your skin.

A vitamin C serum will help protect your skin from inflammation and environmental damage during the day.

Step 4: Eye Cream

If you want to give your peepers a little extra boost in the morning, look for an eye cream formulated with caffeine to help tighten puffy under-eyes. You can also stash your eye cream in the fridge for an extra cooling sensation.

Step 5: SPF Moisturizer

You need to apply moisturizer twice a day. No matter what. Yes, even if you have oily prone skin.

Combine hydration and sun protection with a moisturizer that already contains SPF.

If you only had time for one skincare product each morning, let it be sunscreen. So, in the AM, reach for a lightweight, gentle moisturizer formulated with sunscreen of at least SPF 30.

Step 6: Primer (Optional)

Primer is equal parts skincare and makeup. Although, if you don’t plan on applying pigmented makeup after Step 5, you probably don’t need it.

Your Nighttime Skincare Regimen

Step 1: Makeup Removal

Put as much effort into removing your makeup as you applying it. To begin, avoid scrubbing and tugging your eyes by using a dissolving eye makeup remover and cotton pad. Next, use a cleaning oil to completely dissolve your makeup without stripping your skin of its natural oils.

If you don’t have any makeup on, skip to Step 2!

Step 2: Cleanser

You need skin that’s completely free of oil and grime so the products in your evening skincare routine can work while you sleep.

Opt for a cream cleanser or a foaming cleanser in the PM to eliminate any residue makeup, dust, or pollutants on the skin.

Step 3: Exfoliate (Once or Twice Per Week)

Regular exfoliation deep cleans the skin to remove dead skin cells and unclog pores to keep your skin glowing, acne-free, and soft. Whether you exfoliate in the AM or PM is personal preference, but exfoliating at night helps lift any remaining makeup particles from the skin if you wear makeup.

Not sure which exfoliator is best? Glycolic acid-based exfoliators work exceptionally well to dissolve excess oil and dead skin cells. Plus, they’re safe for dry, oily, and combo skin types.

Step 4: Essence or Toner

Facial essence adds moisture to the deeper layers of the skin, while toner hydrates the skin’s surface. Essences are better for calming irritated or dehydrated skin. You can use one or both - it’s totally up to personal preference!

If you decide to use both, you should apply facial essence to the skin after using toner.

Step 5: Serum

Like in your morning routine, you want to apply a serum packed with good-for-your-skin ingredients. At night, go for a serum made with hyaluronic acid to plump your skin and keep it hydrated while you sleep.

Step 6: Eye Cream

Night eye cream should work to hydrate and rejuvenate your eyes while you rest. If you’re concerned with anti-aging, opt for an eye cream with retinol. If dark circles are your biggest concern, go for an eye cream formulated with ​​hyaluronic acid and glycerin to help banish raccoon eyes.

Step 7: Spot Treatments (If Needed)

Spot treatments help with zits, scars, or dark spots. It’s better to apply spot treatments at night because that’s when your body is repairing itself.

Step 8: Moisturizer

At night, you want a hefty moisturizer that helps repair your skin and boost regeneration. A good nighttime moisturizer should have ingredients like hyaluronic acid, lipids, and proteins to nourish the skin.

The Finishing Touch

Now that you know how to make the most out of your skincare routine give your lashes and brows some TLC while you sleep with a lash and brow serum. LiLash Purified Eyelash Serum and LiBrow Purified Eyebrow Serum help give you the appearance of longer, stronger lashes and fuller eyebrows.

Apply your lash and brow serum as the final step in your evening routine.