The order in which you apply your skincare products can make a significant difference to how effectively they work.
According to skincare expert Malika Sloan, an effective routine is not about using as many products as possible, but about applying them correctly.
Here are her recommendations for taking care of your skin in the morning and evening, according to Real Simple.
Start your morning with a gentle cleanser
Even after a full night's sleep, your skin may have accumulated sweat, saliva and natural oils from your hair and pillow.
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That is why Malika Sloan recommends starting the day with a gentle facial cleanser that removes impurities without drying out the skin.
Apply vitamin C after cleansing
Once your skin is clean and dry, the expert recommends applying a vitamin C serum.
Vitamin C acts as an antioxidant that can help protect the skin from environmental damage while reducing the appearance of fine lines and uneven skin tone.
Give your skin an extra boost of hydration
After applying vitamin C, the next step is a hydrating serum.
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This is particularly important during the colder months, when low humidity and indoor heating can leave the skin feeling dry.
When the skin lacks moisture, fine lines and uneven texture can become more noticeable.
Protect your skin's natural barrier
The next step in your morning routine is a moisturiser that helps lock in hydration.
According to Sloan, a healthy skin barrier is essential for maintaining healthy skin.
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Ingredients such as ceramides and lipids can help support the skin's natural protective function.
Finish with sun protection
Sunscreen should be the final step in your morning skincare routine, before applying makeup if desired.
According to the expert, protecting your skin from UV radiation every day is one of the most important ways to prevent visible signs of ageing.
Sun protection can help reduce the risk of pigmentation changes, fine lines and collagen breakdown.
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Don't forget to care for your lips
Lips are often overlooked in daily skincare routines, even though they are particularly vulnerable to dryness.
The expert therefore recommends finishing your morning routine with a moisturising lip treatment.
This can help soften the lips and reduce the appearance of fine lines.
Start your evening routine by removing the day's impurities
In the evening, Sloan recommends beginning with a thorough cleanse.
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The first step should remove makeup, sunscreen and other impurities that have accumulated throughout the day.
This is especially important if you wear makeup or spend a lot of time in urban environments.
Cleanse your skin a second time
After the initial cleanse, you can wash your face again using a gentle facial cleanser.
The goal is to remove any remaining residue without stripping the skin of moisture.
According to the expert, double cleansing is not necessary for everyone, but it can be beneficial if a single cleanse does not adequately remove makeup or water-resistant sunscreen.
Avoid cleansing your skin too aggressively
Your skin should feel clean after washing, but it should not feel tight or dry.
A feeling of tightness can indicate that the skin has lost too many of its natural protective oils.
For this reason, Sloan recommends gentle cleansing rather than harsh treatments.
Use antioxidants in the evening
In the evening, the expert recommends replacing your morning vitamin C serum with other antioxidants.
Ingredients such as resveratrol can help protect the skin against oxidative stress and reduce the appearance of signs of ageing.
Antioxidants should be applied after cleansing and before heavier creams.
Consider retinoids to reduce signs of ageing
If you want to reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and uneven skin texture, Sloan recommends considering retinoids as part of your evening routine.
Over time, retinoids can improve the appearance of the skin.
However, the expert emphasises that the skin needs time to gradually adjust to these ingredients.
Introduce retinoids gradually
If you have never used retinoids before, the expert recommends starting with one or two evenings per week.
You can gradually increase usage to three or four evenings per week, depending on how your skin responds.
On the remaining evenings, she recommends prioritising hydration and skin barrier protection rather than using additional exfoliating ingredients.
Finish your evening routine with moisturiser
The final step in your evening skincare routine should be a nourishing moisturiser.
It helps restore the skin's moisture balance and supports its protective barrier overnight.
This is particularly important if you use retinoids, which can cause dryness or irritation.
Apply your skincare products in the correct order
As a general rule, Sloan recommends starting with the lightest formulations and gradually moving towards richer products.
This typically means applying serums before moisturiser.
However, she emphasises that product formulations, usage instructions and your skin's individual tolerance also play an important role.
A simple routine may be enough
According to the expert, an effective skincare routine does not need to involve numerous steps or large amounts of active ingredients.
The most important factors are consistency and choosing skincare products that work well together.
A simple, consistent routine may therefore be more beneficial than an elaborate routine involving many different treatments.
This article is made and published by Ida-Marie Palm Varbæk, who may have used AI in the preparation.