Skin care is personal — or at least, it should be. After all, each of us has different skin types, tones, textures, concerns, and goals. One person may look for a facial moisturizer to help stave off fine lines, while another needs to use one that boosts hydration. Someone might turn to a serum to help calm irritation and redness, while another person wants one that can fade acne scars and ward off future breakouts. You get the idea. What’s more, our skin and its needs are not stagnant—the extra moisture it craves during the dry wintertime may not be what it needs during the humid summer months, for example.
Lucky for us, brands are taking note. With the latest in beauty tech, trends, and formulations pointing to a more personalized approach as the future, the importance of using products tailored to your individual needs is becoming more widely understood. And yet, without insight from a board-certified dermatologist, it can feel more confusing than ever to figure out exactly what those needs are, let alone how to put together a customized regimen.
That’s where we come in. We think personalized skin care should be accessible to everyone, without requiring hours of Google searching and money spent on products that don’t do what you need them to. There are more lotions and potions to choose from than ever before — and we’re not complaining! Instead, our editors and experts are stepping in to offer you more individualized guidance. We put all of our skin care and product know-how into a more streamlined system for you, in the form of an interactive skin-care quiz. It was created based on a need we see in both our audience and ourselves — the need for some guidance in sorting through an endless sea of skin care products in order to create a routine for yourself that feels both purposeful and custom. While it’s not a substitute for consulting a professional, our hope is that with just a few minutes of your time, this quiz will allow you to better understand the skin you’re in — and ultimately help you decide which products to invest your time, money and faith in. True to our standards, we did our due diligence before giving our recommendations: All of the skin-care products featured in the quiz have been tested, reviewed and approved by Allure editors.
Here’s how it works: You simply answer a short series of questions about your complexion. Is it oily or dry in certain areas? Are you sensitive to any specific ingredients? Is your biggest concern developing fine lines, fading dark spots, or something else entirely? After responding to our guided questions, we’ll walk you through some products that we think could work for you, plus briefly explain each one. If you need a refresher on the correct order in which to apply and layer them, we’ve got you covered there, too. We also sorted out your options by cost, so you can pick and choose your product lineup based on your skin and your budget.
Whenever you feel your skin concerns shifting — whether its seasonal, post-vacation, or courtesy of fluctuating hormones — you can just take the quiz again. We hope you find it to be fun, easy, quick and insightful. So, what are you waiting for? Click next to get started.
Skin care — and specifically the art of building a skin care routine — can be a form of self-care. But with hundreds of products on the market, figuring out the correct way to layer serums, moisturizers and eye creams can be quite tricky. To help you determine the correct order to apply your products for both morning and night, we spoke to four dermatologists, plus got their recommendations for the best items in each category.
SKIP AHEAD Morning skin care routine | Nighttime skin care routine | How to shop for skin care products
When building a skin care routine, the general rule of thumb is to go from lightest to heaviest (in consistency), gradually layering on heavier products, like creams and lotions, as you go. This is because the skin absorbs lightweight products quickly, allowing you to layer on more products easily, according to board-certified dermatologist Dr. Hadley King.
Below, we’re outlining dermatologist-recommended steps to creating an effective skin care routine along with their recommendations for each step. Even though our experts say that piling on extra products or following an extensive, multistep skin care routine does not actually yield more benefits, we got their insight on some optional steps, including how to incorporate devices like an LED mask or gua sha.
For many people, your morning routine will look similar to your nighttime routine. However, certain products, like sunscreen, are most beneficial in the morning because they set you up for your day by protecting you from environmental factors.
In the morning, experts recommend using a cleanser, followed by a serum, moisturizer and sunscreen — in that order. When it comes to adding toners or eye creams to your morning routine, you can incorporate them if you choose, but they won’t really enhance the efficacy of a basic skin care routine in a major way, according to our experts. We’ll go into more detail on each step and what to know about the best products, below.
Facial cleansers are a crucial first step in any morning routine; they can remove dirt, oil and debris that your skin may have collected overnight — which isn’t possible with just a splash of water, says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Michelle Henry. By cleansing your skin, you’re also priming it so that it can absorb future products, says Henry.
When it comes to choosing the right cleanser for your skin, you’ll want to consider a formula’s consistency:
This creamy, hydrating formula does exactly what you’d want a cleanser to do: remove debris and excess oils from your skin, according to Woolery-Lloyd. Ingredients like niacinamide and glycerin help reinforce your skin barrier’s moisture levels, according to the brand. Protecting the skin barrier is especially key during the cleansing step because it protects your skin from losing too much water, while also keeping the barrier strong to defend against allergens in the air, says Woolery-Lloyd. It’s suitable for most skin types since it’s hypoallergenic, fragrance-free and non-comedogenic, so it shouldn’t cause unwanted breakouts or clog pores, according to the brand.
The salicylic acid in this oil-free facial cleanser makes it a great option for oily and acne-prone skin, says Woolery-Lloyd. (Salicylic acid is a key ingredient that helps treat and prevent breakouts.) Aside from helping with acne, it also unclogs pores and removes any excessive oil and dirt that has built up overnight.
After cleansing, the next (optional) step is to add in a toner. Toners are liquids with a high water content that typically have humectants (to hydrate the skin) along with active ingredients like vitamin C (to brighten and protect the skin) and beta hydroxy acids, like salicylic acid, (to help exfoliate), according to King. They help complete the cleansing process and refresh your skin.
To apply, you can either pour some toner on a cotton pad and tap that into your face, or you can pat it directly onto your skin using your fingertips. After applying, you should not wash your face again like you would with a cleanser. Toners will absorb quickly and prep the skin for future products.
All of this is to say that our experts do not consider toner a necessity. If you want to use one and have “normal” skin, consider using a formula with antioxidants; if you have dry or sensitive skin you may want to use a hydrating and gentle toner instead. Those with acne-prone or oily skin should opt for an exfoliating toner with ingredients like salicylic acid, glycolic acid or lactic acid since these chemical exfoliants penetrate the skin and remove any debris buildup, says Woolery-Lloyd. Though, you shouldn’t use an exfoliating formula twice a day — it can dry out your skin and cause irritation, according to experts we spoke with.
This milky toner, which has a 4.6-star average rating from more than 900 reviews on Amazon, has hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid and primrose oil to combat dryness and retain moisture. It’s especially helpful after washing your face since it continues cleansing the skin, while also adding back in lost moisture from the previous step. It also has antioxidants to fight external aggressors like UV light and protect the skin from environmental damage, according to the brand. Apply this on your face and neck using a cotton pad.
This exfoliating toner, which has a 4.3-star average rating from over 4,100 reviews at Sephora, helps even skin texture by removing dead skin cells, according to Glow Recipe. Not only does it target pores, but it also has hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, cactus water and watermelon to minimize fine lines and dark spots, according to the brand. For the most effective outcome, Glow Recipe recommends using it in the morning by patting the product into your face without wiping or rubbing it in.
After cleansing, our experts recommend applying a serum. Serums are lightweight liquids that typically have high concentrations of specific ingredients to help your skin function in different ways (depending on the ingredient). For example, you may find serums with high concentrations of hyaluronic acid for hydration, niacinamide for even tone and texture, vitamin C for protection and brightening or vitamin E for protection and moisture.
Certain ingredients, like vitamin C, are best in the morning, because of how they work with other ingredients to set you up for the day ahead of you. (Vitamin C helps protect the skin from free radicals, but it also helps your sunscreen perform better, according to Woolery-Lloyd.)
You’ll want to apply your serum by gently spreading it across your face in a patting motion or you can massage it very gently. They typically have a lightweight texture that spreads easily and absorbs quickly, says King.
This vitamin C serum, which comes recommended by Woolery-Lloyd, works to restore the skin barrier and hydrate your skin. Vitamin C also protects the skin from environmental aggressors like pollution, helps with brightening and evening discoloration, and improves collagen production, according to our experts. It’s fragrance-free, non-comedogenic and is suitable for all skin types.
This vitamin B3 serum, also known as niacinamide, improves the tone and texture of the skin as well as supports the skin barrier and prevents water loss, according to our experts. The serum, which has a 4.7-star average rating from over 890 reviews at Sephora, is suitable for various skin concerns, including fine lines and hyperpigmentation. Apply it to your face, neck and décolleté after cleansing and prepping the skin, according to the brand.
Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Karen Kagha recommends this fast-absorbing serum because it protects, firms and brightens the skin. It has both vitamins C and E, and ferulic acid, which brightens the skin, protects it from outside aggressors and neutralizes free radicals (molecules that damage the skin by weakening it), according to the brand.
Eye creams are specific moisturizers for the eye area that help brighten, depuff or smooth the fine lines, according to our experts. They typically have a lighter consistency than moisturizers, so you should apply them before a day cream or SPF.
The best way to apply an eye cream is to gently pat the product around the eye from the innermost to the outermost areas. When done right, it helps moisturize the thinnest and most delicate part of your skin, though our experts say it’s not a necessity when building out a morning skin care routine.
This eye cream has a plant-based retinol alternative, to smooth the under-eye area, according to Ilia. Compared to traditional retinol, this alternative is safe for sun exposure — so you can use it during your morning routine — and it also has a cooling tip to help aid in depuffing the area, according to the brand. It has a 4.4-star average rating from over 500 reviews at Sephora.
To target dark circles, this eye cream has caffeine and Brazilian ginseng root extract to depuff and reduce the appearance of bags or dark circles. Apply one to two- pumps of the cream, which has a 4.1-star average rating from over 1,900 reviews at Sephora, and gently tap the product into the skin, according to Sunday Riley.
Next up: moisturizers. They help lock in all the products you previously applied and keep the skin barrier healthy by hydrating it, says King. Moisturizers come in different forms including lotions, creams, gels and ointments; daytime moisturizers are typically lighter in weight than evening ones, say our experts.
If you have dry skin, you tend to lack sebum (an oily substance our skin produces). That’s why a thicker cream may be your best option since they are typically oil-based and can make up for any lack of natural oils, says Woolery-Lloyd. People with oily and acne-prone skin may want to consider a gel moisturizer since it’s water-based and will draw moisture to your skin without adding more oil or having the oil sit on top of the face.
Moisturizers usually have one or a combination of the following moisturizing groups, which you’ll often see listed on bottles: humectants, emollients, and occlusives. Humectants hydrate the skin, emollients support the skin barrier and occlusives lock in moisture, says King.
This lightweight cream, which comes recommended by Woolery-Lloyd, has ceramides, niacinamide, glycerin and thermal water, which all help hydrate and moisturize the skin, according to the brand. Thermal water is especially good for sensitive skin, including eczema, since these individuals have a more delicate skin barrier, says Woolery-Lloyd.
This lightweight Senté facial moisturizer is a current favorite of Kagha’s. A great option for sensitive skin, this formula not only hydrates the skin, but the green tea extract in it also helps calm any irritation and reduce redness, according to the brand.
Sunscreen should be the final step in your morning skin care routine to protect your skin against harmful UVA and UVB rays that can cause cancer. (UVA rays can prematurely age your skin via wrinkles and dark spots, while UVB rays can cause sunburns, according to the American Academy of Dermatology Association.)
Face sunscreens come in mineral or chemical form — one isn’t “better” than the other and choosing one comes down to a matter of personal preference, according to our experts. Mineral sunscreens sit on the surface of the skin and reflect UV rays, while chemical sunscreens absorb and filter out UV light.
You’ll also want to make sure to pick a sunscreen with at least SPF 30 that has broad-spectrum protection (which protects you against both UVA and UVB rays). Apply a nickel-sized dollop to the face in the morning before putting on makeup, says King.
This broad-spectrum SPF is suitable for all skin types and is a favorite among dermatologists, says Woolery-Lloyd. The sunscreen has two active ingredients — combining the benefits of both chemical and mineral sunscreens. (It has titanium oxide, which you’ll typically see in mineral sunscreen and octinoxate, which is one of six chemical filters.) The combination creates a cosmetically elegant formula that doesn’t leave behind a white cast, (which is common with chemical-only sunscreens) and helps reflect both UVA and UVB rays, according to EltaMD. The formula also has niacinamide, which is great for those with acne-prone skin, to help even tone and texture. It can also reduce redness and discoloration in people with skin conditions like rosacea, according to the brand. If you are worried about a white cast, this formula also comes in a tinted version.
This tinted mineral sunscreen is suitable for all skin types and complexions including dark skin tones, according to Henry. It protects the skin from UV exposure and also hydrates it with ingredients like vitamin E, a humectant that absorbs water, and dimethicone, an emollient that retains water, says Henry. This broad-spectrum formula has SPF 50 and is water-resistant for 40 minutes.
The goal of a nighttime skin care routine is to clean your skin from any product or debris that piles up throughout the day and to add hydration that will last you through the night. Nighttime routines also help promote cell turnover (which replaces dead skin cells with healthy ones) and stimulate collagen production (to maintain the structure of your skin by keeping it firm), according to Henry.
At night, experts recommend including cleanser, serum, eye cream and moisturizer, which is very similar to an ideal morning routine, minus the SPF application. At night, you can also add in a toner, acne treatment, face oil, and/or special devices or masks if you’re looking to enhance your routine. However, the more products you add in, the more risk there is for potential irritation, says Kagha.
Cleansers play a major role at night: They remove makeup, sunscreen, dirt, oil and products that have accumulated throughout the day from your face and neck, leaving your skin clean. At night, you may even want to double cleanse. That’s the process of washing your face twice — first with an oil-based cleanser, followed by a water-based cleanser. The oil-based cleanser breaks down products on the surface of your skin, including makeup and sunscreen, while the water-based cleanser removes leftover residue, pollutants, dirt, debris and excess oil, according to King.
Cleansers come in different formulations, including liquids, bars and balms. If you use a medicated cleanser in the morning, you’ll want to consider a gentler alternative (one that is free of exfoliating or drying ingredients) at night because it may be too harsh on your skin, according to experts.
This gentle cream-based formula removes oil, dirt and makeup, while still moisturizing the skin with oils, according to the brand. After massaging a quarter-sized amount into your skin, you can follow it up with a water-based cleanser, like the NakedPoppy Refresh Foaming Cleanser, as part of a double cleansing process if you are interested, says King.
This foaming face wash for oily and acne-prone skin uses benzoyl peroxide to treat acne, according to Woolery-Lloyd. Since this product has the highest concentration of benzoyl peroxide available without a prescription, you should only use it once a day — otherwise, it can be drying or irritating. To combat these concerns, the formula also has ingredients like glycerin which is a hydrating humectant, according to the brand.
If you are looking to further hydrate or exfoliate your skin, you may want to consider a toner. Our experts say this is a completely optional step, but it is great for providing your skin with another round of ingredients to help cleanse and prep the skin for future steps. If you decide to use an exfoliating toner in the morning, consider a hydrating one at night and vice versa.
This toner is suitable for all skin types including sensitive skin. The main ingredient is oats, which are very soothing and also offer anti-inflammatory benefits, according to Woolery-Lloyd. Plus, it has honey, which is a humectant with antioxidants to moisturize the skin, according to the brand. After drying your face, pat this milky toner into your skin with your fingers (or via a cotton pad) and let it seep into your skin.
This salicylic acid toner helps exfoliate the skin, reduce excess oil and minimize the appearance of blackheads and pores, according to the brand. To combat some of the dryness that using this may cause, it also has grape and rose water in its formula to calm irritation and hydrate the skin, according to Caudalie.
Serums are especially great to use at night since they’re reparative and restorative, says Henry. Common nighttime formulas have hyaluronic acid to hydrate the skin or chemical exfoliants, like glycolic and lactic acid, to penetrate your pores, remove dead skin cells and unclog pores, according to our experts
Other popular serum formulas have retinol. Retinol, which can minimize the appearance of fine lines and increase collagen production, is highly irritating when mixed with other actives — so our experts recommend avoiding it when also applying vitamin C, glycolic or lactic acid. Overall, retinols thrive at night because they benefit from the growth environment in which our bodies relax, says Henry. It also increases your chances of sun damage and sunburn, which is why it’s typically recommended for nighttime use.
If you want your retinol in serum form, this La Roche-Posay formula is recommended by Kagha. Not only does it use retinol to combat fine lines, but it also has hyaluronic acid for hydration and niacinamide to help reduce any potential irritation, according to the brand. Apply it to your face once or twice a week at first and gradually increase your usage.
To combat any dryness, consider this hydrating serum that is suitable for all skin types and is recommended by Kagha. It combines its namesake ingredient with glycerin and thermal water to give your skin some needed moisture, according to La-Roche Posay. Apply three to four drops to your face and neck, according to the brand.
One of the main functions of eye creams is to hydrate the delicate under-eye area. Since our bodies tend to lose more moisture at night, finding an eye cream to help retain and add moisture to that area is important, according to Woolery-Lloyd.
This formula, which has hydrating ingredients, including hyaluronic acid, ceramides and niacinamide, is suitable for all skin types, including those with eczema. Apply small dots around the eye and pat until fully absorbed — it should help reduce puffiness and dark circles, according to the brand.
If you want to combine a retinol and an eye cream, this RoC cream is a great option, says Woolery-Lloyd. The retinol works to smooth fine lines, while the niacinamide helps hydrate and improve the tone and texture of your skin. You can also use this in conjunction with a retinol serum because these products will generally affect different areas of your face. You can apply the serum on the face (avoiding the eyes) while the eye cream goes directly on the under-eye area, according to King. If you want to use a retinol eye cream and vitamin C serum, apply the antioxidant serum in the morning and the retinol at night so you can still use both products without using them at the same time and risking irritation, says King.
If you’re currently dealing with a breakout or are looking to prevent a future one from occurring, you may want to consider an acne treatment, according to our experts. Below, we’re sharing an over-the-counter option that may help.
This NBC Select Wellness Award-winning acne treatment uses a retinoid to target common concerns like breakouts and improve skin texture, according to Kagha. The main ingredient is adapalene, which helps treat and prevent acne and with the tone and texture of your skin, according to the brand. Apply the gel in a singular thin layer once a day for the best results, according to Differin.
This overnight spot treatment, which has a 4.6-star average rating from over 400 reviews at Sephora, has salicylic acid to decongest pores, azelaic acid to help even skin tone (especially hyperpigmentation from acne scars) and niacinamide to minimize the appearance of pores, according to the brand. Just apply a small amount directly on the area you want to target.
Moisturizers, which prevent water loss and lock in the products from your previous steps, should be one of the last steps of your nighttime skin care routine. You can use the same moisturizer day and night, though nighttime-specific options tend to have a thicker consistency (which is ideal since that’s when skin loses the most water), according to King.
This fragrance-free face cream is recommended by Henry. With ingredients like squalane and glycerin, it helps your skin retain moisture, and hydrates and softens it, according to the brand. Plus, it’s free of mineral oils, which often clog pores.
This moisturizer has all the components of a good moisturizer, says King. Because it’s a cream, it will have a thicker consistency than a lotion, which is why it’s a great option for nighttime. The Magic Night Cream has retinol, vitamin E and vitamin C in it to moisturize and strengthen the skin, plus it also comes in a mini version (that’s great for travel). Once you run out, you can pop in the refill container to continue your daily usage.
Face oils, as their name implies, are oil-based skin care products in liquid form that can add hydration and soften the skin overnight, says Woolery-Lloyd. Although the general rule of thumb is to apply skin care products from lightest consistency to heaviest — face oils are an exception. Despite oils feeling lighter in consistency than a moisturizer, they are strong enough to penetrate face creams; it’s also hard for products to break through them — which is why you should apply them last, according to experts.
Face oils work for a variety of skin types, including sensitive skin since specific oils (like sunflower seed oil) can help improve the skin barrier and decrease irritation, according to Woolery-Lloyd. If you have oily or acne-prone skin, however, you may want to be cautious incorporating one into your skin care routine because it could potentially lead to acne flares, says Henry.
If you’re concerned about breaking out from a face oil, look for noncomedogenic formulas that won’t clog pores.
This non-comedogenic formula has 16 different oils, one of which is sunflower oil, which Woolery-Lloyd recommends because of how hydrating it is and how much it decreases irritation. The best way to apply this facial oil is to smooth it over the skin as the very last step of your routine or add one to two drops into your nighttime moisturizer, according to Summer Fridays.
With peptides to strengthen the skin’s elasticity, oil for moisture, and ceramides for hydration, this face oil is suitable for all skin types, including oily skin, since it’s non-comedogenic, according to Olehenriksen. When using it at night, apply five to six drops to the skin by pressing it into the face and neck, according to the brand. (You can also use this in the morning — just add a few drops to your moisturizer prior to putting on makeup or SPF.)
When creating a skin care routine, our experts recommend keeping the following in mind:
Frequently asked questions
Our experts recommend following the less is more rule. "It's more important to invest your time and energy into products that have efficacy than to run the risk of irritation with an elaborate skin care routine," says Woolery-Lloyd.
Unless your dermatologist recommends it, you don't need an eight to 10-step skin care routine. Our experts generally consider toners, eye creams and face oils optional.
It depends. Neck creams are specifically made to target the neck area, and while you can use a facial moisturizer or body lotion, they won’t have the specific concentration of ingredients, like retinol, for example, that will target concerns like crepey skin. That’s why dermatologists recommend applying a proper neck cream after finishing your facial skin care routine. Apply in an upward motion from your decollete to your neck, according to experts.
Exfoliating involves removing dead skin cells, oil and debris from the skin with either a chemical or physical product, according to Henry. Physical exfoliants are abrasive materials or tools that target the surface of your skin, like a cleansing brush or washcloth, while chemical exfoliants are products you apply, like face washes and toners, that rely on alpha hydroxy acids (AHA) or beta hydroxy acids (BHA) to penetrate and unclog pores.
Our experts prefer chemical exfoliants rather than physical exfoliants because it’s safer for the skin since it doesn’t lead to over-scrubbing and tends to be more gentle overall, says Kagha. Since exfoliating can be quite harsh and irritating on your skin, they also recommend incorporating these products slowly. Once you’ve built up a tolerance, you can begin exfoliating more often. Weekly usage will vary depending on skin type but usually ranges from one to three times a week, according to our experts.
Face masks, which serve different purposes depending on their ingredients, are an optional step you can take to add hydration, calm the skin or cleanse it throughout the week, according to Kagha.
Typically, you will apply a face mask after cleansing, but before you apply any other products. Think of it as step one and a half in your nighttime routine since they usually require a clean, dry face.
Currently, there are various skin care devices on the market that target acne, inflammation and other concerns — though they are not necessary, according to our experts. If you plan to use one as an added step, here’s what to know:
At Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
Bianca Alvarez has been covering beauty for a year and has written about various skin care topics, including sunscreens, body washes and eye creams. For this piece, Bianca interviewed four dermatologists about the best order to apply skin care products. She also included their product recommendations for each step.
Catch up on Select’s in-depth coverage of personal finance, tech and tools, wellness and more, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok to stay up to date.