Getting your skincare and makeup routine in the right order is crucial for achieving flawless looking skin. With so many products and steps, it can get confusing trying to figure out the optimal sequence. Understanding the ideal order will help you maximize the effectiveness of your skincare, allow your makeup to look smooth and flawless, and prevent product interactions that could be detrimental to your skin.
In this blog post, we’ll break down the ideal order for your morning skincare and makeup routine for a perfect, polished end result:
Cleanser - This is step 1 to prep skin for the products to follow. Use a gentle cleanser suited to your skin type to wash away impurities without stripping the skin.
Toner - After cleansing, a toner helps restore skin’s pH balance and provides an extra cleansing boost. Look for soothing, hydrating toners with ingredients like rose water or aloe vera.
Serum - Next in your skincare order is serum. Serums contain high concentrations of active ingredients that penetrate deep into the skin. Apply your serum for concerns like dark spots, fine lines, acne, hydration etc.
Eye Cream - The delicate eye area deserves special care. Apply a nourishing eye cream before makeup to hydrate skin and minimize fine lines. Using your ring finger, gently tap cream around the entire eye area.
Moisturizer - Lock in the benefits of your serum and eye cream with a moisturizer suited to your skin type. Let it fully absorb before moving onto makeup.
Primer - A primer smooths and perfects the skin, allowing makeup to glide on flawlessly. Opt for a hydrating primer for dry skin or a mattifying one for oily complexions. Apply a thin, even layer all over your face and neck.
Foundation - With primed skin, your foundation will look airbrushed and almost naturally flawless. Use a damp makeup sponge for a smooth, streak-free application.
Concealer - To camouflage dark circles, blemishes and imperfections, use concealer after foundation. Choose a shade slightly lighter than your foundation and dab on strategically.
Powder - If you have oily skin, dust on a light translucent powder to set your base. For drier skin types, you can skip this step. Apply just to the t-zone to avoid caking.
Blush - For a healthy flush of color, apply blush to the apples of your cheeks next. Use a soft, fluffy brush and blend well. Go for soft pink, peach and rose shades.
Bronzer - Warm up and define your complexion with bronzer. Sweep it lightly across your forehead, cheekbones and jawline to mimic the look of natural sunlight.
Eyebrow Pencil - Frame your eyes with groomed, defined eyebrows. Use light, feathery strokes and short lines to fill in sparse areas for a natural look.
Eyeshadow - Use an eyeshadow primer first for long-lasting color without creasing. Apply a neutral base shade all over the eyelid up to the brow bone. Next blend a medium shade in the crease and a shimmery shade on the lids.
Eyeliner - Intensify your eyes with eyeliner. Line your upper and lower lash lines with a pencil, liquid or gel formula. Smudge with a brush or q-tip for a sultry, smoky effect.
Mascara - Finish your eye makeup with two coats of mascara for fuller, longer lashes. Wiggle the wand at the base of lashes and sweep up to the tips. Let each coat dry before applying the next.
Lip color - The final step is lip color to complete your flawless face. Line and fill in your lips with a matching lip liner for long wear. Apply lipstick or gloss on top, blotting with a tissue to remove excess.
Mist & Go - End your routine with a facial mist to refresh skin and meld all the products together seamlessly. Hold the bottle 8-10 inches away and close your eyes as you mist face.
Following these steps will help you apply your skincare and makeup products in the ideal order for a put-together, radiant look. Taking the time to follow this routine means your skin will reap all the benefits while your cosmetics will look perfected and last all day long. Don’t forget to remove it all thoroughly with makeup remover and cleanser at night. Your skin will continue looking its best by diligently following this effective yet simple routine each morning.