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what order should you apply your skincare products

What Order Should You Apply Skincare Products? (And No, it’s not as complicated as TikTok makes it seem!)

in Helloskin Diaries

Ever stood in front of the mirror thinking, “Wait… does serum go before or after moisturiser? And where does exfoliating fit in?” Yep. Been there. Skincare can feel like one big puzzle, but once you get the order down, it just clicks and your skin will thank you!

Here’s your fuss free guide to getting the order right and making your skincare work harder (not you).

Step: 1 Cleanser 🧼

First rule of skincare is to always start fresh. Cleansing morning and night clears out all the grime, oils or leftover makeup so your skin is actually ready to soak in the good stuff. 

Glow Tip: pair your cleanse session with the helloskin LED Light Therapy Handset V3.0 on cleanse mode for a deeper cleanse of the pores!

Step 2: Exfoliate (1-2x a week) 🧽

This is your sometimes step. After cleansing (never before!), gently exfoliate to buff away dead skin and help your serums absorb better. But don’t go wild because over exfoliating just damages your natural skin barrier and sets your skin off in all the wrong ways.

Glow Tip: skip the gritty, scratchy stuff. Go for a gentle exfoliator with soft particles or mild enzymes to protect that skin barrier because you only get one to last you a whole lifetime. 

Step 3: Serums 💧

This is where the magic happens. Layer based on your goals but remember! Thinnest to thickest is the golden rule. 

Here’s a breakdown:

  • Hyaluronic acid first (AM/PM). It’s the lightest in texture and hydrates like a dream. Think of it as your skin’s glass of water. It is the perfect base serum to help the rest of your product ingredients absorb better. 
  • Azelaic Acid next up (AM/PM) is perfect for tackling spots, redness, uneven tone or congestion.
  • Vitamin C (AM) brightens, protects and works on scarring and pigmentation. Pop it on after azelaic acid if you are using both.
  • Retinol (PM ONLY!) is a must from the age of 25! Apply straight after your cleanse. With helloskin’s potent 1% retinol formula, we recommend letting it fly solo, no other serums before or after. Let it sink in fully before moisturiser. 

Step 4: Eye Cream 👁️ (Optional but worth it)

Not essential for everyone, but if puffiness, dark circles or fine lines are creeping in, this one is for you!

Why bother with a separate eye cream?

Because that skin under the eyes is way thinner and more delicate. Your regular moisturiser can be too rich or irritating here. Eye creams are made to be gentle and targeted for this sensitive area. 

When to start?

Late 20s is a great time to add one in to your routine, or earlier if you’re seeing all the signs mentioned above. 

What to look for? 

Caffeine for puffiness, hyaluronic acid for hydration, peptides for firming and vitamin c for brightening. Avoid anything too heavy or perfumed. 

Step 5: Moisturiser 💦

Lock it all in! Moisturiser helps seal in all your serums and keeps your barrier strong and healthy. And YES, even oily skin needs moisturiser. 

Glow Tip: the helloskin face moisturiser is packed with 7 botanical extracts and is super lightweight but ultra hydrating. It’s one of those “can’t go wrong” products you’ll reach for daily, we promise!

Step 6: SPF (AM ONLY)

I think we know enough by now to understand that SPF is a non-negotiable before we head out in the morning. IF you are only going to do one thing to keep your skin healthy, make it sunscreen because everyone wants to protect against premature ageing, sunspots, and all the sneaky damage you don’t see right away.

Glow Tip: We’re big fans of zinc based SPFs. They’re calming, great for sensitive or breakout prone skin and offer broad-spectrum protection without irritation. 

BUT WAIT… 

Here’s the thing. Your skin can only handle so much at once. Throwing every single active ingredient on your face isn’t going to make things better or clear it up faster. If anything, it can backfire. Over layering can irritate your skin barrier (that’s the natural shield that keeps the good stuff in and the bad stuff out), leaving you with redness, breakouts or tight, itchy feel that nobody wants. 

Think of your routine like a workout plan. If you tried to hit every single muscle every single day with max weight, you would burn out right? Your skin works the same way. It doesn’t need everything at once. It needs consistency and targeted care for the best results. 

It is very important for you to know which serums you shouldn’t use together! Let’s break it down and keep it real easy:

❌ Retinol + Vitamin C 
Both are powerful actives but can compete and irritate if layered. Use vitamin C in the AM for brightening and Retinol in the PM for renewal.

❌ Retinol + Azelaic Acid 
Both are strong treatments for very similar things. Instead of stacking them and freaking out your skin, alternate! Azelaic Acid in the AM and Retinol in the PM.

❌ Retinol + Hyaluronic Acid
Normally fine together in many routines, but since helloskin’s formulas are concentrated, not watered down and high in actives, we recommend separating them to avoid overloading the skin. Use Hyaluronic Acid in your AM routine and swap it out with Retinol in the PM.

I guess you are catching on now. Retinol belongs to the PM club. Your skin naturally goes into repair mode at night, which is the perfect time to let retinol do its thing. Boosting cell turnover, softening texture, and targeting those stubborn breakouts, dark spots or fine line. While you sleep, its works quietly in the background, like the superhero it is, to give you that “I woke up like this” glow. Pair it with a nourishing, lightweight moisturiser, skip the extra serums, and let your skin rest and reset overnight. Simple, effective and way less stressful for your face!

Glow Tip: Focus on tackling one or two skin concerns at a time. Your skin thrives on a calm, consistent routine. Not a serum pile on. Fewer steps done well will always beat a 10-step routine that leaves your face stressed out. 

Final Thoughts: Keep it Simple and Glow All Out!

At the end of the day, your skin doesn’t need a chaotic routine or every serum on the shelf to look its best. What it really loves is consistency, a few hard working products, and a lot of patience. Focus on the ingredients that actually target your skin concerns. Give them time to do their thing and let your barrier stay happy. Easier for you, less guesswork and way more glow. That’s the helloskin way!

XO Souraya 
& your  glow crew ✨

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