What Order Do Skincare Products Go In? A Simple Layering Guide
Thinnest to thickest is the rule. Here’s where every product goes, from gels and serums to eye cream and oils, and how long to wait between layers.
The usual skincare order is cleanser, optional toner and serum, then moisturizer. Finish with sunscreen in the morning. Lighter leave-on textures generally go before richer ones, but specific product directions take priority. RENU 28, for example, goes after cleansing and before toner.
That one rule answers most layering questions. Here’s the full order, why it works, and where the extras fit.
The basic order
- Cleanser washes your skin.
- Toner is a watery layer you press in.
- Serum is a light liquid you smooth on.
- Moisturizer is a cream that finishes the routine.
Add sunscreen as your final morning skincare step. Other products depend on your preferences and their directions; you do not need every category.
Why thinnest to thickest?
Think of it like getting dressed: a T-shirt goes on before a sweater, not after. Thin, watery products spread easily over clean skin. Thicker creams are richer and form a soft layer on top. If you put the cream on first, a watery toner or a light serum would just slide around on it.
Texture is a good guide when a label doesn’t tell you where something goes. Pour a little into your palm: if it’s watery, it goes early; if it’s rich, it goes late.
The full order, with the extras
| Order | Product | Texture | How much |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Makeup remover (evening) | Balm, oil or micellar water | As needed |
| 2 | Cleanser | Foam, gel or cream | A small amount |
| 3 | Skin gel, such as RENU 28 | Clear gel | Enough to cover |
| 4 | Toner (optional) | Watery | Follow the label |
| 5 | Serum (optional) | Liquid or gel | Follow the label |
| 6 | Eye cream | Light cream | A rice-grain amount |
| 7 | Moisturizer | Cream, lotion or gel | Follow the label |
| 8 | Face oil (optional, evening) | Oil | Follow the label |
| 9 | Sunscreen (morning) | Varies | Apply as directed |
Choose the rows that fit your routine. Toner, serum, eye cream and oil are optional.
Where gels go
Where a gel goes depends on its purpose. A gel cleanser rinses off, while a gel moisturizer belongs later in the routine. RENU 28, for example, is a clear gel for face and body: shake the tube, apply enough to cover your skin, and let it dry fully before your next step. Then carry on with toner, serum and moisturizer as usual.
Where eye cream goes
After serum, before moisturizer. Use a tiny amount and pat it around the eye with your ring finger, using a light touch and following the product’s eye-area directions.
Where face oil goes
Follow the oil’s directions; many go after moisturizer in an evening routine. Do not mix oil into sunscreen, which needs to be applied as directed.
How long to wait between layers
Wait until each layer has sunk in or dried, which usually takes 30 seconds to a minute. A good test: touch your cheek with the back of your finger. If it feels wet or slippery, give it a few more seconds.
The one step worth timing is a gel. Let it dry fully before toner; with the RENU Advanced Glow Serum, the directions say to wait at least 30 seconds after RENU 28.
A routine that follows the order for you
If you’d rather not work out the order product by product, a set does it for you. RENU Advanced is four products in the classic order:
- Foaming Cleanser: 2–3 pumps of foam, massaged in and rinsed with warm water.
- Balancing Toner: about a teaspoon, pressed into face and neck.
- Glow Serum: 1–2 pumps over face, neck and décolletage.
- Hydrating Cream: a pea-size amount, applied with upward, outward strokes.
Add RENU 28 after the cleanser and you have the complete routine: cleanse, gel, tone, serum, moisturize. Not sure whether you need one or both? The RENU 28 vs RENU Advanced guide compares them.
Common layering mistakes
Still deciding which layers to keep? Read whether you need toner if you use serum before adding another step. Knowing the order doesn’t mean you need every product in it.
- Rushing the layers. If you smooth cream over a wet serum, it can feel sticky. A short pause fixes it.
- Using too much. More product doesn’t mean more benefit. Use the amount specified for your product, rather than assuming all creams need the same amount.
- Rubbing hard. Press and smooth instead. It’s kinder and spreads products just as well.
- Changing everything at once. Add one new product at a time, so you know what you like.
Quick recap
Start with the label directions. A typical routine is cleanse, optional toner and serum, then moisturizer; sunscreen goes last in the morning. Add RENU 28 after cleansing if you use it, and let it dry fully.
For a ready-made version of this order, see the 5-minute morning routine. To understand what those long ingredient names on each bottle are doing, read moisturizer ingredients explained.
