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 small daily ritual that cares for your skin and supports its overall health and radiance. Skin care routines involve a thoughtful 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 short moment of self-care in a busy day. Whether you’re aiming for clearer skin, a more youthful look or simply a few minutes to pamper yourself, a consistent skincare routine is key to getting healthier looking skin.
In this easy, comprehensive guide, NIVEA takes you through everything you need to know about how to order and layer your skincare products to help you enjoy 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, then move on to richer products like moisturisers. This helps each product to sink into your skin properly and deliver its intended benefits.
Not everyone needs a complicated 10-step routine – your skincare needs can be very different depending on your skin type and concerns. A basic 3-step skincare routine with cleansing, moisturising and sun protection can be more than enough for many people.
Having a longer skincare routine adds more targeted and advanced solutions, tackling specific concerns such as ageing, acne or hyperpigmentation with extra products like serums, exfoliants and masks.
Whether you choose a basic, intermediate or advanced routine really depends on your goals and lifestyle – some people prefer to keep it simple, while others enjoy a more detailed approach to skincare.
Building a 24 hour face skincare routine:
STEPS TO INCLUDE
Step 1: Cleanse
Start your morning skincare routine with a thorough cleanse to remove dirt and impurities, and prepare your skin to absorb all the nourishing ingredients in the rest of your routine.
Benefits may include: Wakes up and refreshes skin, controls excess oil, helps manage pH, preps skin to absorb care products, supports a refined pore appearance.
Can I skip cleansing?: Cleansing is essential in any skincare routine and really shouldn’t be skipped. Having thoroughly cleansed skin is the base on which you’ll apply all your other care products.
Tips: Use a cleanser that suits your skin type, apply gently and avoid harsh scrubbing, use lukewarm water, avoid very harsh ingredients such as alcohol, and pat your face dry instead of rubbing.
Step 2: Tone
Toning completes 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 complexion, boosts radiance, helps keep certain skin conditions under control.
Can I skip toning?: Toning is generally helpful for skin and for boosting radiance, but in some situations it’s okay to skip it. For example, if you follow a very minimalist routine, if you notice negative reactions on your skin, or if you’re using a 2‑in‑1 cleanser and toner product for step 1.
Tips: Use a toner that suits your skin type and any specific concerns, apply by gently patting it on with your fingertips or a soft cotton pad, avoid toners with alcohol, and don’t overuse them (in general, not more than twice a day).
Step 3: Serum:
Serums are lightweight, fast‑absorbing and deeply penetrating products with high concentrations of active ingredients, formulated to target specific skin concerns. They’re the super‑boost step of any beauty routine.
Benefits may include: Faster results than creams alone, customisation of your routine, extra hydration, radiance, firmness or smoothness depending on the formula.
Can I skip serum?: Skipping serum means you might miss a big chance to power up your skincare routine and target any specific concerns. Serum is often the most effective product for achieving your desired results. However, if you don’t have particular concerns or you want to stick to a minimalist 3‑step routine, you may decide to leave serum out.
Tips: Pick a serum that targets your main concern, learn what different ingredients do (for example, Vitamin C for brightening, Hyaluronic Acid for hydrating), give it 1–2 minutes to fully absorb, and remember that a little goes a long way.
Step 4: Eye cream
Eye creams are specially formulated for the delicate skin around your eyes, helping to target common concerns such as dark circles, puffiness and crow’s feet. You can also use them after moisturiser, as long as you leave the under‑eye area free for application.
Benefits may include: Targeted action on concerns such as dark circles or eye bags, helps prevent signs of ageing, improves texture and hydration, and can enhance makeup application.
Can I skip eye cream?: Younger people with no particular under‑eye concerns, or anyone who wants to stick to a very basic skincare routine, may choose to skip eye cream. If you have oily skin, you might also find that a regular moisturiser is enough to keep the area hydrated.
Tips: Pick an eye cream that targets your specific concerns, apply by gently tapping with your ring finger, avoiding going too close to the eyeball, start with a small amount and add more only 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 protect skin from everyday environmental stressors.
Benefits may include: Moisture, sun protection (if they contain SPF), defence against free radicals, skin barrier support, a smoother base for makeup, plus extra targeted actions depending on the formula (like anti‑age or glow boosting).
Can I skip moisturising?: Moisturising is recommended even in the most basic skincare routines – it’s a core step, so skipping it isn’t advisable. Only those with particularly oily skin may choose to skip and apply a light sunscreen instead, but even then, it’s better to find a moisturiser formulated for oily skin that helps control excess oil and prevent breakouts.
Tips: Choose a day cream that suits your skin type and concerns, SPF in the formula gives extra protection, apply more generously than serum, allow time for it to absorb (especially if you’re applying makeup), and dot it all over your face and neck before gently massaging it in.
Step 6: SPF
SPF (Sun Protection Factor) is essential to keep your skin shielded from harmful UV rays throughout the day, as they can cause long‑term damage. Sunlight is often the main cause behind many skin concerns, including dark spots and premature ageing – so SPF is a must for maintaining a radiant complexion.
Benefits may include: UVA/UVB protection, helps prevent sun‑induced dark spots, protects against photoageing, supports overall skin health, helps prevent sunburn.
Can I skip SPF?: SPF is essential for skin health, even in the most minimalist routines. You should apply it whenever your skin is going to be exposed to sunlight so that it stays protected from damage.
Tips: Aim for at least SPF 30 or higher, apply generously and reapply 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 mainly refreshing and waking up your skin. In the evening, your focus is on removing makeup, sunscreen, dirt and impurities that have built up through the day, and getting your skin ready for your nighttime care products.
Benefits may include: Helps prevent breakouts, enhances absorption of care products, supports cell renewal, and helps the skin’s natural nighttime 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 advised you to do so.
Tips: It’s very popular to double cleanse in the evening: first use an oil‑based cleanser to remove makeup and sunscreen, then follow with a water‑based cleanser to clean the skin itself.
Step 2: Tone
Difference vs. morning: Toning in the evening serves a similar purpose but focuses more on removing any last traces of makeup or daily dirt. It can also help 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 in the evening you can choose to target different concerns compared to the morning.
Benefits may include: Same as your AM routine.
Can I skip serum?: Same as your AM routine.
Tips: In the evening, you may want to pick a serum that’s specially formulated for hydration and overnight repair – those with 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 can technically apply these treatments (like Retinoids for anti‑ageing or acne treatment) in the morning, but they can sometimes make your skin more sensitive to sunlight, which is why they’re usually recommended at night.
Benefits may include: Targeted action, works along with 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 your dermatologist has advised otherwise, you can skip this step.
Tips: Introduce treatments slowly, always follow the directions on the pack, and apply SPF the next day as some treatments can increase sensitivity to the sun.
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: While day cream supports and protects your skin through the day, night cream focuses on overnight nourishment, supporting the skin’s natural regeneration and repair process. Night creams are usually richer, providing intense hydration and skin barrier restoration rather than daytime protection.
Benefits may include: Supports your skin’s natural regeneration and repair that happens while you sleep, helps you wake up to fresher looking skin, meets overnight moisture needs, and often contains a higher concentration of active ingredients.
Can I skip night cream?: Just like morning moisturising, it’s generally not recommended to skip night cream. Skipping it can lead to your skin becoming dehydrated overnight, and you’ll also miss a chance to support its natural repair process.
Tips: Look for a night cream that complements your day cream, so together they offer 24‑hour care to keep your skin healthy and nourished while targeting any specific concerns.
You can fit masks into your weekly routine to give your skin some targeted benefits. Usually used 1–3 times a week, depending on the needs and goals of your face care routine, face masks come in many forms such as sheet masks, clay masks, hydrating masks and exfoliating masks.
Benefits may include: The benefits are many and depend on the type of mask you choose, but most contain a concentrated boost of active ingredients to target specific concerns. They’re also a lovely way to enjoy a deep pamper and relaxation session. Regular use can enhance the results of your daily face care routine.
Can I skip masks?: Most people can benefit from a weekly mask treatment, but if your skin is already healthy and you’re happy with your complexion, you may decide that you don’t need them.
Tips: Choose a mask that matches the goals of your daily routine, apply to cleansed skin, follow the instructions on the pack, use it in a relaxing setting, and you can even put some masks in the fridge for extra refreshment (always check pack instructions first as this may affect the ingredients). After using, massage in any excess formula or gently pat it away with a cotton pad.
Depending on your skin type and needs, you can exfoliate as part of your evening face care routine after cleansing, around 2–3 times a week, for a deeper clean. This helps to remove any build‑up of dead skin cells and promotes cell renewal.
Benefits may include: Skin renewal, clearer pores, improved skin tone and texture, reduced chance of breakouts, and better effectiveness of your other care products.
Can I skip exfoliation?: It’s helpful to get into the habit of exfoliating at least twice a week to deeply cleanse, prevent clogged pores and avoid a build‑up of dead skin cells. If you have sensitive skin, you may exfoliate less often, while those with oily skin may exfoliate slightly more often.
Tips: Choose an exfoliant based on your skin’s needs – whether that’s a gentle mechanical scrub or a chemical (AHA or BHA) exfoliant, exfoliate after cleansing, apply gently and avoid aggressive 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 important for both men and women to get healthier looking, radiant skin. While some skincare routine steps are common – like cleansing, moisturising and sun protection – there can be differences depending on your skin type, concerns and personal preferences.
Men’s skincare routines may also consider factors like shaving and facial hair care, while women’s routines may include extra steps such as makeup removal. Whatever your gender, it’s important to understand your skin’s needs and choose products that address those.
Regularity is key – consistent skincare habits lead to long‑term benefits. In the end, for everyone, a well‑thought‑out skincare routine is an investment in both self‑care and skin health.
