My philosophy when it comes to skincare? Work smarter, not harder. The reality is: having a multi-step routine is only worthwhile if you're applying everything in the right order. Mess it up, and the molecules that promise to make your complexion glow, your acne fade, or your discoloration brighter, won't be able to penetrate the skin's membrane and deliver their promised benefits. The good news is, figuring out the best layering order for your skincare products, and therefore max out the formuala's benefits, is fairly intuitive.
You'll want to apply the skincare with the smallest molecules first and work your way up to the bigger ones. That normally means start your routine with the thinnest products first, and, seal them in with your thickest cream. "Anything with a small molecule, such as a water-based toner or serum, has the capability of passing the membranes to get into the skin the farthest," says esthetician and brand founder Renée Rouleau. "Large molecule products, such as a pure treatment oil, won’t do that as effectively, but do serve the purpose of acting as a sealant or proper protection to defend the skin from external stressors and allow everything that was applied underneath."
