Here’s How To Establish a Routine and Layer Skincare Like a Pro

Establishing a skincare routine can be challenging. It's especially difficult in the time of TikTok when everyone has seemingly helpful tips, tricks and trends that are viral. With so many new formulations making their way to the beauty market, it can be hard to keep up — even beauty editors and enthusiasts struggle.

For starters, it's important to know your skin type and that the skin itself is genetic, so whatever current conditions you may have (acne, hyperpigmentation, rosacea) may be from your birth line — which will ultimately determine which products you should incorporate into your routine. If you're struggling to find a middle ground on where to start, we've got you covered with a few tried and true tips on how to layer skincare like a true professional. Keep reading on for more.

Step 1: Cleanser

Before going any further into the routine, everyone should use a cleanser. If you have oily skin, cleanse with an oil-based cleanser first and then a regular cleanser with a pH of no more than 5.6. Anything higher will compromise the barrier of your skin.

Step 2: Serum Up

In the morning, your go-to's should be a Vitamin C serum to brighten and prevent sun damage, followed by a hyaluronic acid serum to maintain hydration. In the evenings, it's safe to keep it simple and only use hyaluronic acid after cleansing.

Step 3: Moisturize

You can use the same moisturizer day and night. Just be sure that your moisturizer does not include SPF in the evenings.

Step 4: Face Oil

If you use a face oil, a helpful trick is to use it before moisturizer since it's lighter in weight and will help the moisturizer penetrate the skin deeper.

Step 5: Sunscreen

This is self-explanatory, but yes — please wear sunscreen every day. Even if you are at home, you could still be exposed to harmful light.