How to Build a Skincare Routine:
ORDERING AND LAYERING
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A skincare routine is more than just a series of steps, it’s a dedicated practice that nurtures your skin and keeps it healthy and glowing. Skin care routines involve carefully choosing products and following a specific order of application, so you can target your skin’s unique needs.
A well-crafted skincare routine not only helps maintain your skin’s natural balance but also gives you a little moment of self-care. Whether you’re aiming for clearer skin, a more youthful look or simply a chance to pamper yourself, a consistent skincare routine is key to achieving healthier-looking skin.
In this comprehensive guide, NIVEA walks you through everything you need to know about how to order and layer your skincare products so you can enjoy healthier skin, day and night.
Skincare routine
ORDERING AND LAYERING
When you’re layering products, it’s important to start with lightweight products like cleansers, toners and serums, then move on to heavier products like moisturisers. That way, each product can properly penetrate your skin and deliver the benefits it’s designed to provide.
Not everyone needs a complicated 10-step routine, because skincare needs really do vary depending on your skin type and concerns. A basic 3-step skincare routine made up of cleansing, moisturising and sun protection can be more than enough for some people.
Going for a longer skincare routine gives you more targeted and advanced solutions, so you can address specific concerns such as ageing, acne or hyperpigmentation with extra products including serums, exfoliants and masks.
Whether you choose a basic, intermediate or advanced routine all comes down to your goals and preferences – some people love to keep things simple, while others prefer a more comprehensive approach to skincare.
Building a 24 hour face skincare routine:
STEPS TO INCLUDE
Step 1: Cleanse
Start your morning skincare routine with a thorough cleanse to wash away dirt and impurities, getting your skin ready to soak up all the nourishing ingredients in your routine.
Benefits may include: Awakens and refreshes skin, helps control excess oil, supports pH balance, helps skin absorb care products and supports the look of refined pores.
Can I skip cleansing?: Cleansing is essential in any skincare routine, so it really shouldn’t be skipped. Having thoroughly cleansed skin is the base you build the rest of your care routine on.
Tips: Use a cleanser that suits your skin type, apply gently and avoid harsh scrubbing, use lukewarm water, avoid harsh ingredients such as alcohol and pat your face dry instead of rubbing.
Step 2: Tone
Toning finishes off your morning cleansing step by removing the last traces of dirt or residue and helping to balance your skin’s pH levels.
Benefits may include: Balances pH levels, removes leftover residue, adds hydration, refines pores and improves complexion, boosts radiance, helps support skin prone to certain conditions.
Can I skip toning?: Toning is generally beneficial for skin and for boosting radiance, but in some situations it’s fine to skip. For example, if you follow a minimalist routine, if your skin reacts badly to toners or if you’re using a 2-in-1 cleanser and toner product for step 1.
Tips: Use a toner that suits your skin type and targets your specific concerns, apply by gently patting it on with your fingertips or a soft cotton pad, avoid toners containing alcohol and avoid overusing toner (usually more than twice a day).
Step 3: Serum:
Serums are lightweight, fast-absorbing and deep-penetrating products that offer high concentrations of active ingredients, formulated to target specific skin concerns. They’re the super-boost of any beauty routine.
Benefits may include: Faster results than creams alone, easy customisation of your routine, extra hydration, radiance, firmness or smoothness depending on the formula.
Can I skip serum?: Skipping serum means you’re missing out on a big opportunity to power up your skincare routine and target specific concerns. Serum is often the most effective product for helping you get the results you’re after. That said, if you don’t have particular concerns or you’re sticking to a minimalist 3-step routine, you might decide to leave serum out.
Tips: Choose a serum that targets your main concern, get to know what different ingredients do (e.g. Vitamin C for brightening, Hyaluronic Acid for hydrating), allow 1–2 minutes for it to fully absorb and remember that a small amount usually goes a long way.
Step 4: Eye cream
Eye creams are specifically formulated to nourish the delicate skin around your eyes, helping to target common concerns such as dark circles, puffiness and crow’s feet. You can also use them after moisturiser, as long as you leave the under-eye area clear so you can apply your eye cream properly.
Benefits may include: Targeted action on common concerns such as dark circles or eye bags, helps prevent signs of ageing, improves texture and hydration, and can enhance makeup application.
Can I skip eye cream?: Younger people with no specific under-eye concerns, or anyone wanting to stick to a basic skincare routine, might choose to skip eye cream. If you have oily skin you might also find that a regular moisturiser is enough to keep the area hydrated.
Tips: Choose an eye cream that targets your concerns, apply by gently tapping with your ring finger and avoid putting it too close to your eyeball, start with less and add more if you need it, and give it time – results around the eye area can take a little while to show.
Step 5: Moisturiser – Day cream
Day creams provide essential moisture and hydration throughout the day, helping to keep your skin feeling supple and looking its best. They also help give daily protection against environmental stressors.
Benefits may include: Long-lasting moisture, sun protection (if they contain SPF), protection against free radicals, skin barrier support, a smoother base for makeup and additional targeted actions depending on the formula (such as anti-ageing or glow-boosting effects).
Can I skip moisturising?: Moisturising is recommended even in very basic skincare routines – it’s a cornerstone step and generally not a good idea to skip it. Only those with particularly oily skin might choose to skip a separate moisturiser and apply a light sunscreen instead. Even then, it’s still recommended to look for a moisturiser formulated for oily skin that can help control excess oil and prevent breakouts.
Tips: Choose a day cream that suits your skin type and concerns, SPF will provide extra protection, apply more generously than serum, allow time for it to absorb (especially before applying makeup) and dot it over your face and neck before gently massaging it in.
Step 6: SPF
SPF (Sun Protection Factor) is essential to keep your skin shielded from harmful UV rays throughout the day that can cause damage. Sunlight is often the main cause of many skin concerns, including dark spots and premature ageing – so wearing SPF is absolutely essential for maintaining a radiant complexion.
Benefits may include: UVA/B protection, helps prevent sun-induced dark spots, helps prevent photoageing, supports skin health, and helps prevent sunburn.
Can I skip SPF?: SPF is essential for skin health, even in minimalist routines. You should apply it whenever your skin is going to be exposed to sunlight to protect it from damage.
Tips: Aim for at least SPF 30 or higher, apply generously and regularly, check sunscreen expiration dates, and try to avoid the sun during peak hours.
Step 1: Cleanse
Difference vs. morning: In the morning you’re refreshing and waking up your skin, but in the evening you’re removing makeup, sunscreen, dirt and impurities that have built up through the day and getting ready to apply your nighttime care products.
Benefits may include: Helps prevent breakouts, improves the absorption of care products, supports cell renewal and helps your skin’s natural nighttime repair and regeneration processes.
Can I skip cleansing?: Just like in your AM routine, it’s not recommended to skip cleansing in the evening unless you’re following specific advice from a dermatologist.
Tips: It’s very popular to double cleanse at night – first using an oil-based cleanser to remove makeup and sunscreen, then following with a water-based cleanser to properly clean your skin.
Step 2: Tone
Difference vs. morning: Toning in the evening serves a very similar purpose but focuses on wicking away any last traces of makeup or daily dirt. It can also help further neutralise daily free radicals.
Benefits may include: Same as AM routine.
Can I skip toning: Same as AM routine.
Tips: Same as AM routine.
Step 3: Serum
Difference vs. morning: The purpose of serum stays very similar, but you might want to target different concerns in the evening than you do in the morning.
Benefits may include: Same as AM routine.
Can I skip serum?: Same as AM routine.
Tips: In the evening you might like to look for a serum that’s specifically formulated for hydration and overnight repair – formulas containing Hyaluronic Acid are particularly good for this. Using the same serum morning and night is perfectly fine, but switching them up can help you target different concerns.
Step 4: Spot treatments
Difference vs. morning: While you can apply certain treatments (such as retinoids for anti-ageing or acne treatment) in the morning, these products can sometimes make your skin more sensitive to sunlight, which is why they’re usually recommended for nighttime use.
Benefits may include: Targeted action on specific areas, works alongside your skin’s natural repair process, and can help prevent future breakouts or concerns.
Can I skip spot treatments?: If you don’t have specific areas of concern, or you’re following advice from a skin specialist, you might choose to skip this step.
Tips: Introduce treatments slowly, follow the directions on the packaging carefully and always apply SPF the next day, as some treatments can increase sensitivity to the sun.
Step 5: Eye cream:
Difference vs. morning: Eye cream has a very similar role in your evening routine as it does in the morning, so you can follow the same tips.
Step 6: Moisturiser – Night cream
Difference vs. morning: While day cream provides support and protection for your skin throughout the day, night cream delivers overnight nourishment, supporting your skin’s natural regeneration and repair processes. Night creams often have richer formulas focused on intense hydration and skin barrier restoration rather than protection.
Benefits may include: Supports your skin’s natural regeneration and repair process while you sleep, lets you wake up to refreshed skin, meets your overnight moisture needs and often contains a higher concentration of active ingredients.
Can I skip night cream?: Just like moisturising in the morning, it’s generally not recommended to skip this step in the evening. Skipping night cream can leave your skin dehydrated overnight and means you’re missing an opportunity to support its natural regeneration and repair process.
Tips: Look for a night cream that complements your day cream so together they provide 24-hour care, keeping your skin healthy and nourished while targeting your specific skin concerns.
You can work face masks into your weekly routine to provide extra targeted benefits for your skin. Typically used 1–3 times a week, depending on the needs and goals of your face care routine, masks come in different varieties including sheet masks, clay masks, hydrating masks and exfoliating masks.
Benefits may include: The benefits are wide-ranging and depend on the type of mask you’re using, but most contain a concentrated burst of active ingredients to target specific concerns. They’re also perfect for a deeper pamper and relaxation session. Regular use can help boost the results of your daily face care routine.
Can I skip masks?: Most people can benefit from a weekly mask treatment, but if your skin is healthy and you’re happy with your complexion, you might decide you don’t need this extra step.
Tips: Choose a mask that matches the goals of your daily routine, apply to cleansed skin, follow the packaging instructions, use it in a relaxing setting, and you can even put some masks in the fridge for extra refreshment (always check the packaging first, as this can affect how certain ingredients work). After use, massage in any excess formula or gently remove it with a cotton pad.
Depending on your skin type and needs, you can exfoliate as part of your evening face care routine after cleansing around 2–3 times a week for a deeper clean. This helps to remove a build-up of dead skin cells and supports cell renewal.
Benefits may include: Skin renewal, clearer pores, improved skin tone and texture, reduced likelihood of breakouts and better performance of your other care products.
Can I skip exfoliation?: It’s a good idea to get into the habit of exfoliating at least twice a week to deeply cleanse, prevent clogged pores and reduce the build-up of dead skin cells. If you have sensitive skin you might exfoliate less often, while those with oily skin might exfoliate a little more frequently.
Tips: Choose an exfoliant based on your skin’s needs – that could be a mechanical scrub or a chemical exfoliant (AHA or BHA). Exfoliate after cleansing, apply gently and avoid excessive rubbing – let the ingredients do the work – and rinse off thoroughly.
Skincare routines are essential for both men and women when it comes to achieving healthier-looking, radiant skin. While there are common steps in most skincare routines, such as cleansing, moisturising and sun protection, there’ll also be individual differences based on skin type, concerns and personal preferences.
Men’s skincare routines might need to consider factors like shaving and facial hair care, while women’s routines might include extra steps such as makeup removal. Regardless of gender, it’s important to understand what your skin needs and choose products that address those factors.
Consistency is vital, because regular skincare habits lead to long-term benefits. Ultimately, no matter your gender, a well-thought-out skincare routine is an investment in both your self-care and your skin health.
