31 Days

The Ultimate Skincare Game Plan

Men are using more skin care products than ever before. By next year, the men's personal care industry is predicted to hit $166 billion, according to Allied Market Research. But the boost in guys caring for their skin has come with some confusion. You've now got eye cream to combat fine lines and maybe a serum to hydrate skin, along with a spot treatment for blemishes and a daily SPF moisturizer. Perhaps you're experimenting with retinols or face oils. The question now is, "Can I just slap them on or is there a specific order to applying my lotions and potions?" The answer, dermatologists told us, is that the order matters. If you don't layer your products in the right way, you might render them ineffective or, worse, irritate your skin. You don't have to do all the steps below, but you do want to follow the general order to get the most out of your products.

Thinnest Products First

The general rule of thumb is to apply the lightest skincare products first and the heaviest last, says Shereene Idriss, MD, a cosmetic dermatologist. Toners and serums are the thinnest products so they should always be applied first and layered upon. Toners prep the skin and serums deliver active ingredients (such as Vitamin C and hyaluronic acid) directly into the skin.

Give It a Sec

If you've got the time, it's a good idea to let your serums absorb into the skin. Use this time to brush your teeth or start your coffeemaker. The time increases penetration instead of allowing your serum to get swept up or wiped off by the other products you apply.

Treatments &
Targeted Products

Next comes targeted products like eye creams or spot treatments for blemishes. You want to tap them onto skin before applying moisturizer so they can get to work without having another barrier to penetrate. Make sure a zit cream like benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid is dry before applying your regular moisturizer.

Lock It Moistuire

A facial moisturizer is key to skin health. Even oily skin requires hydration to keep your skin barrier in good, working order. Plus, it helps trap in all the products underneath it to make the ingredients even more effective, says Dr. Idriss.

Last Step

During the day, this means an SPF to protect the skin from sun damage. If that's already included in your regular daytime moisturizer, then you're all done. At night, a face oil can further hydrate and seal in the products you just applied—preventing them from evaporating or rubbing off. And since oils can easily penetrate moisturizers but no products can penetrate an oil, they should always be applied last.

When to Use Retinol

Retinoids, the general term for vitamin A derivatives, like retinol, are popular with the over 30 crowd because they really work to make skin smoother and less winkled. They trigger collagen production and cellular turnover, which means they also fade dark spots, smooth scars and clear pores. Because it's reactive to sunlight, only use retinoids at night. And because it's so potent, dermatologists advise against pairing a retinol with some ingredients, like vitamin C or salicylic acid. On nights you use a retinol, just cleanse, apply and finish with a night cream or oil.

Put It In Reverse

If you have sensitive skin, Ranella Hirsch, a Boston-based dermatologist recommends starting with a light, fragrance-free moisturizer to provide a protective base that other products can be layered over. It will reduce the potency of some products, but they’ll be less likely to cause irritation.