How to Layer Skincare: Morning & Night Routine Order

You’re standing in your bathroom at night, staring at five different serums. You just spent 15 minutes Googling whether niacinamide goes before or after vitamin C, read six conflicting articles, and still have no idea what to do first. So the serums just sit there while you spiral into analysis paralysis.

Here’s the truth you need to hear: You can use niacinamide and vitamin C together. Yes, really. The myth comes from one outdated study using unstabilized ingredients at extreme temperatures, which has nothing to do with how modern skincare actually works. And that’s just one of many “rules” that’s way more complicated than it needs to be.

Skincare layering has become unnecessarily complicated. But here’s the real truth: There are no complicated rules, just two simple ones and some helpful principles that make your routine work better and help you avoid irritation.

Stick with me, because once you understand these principles, you’ll never have to Google the best skincare routine order again.

The Few Things Worth Knowing

Before we get into the step-by-step routines, here’s what makes layering work:

The application logic: Gentle hydrators (hyaluronic acid, peptides, niacinamide) go on damp skin right after cleansing for better absorption. Wait 30-60 seconds, then apply other products.

Irritating actives (retinoids, vitamin C, acids) need completely dry skin – wait 5-10 minutes after cleansing to minimize irritation. Layer products thinnest to thickest so watery serums don’t slide off. And anything with petrolatum (Vaseline, CeraVe Healing Ointment) goes absolute last because it creates a barrier that blocks other products.

The reality check: A basic routine needs cleanser, moisturizer, and sunscreen. Everything else like serums, toners, essences, acids, treatments is optional. If adding more products doesn’t improve your skin or starts causing problems, you can always come back to basics.

Morning Skincare Routine Order (It’s Simpler Than You Think)

1. Cleanser (or just water) Wash your face with a gentle cleanser if you have oily or combination skin. If you have dry skin, just rinse with lukewarm water.

Hydrating serums (on damp skin) Apply hydrating serums like hyaluronic acid (The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid, Neutrogena Hydro Boost Serum), niacinamide (The Ordinary Niacinamide, Paula’s Choice Niacinamide Booster), or peptides (The Ordinary Buffet, The Inkey List Peptide Serum) to damp skin right after cleansing.

3. Vitamin C serum (on dry skin) Apply vitamin C (Timeless Vitamin C, Skinceuticals C E Ferulic) to completely dry skin. Wait about 30-60 seconds for absorption.

4. Other treatment serums Layer any other serums from thinnest to thickest, waiting about 30 seconds between each.

5. Moisturizer Apply your daytime moisturizer to seal in all the products.

6. Sunscreen – ALWAYS LAST Wait a few minutes for everything to absorb, then apply sunscreen as your final step. Apply 20 minutes before leaving the house.

Important: Let everything dry before sunscreen, or it’ll pill and ball up.

Evening Skincare Routine Order (What Actually Matters at Night)

1. Oil-based cleanser Use an oil cleanser, cleansing balm, or micellar water to dissolve sunscreen and makeup.

2. Water-based cleanser Follow with your regular gel or cream cleanser.

3. The decision point: Acid night OR retinoid night (never both)

Acid night (2-3x per week): Apply AHA or BHA toner (Paula’s Choice BHA, The Ordinary Glycolic Acid) to dry skin and wait 5-10 minutes. Skip retinoids tonight.

Retinoid night (3-4x per week): Skip acids. Continue to the next step, you’ll apply retinoids with other treatment serums later.

4. Hydrating serums (on damp skin) Apply hydrating serums like hyaluronic acid, peptides, or niacinamide to damp skin. Wait 30-60 seconds.

5. Treatment serums (on dry skin, thinnest to thickest) Wait until your skin is completely dry (5-10 minutes from cleansing), then apply all treatment serums from thinnest to thickest:

• Retinoids (if retinoid night—NOT if you used acids)
• Peptide serums
• Azelaic acid
• Any other targeted treatments

For sensitive skin with retinoids: Apply moisturizer first, wait 5 minutes, apply retinoid, then more moisturizer on top.

6. Moisturizer Apply a richer night moisturizer than your morning formula.

7. Occlusive (optional, for dry skin) Seal everything with face oil or a petrolatum product like Vaseline or CeraVe Healing Ointment as your final step.

Remember: Never use acids and retinoids the same night. Alternate them. Everything else can be layered together.

The Bottom Line: Stop Losing Sleep Over This

Skincare layering isn’t as complicated as the industry makes it seem. You won’t ruin everything if products go on in slightly different order.

What matters: Don’t put anything over petrolatum. Apply irritating actives to dry skin. Follow your dermatologist’s prescription instructions. Sunscreen goes last in the morning.

But what matters most: Your skin needs consistency, not perfection.

A simple routine you do every day beats a complicated routine you do occasionally. Your skin just needs the basics – cleansing, moisturizing, protecting done regularly.

Take what’s useful from this guide, adapt it to your life, and trust yourself. Give products time to work and be consistent.

You’ve got this.