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 promotes its overall health and radiance. Skin care routines involve a careful selection of products and a specific order of application, all working together to address your skin’s unique needs.
A well-crafted skincare routine not only helps maintain your skin’s natural balance but also gives you a moment of self-care. Whether you’re aiming for clearer skin, a more youthful appearance or simply a chance to pamper yourself, a consistent skincare routine is key to achieving healthier-looking skin.
In this comprehensive guide, NIVEA takes you through everything you need to know about how to order and layer your skincare products so you can achieve healthier skin.
Skincare routine
ORDERING AND LAYERING
When you’re layering products, it’s important to start with lightweight products like cleansers, toners and serums and then move on to heavier products like moisturisers. That way each product can penetrate the skin effectively and give you the benefits it’s designed to deliver.
Not everyone needs a complicated 10-step routine, because skincare needs can vary a lot 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.
A longer skincare routine offers more targeted and advanced solutions, addressing specific concerns such as ageing, acne or hyperpigmentation with extra products like serums, exfoliants and masks.
Whether you go for a basic, intermediate or advanced routine depends on your goals and preferences – some people love keeping it simple, 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 proper cleanse to remove dirt and impurities, and to prepare your skin to absorb the nourishing ingredients in the rest of your routine.
Benefits may include: Awakens and refreshes your skin, helps control excess oil, supports pH balance, helps your skin absorb care products and maintains pore appearance.
Can I skip cleansing? Cleansing is essential in any skincare routine, so it shouldn’t be skipped. Thoroughly cleansed skin is the foundation for the care products you apply afterwards.
Tips: Use a cleanser that suits your skin type, apply gently and avoid 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 any last traces of dirt or residue and helping to balance your skin’s pH levels.
Benefits may include: Balances pH levels, removes leftover residues, adds hydration, refines pores and improves your complexion, boosts radiance, helps manage certain skin conditions.
Can I skip toning? Toning is generally beneficial for your skin and for boosting radiance, but in some situations it’s fine to skip it. Examples include: if you’re following a minimalist routine, if your skin reacts negatively to your toner or if you’re using a 2-in-1 cleanser and toner 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 that contain alcohol and avoid overusing it (usually more than twice a day).
Step 3: Serum:
Serums are lightweight, fast-absorbing and deeply 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, the chance to customise your routine, extra hydration, more radiance, firmness or smoothness depending on the formula.
Can I skip serum? Skipping serum means missing out on a big opportunity to power up your skincare routine and tackle specific concerns. Serum is often the most effective product for getting the results you’re after. But if you have no particular concerns or you want to keep to a minimalist 3-step routine, you might decide to leave serum out.
Tips: Choose a serum that targets your concern, get to know what different ingredients do (for example Vitamin C for brightening, Hyaluronic Acid for hydrating), allow 1–2 minutes for full absorption and remember that a little 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 these after your moisturiser, as long as you keep the under-eye area clear for application.
Benefits may include: Targeted action on common concerns such as dark circles or eye bags, helps prevent signs of aging, improves texture and hydration, and makes makeup go on more smoothly.
Can I skip eye cream? Younger people with no specific under-eye concerns or anyone sticking to a basic skincare routine might decide to skip eye cream. If you have oily skin, you might also find that your regular moisturiser is enough to keep the area hydrated.
Tips: Choose an eye cream that targets your concerns, apply it by gently tapping with your ring finger and avoid getting too close to your eyeball, start with a little and add more if needed, and give it time to show results.
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 to give you daily protection against environmental stressors.
Benefits may include: Moisture, sun protection (if they contain SPF), free radical protection, skin barrier support, a good makeup base and extra targeted actions depending on the formula (anti-age, glow-boosting, etc.).
Can I skip moisturising? Moisturising is recommended even in basic skincare routines – it’s a cornerstone step and generally not a good idea to skip it. Only people with particularly oily skin might choose to skip it and use a light sunscreen instead; even then it’s still recommended to find a moisturiser designed for oily skin that can help control excess oil and prevent breakouts.
Tips: Choose a day cream for your skin type and concerns, SPF gives you extra protection, apply more generously than serum, allow time for it to absorb (especially if you’re putting on makeup), dot it all over your face and neck and then gently massage it into your skin.
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 very often the main cause of many skin concerns, including dark spots and premature ageing – so SPF is essential for maintaining a radiant complexion.
Benefits may include: UVA/UVB protection, helps prevent sun-induced dark spots, helps prevent photoaging, maintains 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; in the evening you’re removing makeup, sunscreen, dirt and impurities that have built up during the day and preparing your skin for night-time care products.
Benefits may include: Helps prevent breakouts, boosts absorption of care products, promotes cell renewal and supports night-time repair and regeneration.
Can I skip cleansing? Just like in your AM routine, it’s not recommended to skip cleansing in the evening unless a dermatologist has specifically advised you to.
Tips: It’s very popular to double cleanse in the evening – first using an oil-based cleanser to remove makeup and sunscreen, followed by a water-based cleanser to clean your skin properly.
Step 2: Tone
Difference vs. morning: Toning in the evening has a very similar purpose, but here it helps to remove the last traces of makeup and daily dirt. It can also help to further neutralise daily free radicals.
Benefits may include: Same as your AM routine.
Can I skip toning? Same as your AM routine.
Tips: Same as your AM routine.
Step 3: Serum
Difference vs. morning: The purpose of serum is still very similar, but you could choose to target different concerns in the evening than you do in the morning.
Benefits may include: Same as your AM routine.
Can I skip serum? Same as your AM routine.
Tips: In the evening you might want a serum that’s specifically formulated for hydration and overnight repair – those containing Hyaluronic Acid are particularly good for this. Using the same serum in the morning and evening is absolutely fine, but switching them up can help you target different concerns.
Step 4: Spot treatments
Difference vs. morning: You could apply these treatments (such as retinoids for anti-aging or acne treatment) in the morning, but they can sometimes make your skin more sensitive to sunlight, which is why they’re usually recommended for night-time use.
Benefits may include: Targeted action, works alongside your skin’s natural repair process and offers preventative care.
Can I skip spot treatments? If you don’t have specific areas of concern – or if you’re following advice from a skin specialist – you might decide to skip this step.
Tips: Introduce treatments slowly, follow the directions on the packaging and always apply SPF the next day as some treatments can increase sensitivity.
Step 5: Eye cream:
Difference vs. morning: Eye cream plays a very similar role in your evening routine as it does in the morning routine, so you can follow the same advice.
Step 6: Moisturiser – Night cream
Difference vs. morning: Day cream supports and protects your skin throughout the day, while night cream delivers overnight nourishment, supporting your skin’s natural regeneration and repair processes. Night creams are often thicker, with formulas focused on intense hydration and skin barrier restoration rather than protection.
Benefits may include: Supporting your skin’s natural regeneration and repair while you sleep, waking up to refreshed skin, meeting your overnight moisture needs and higher concentrations of active ingredients.
Can I skip night cream? Just like moisturising in the morning, it’s generally not recommended to skip it in the evening. Skipping can leave your skin dehydrated overnight and you’ll miss a chance to support its natural repair process.
Tips: Look for a night cream that complements your day cream so the two together give you 24-hour care, keeping your skin healthy and nourished while targeting your specific skin concerns.
You can work these into your weekly routine to give your skin targeted benefits. Usually used 1–3 times a week, depending on what you want from your face care routine, face masks come in lots of different varieties including sheet masks, clay masks, hydrating masks and exfoliating masks.
Benefits may include: The benefits are numerous and depend on the type of mask you’re using, but generally they all contain a concentrated burst of active ingredients to target specific concerns. They’re also great when you want a proper pamper and relaxation session. Using them regularly can boost the results of your everyday 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 choose to skip them.
Tips: Choose a mask that matches the goals of your daily routine, apply to cleansed skin, follow the instructions on the packaging, use it in a relaxing setting, pop it in the fridge for extra refreshment (but first check the packaging to make sure this won’t affect the ingredients), then massage in any excess formula after use or gently remove it with a cotton pad.
Depending on your skin type and needs, you should exfoliate as part of your evening face care routine after cleansing, around 2–3 times a week, for a deeper cleanse. This helps remove any 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 efficacy of your 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 and help prevent clogged pores and a build-up of dead skin cells. If you’ve got sensitive skin you might exfoliate less often, while very oily skin might benefit from exfoliating a bit more often.
Tips: Choose an exfoliant based on your skin needs – whether that’s a mechanical scrub or a chemical (AHA or BHA) exfoliant, exfoliate after cleansing, apply gently and avoid excessive rubbing (let the ingredients do the work) and rinse off thoroughly.
NIVEA curated skincare routines
FOR SPECIFIC CONCERNS
NIVEA Q10 Power Anti-Wrinkle skincare routine
Skincare routines are essential for both men and women when it comes to achieving healthier-looking, radiant skin. While there are some common steps – like cleansing, moisturising and sun protection – there can also be individual differences based on skin type, concerns and personal preferences.
Men’s skincare routines might include extra considerations like shaving and facial hair care, while women’s routines might include additional steps like makeup removal. Regardless of gender, it’s important to understand what your skin needs and choose products that address those needs.
Consistency is vital, because regular skincare habits lead to long-term benefits. Ultimately, no matter your gender, a well-crafted skincare routine is an investment in both self-care and skin health.
