How to Layer Your Skincare Like a Pro
- Emmaline Tsui
- 39 minutes ago
- 4 min read
If there’s one thing that can make or break your skincare routine, it’s the order in which you put things on. Think of your skin like a sponge. If you pour oil on it first, it's going to be near impossible to get anything else to soak in after that. But if you layer the right way, everything works harder, penetrates deeper and gives you much better results.
I promise this isn’t complicated. You just need to go from light to heavy. Water-based first, richer textures last. That’s kind of it.
Step 1: Cleanse (Properly)
Let’s start at the very beginning. A good cleanse is necessary to set the tone for everything else.
Some people prefer a balm cleanser first (such as my Cleansing Beauty Balm), which is great especially if you’re wearing SPF or makeup. It melts everything away without stripping the skin. Once that’s off, follow with a water-based cleanser like Nimue Cleansing Gel or the Revision Papaya Enzyme Cleanser to make sure the skin is clean but still hydrated. If you're using more medical grade skincare however or have more acne prone skin types, then you might benefit even more with a double cleanse with your water based cleanser. It's completely personal preference though.
Remember, if you don’t cleanse properly, every fancy serum you put on after is basically wasted.
Step 2: Lotion, Gels and Serums
Once your skin’s clean, it’s time for your lightest layers. These should always go on first so they can sink right in.
I always start with five drops of the Forlle’d Refining Lotion, which is water-light and boosts hydration. After that, I move on to gels and serums such as my Vitamin C Serum or my Meder Beauty Mask serums. Vitamin C is brilliant for daytime because it helps protect the skin against environmental stress and supports collagen production.
If you use the Meder beauty sheet masks, don’t throw the sachets away. The serum inside is medical grade and can be used for the rest of the week. It’s one of my favourite little tips. I do one mask a week and the serum lasts me a week too.
Step 3: Targeted Treatments
Once the light serums are on, I move to more targeted actives like LINES by SkinBetter Science. If you use an eye cream, this is also the time to put it on. My favourites are the Calecim Eye Contour Lifting Cream, Nimue's Anti-Ageing Eye Cream and the Forlle'd Platinum Eye Cream. Lighter, treatment-focused products always go before your richer creams so they can reach the deeper layers of the skin.
Step 4: Moisturisers, Creams and Retinoids
Now we build the layers further. This is where you bring in your moisturiser or treatment cream. Think Forlle’d Basing Emulsion, Nimue Day or Nimue Night, or Calecim Multi-Action Cream.
If you use retinoids, they go on at night only. Retinoids make your skin more sensitive to sunlight, so never apply them during the day. Keep them for your evening routine when your skin is in repair mode. My favourite retinoids and retinals are the SkinBetter Science AlphaRet Overnight Cream or Clearing Serum (which is great for more acne prone skin types like myself) or the Nimue Retinal Power+ Serum.
Step 5: Oils
Oils are your seal. They lock everything in. If you apply them too early, they’ll block your water-based products from doing their job.
I love Nimue Hyaluronic Oil or The Face Oil at this step. A few drops are all you need. Think of it as the last layer of your skincare before SPF.
Step 6: SPF
In the morning, SPF is the final layer. Always.
My favourite spf is the Nimue Sun-C SPF 40 or the Revision Intellishade SPF 45.
If you’re using Nimue Element Barrier, it goes on last (as long as you're not using a tinted SPF, otherwise apply the Element Barrier first). This one’s brilliant for this time of year because the temperature changes can leave your skin barrier vulnerable. Element Barrier acts like a protective coat, helping keep your hydration in and the cold air out.
DAY VS NIGHT
Daytime is all about protection, which means your Vitamin C and SPF should be your key steps.
Night is when your skin repairs itself, so that’s where your retinoids come in. This is also a great time to add an extra nourishing layer if your skin feels drier in the colder months.
Good skincare is about layering with intention. Not just slapping everything on and hoping for the best. Light to heavy. Targeted to protective. If you get the order right, your products will work harder for you and you will see the benefits of it.
And if you’re not sure where to start or how to layer what you already have, my Skin Check In is there to help. I’ll tell you exactly what to use, when to use it and how to build a routine that actually works.
Thank you for reading,
Emmaline
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