In what order should you apply your face care? Serum, cream, SPF

Serum before cream? SPF before make-up? The order of applying face care matters: the right sequence helps each product do its job well. Here is the complete order, as detailed by Le Mâle Français and Éclae, with pointers for Morocco.

The rule: from the lightest to the thickest

Light textures (waters, toners, serums) penetrate better on clean skin; rich textures (creams, oils, balms) seal everything in. SPF goes on as the last skincare step.

Morning: 5 steps

1. Gentle cleanser.
2. Toner or floral water (optional).
3. Serum: vitamin C for radiance, niacinamide for pores, hyaluronic acid for hydration.
4. Moisturising cream.
5. SPF 50, before make-up.

Evening: 5 steps

1. Make-up removal / cleansing in two steps if needed.
2. Exfoliation two to three evenings a week (AHA + BHA toner).
3. Active serum: retinol or peptides.
4. Eye contour care if you use one.
5. Night cream: the repairing night cream seals in the actives.

What about eye contour care, toner and masks?

• Eye contour care: after the serum, before the cream, with the tip of the ring finger.
• Toner / floral water: right after cleansing, on still-damp skin.
• Mask: once or twice a week, in the evening, after cleansing and before serums.

How long to wait between two products?

One minute between each, two to five minutes for pure vitamin C or an acid, depending on the product instructions. Slightly damp skin helps hydrating serums (hyaluronic acid).

Can several serums be combined?

• Vitamin C in the morning, retinol in the evening.
• No retinol on the same evening as an AHA/BHA exfoliant.
• Hyaluronic acid and niacinamide pair well with almost everything.
• Introduce only one new product at a time.

According to your skin type

• Sensitive skin: keep to three products.
• Oily skin: fluid textures, SPF with a dry finish (oily skin routine).
• Dry skin: add a rich cream or an oil as the last step in the evening (dry or dehydrated skin).
• Mature skin: peptides and night cream (anti-aging night cream).

Use a serum continuously or as a course?

A hydrating or antioxidant serum is used continuously. An exfoliant or a retinol is introduced gradually. Some people use them as a course of a few weeks, especially in case of sensitivity.

A sample week

Monday: exfoliant. Tuesday: retinol. Wednesday: hydration. Thursday: exfoliant. Friday: retinol. Weekend: rest. Every morning: serum, cream, SPF 50.

What to do if the skin stings?

Remove the last product added, cleanse gently, hydrate and wait a few days. Reintroduce each product separately.

How many products do you really need?

Three to five: cleanser, serum, cream, SPF. Add an exfoliant or a retinol once the basics are stable. See an effective skincare routine in 4 steps and which serum to choose. A complete, ready-made routine helps avoid mistakes: discover our routines.

Building an effective skincare routine in 4 steps

Beautiful skin depends less on the number of products than on consistency. Before thinking about order, set these four foundations:

1. Cleanse gently, morning and evening, with a cleanser suited to your skin. Cleansing that is too harsh unbalances the skin barrier and can make the skin shine more.
2. Treat with a targeted serum, chosen according to your main need: radiance, hydration, pores, anti-aging or dark spots. One well-chosen serum is better than three chosen at random.
3. Hydrate and protect: a cream seals in the actives and keeps water in the skin. In the morning, sun protection always ends the routine.
4. Be consistent: allow four to six weeks before judging a product. Consistency matters more than quantity.

Serum before or after sunscreen?

Always before. Sunscreen is the last skincare step in the morning: applied under a serum, it would be diluted and spread unevenly. Let the moisturiser absorb for one to two minutes, then apply a generous layer of SPF, and finally make-up. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends this order: from the thinnest product to the thickest, with sun protection last in the morning.

Hyaluronic acid: before or after cream?

Before. The hyaluronic acid serum is applied to clean, slightly damp skin, then the cream covers it to limit evaporation. In a dry climate or with air conditioning, this last step matters a lot: without cream, water evaporates and the skin can feel tight.

Face routine at 40 or 50: what changes

• In the evening: an anti-aging active, retinol or peptides & phyto-collagen serum, then a richer night cream.
• In the morning: a hydrating or antioxidant serum, a comfortable cream and SPF 50.
• Neck and décolleté: they get the same care as the face.
• Fewer scrubs: mature skin is often thinner and drier. One to two gentle exfoliations a week are enough.

See our guide anti-aging night cream: how to choose it.

Eye contour: before or after serum?

After the face serum and before the cream. Face serum should not be applied too close to the eyes, especially if it contains retinol or acids. Dot the eye cream along the orbital bone, from the inner corner outwards, and pat it in with the ring finger, the finger that presses the least.

The 10-step Korean routine: useful or not?

The Korean routine popularised double cleansing, essences and thin layers. It illustrates the texture rule well, but ten steps are not necessary. For most skin types, three to five well-chosen products provide the same foundations: cleanse, treat, hydrate, protect. More products also means more risk of irritation.

How much of each product?

• Cleanser: a hazelnut-sized amount, massaged for 30 to 60 seconds, then rinsed with lukewarm water.
• Serum: 3 to 4 drops for the face, one more for the neck.
• Retinol: a pea-sized amount for the whole face.
• Cream: a hazelnut-sized amount, a little more for dry skin.
• SPF: about two finger-lengths of cream for the face and neck.

Using more serum does not give more effect, and can irritate or make the cream pill. If the cream rolls under your fingers, leave more time between layers or reduce the amount.

Ready-made routines

To avoid combination mistakes, our routines bring together products designed to be used together, with the order of application indicated: dark spots and dull complexion, tight skin, shine and pores, or anti-aging and firmness. They are all presented on the routines page, and each can be completed with your own sunscreen.

Sources and further reading

• Le Mâle Français: face care order
• Éclae: how to use a serum
• American Academy of Dermatology: in what order to apply skincare
• American Academy of Dermatology: how to apply sunscreen

Informational content that does not replace the advice of a healthcare professional. If in doubt, for reactive skin, during pregnancy or for a dark spot that changes, consult a dermatologist.

Frequently asked questions

Does serum go before or after cream?

Before. The lighter serum penetrates better on clean skin, then the cream seals it in.

Where does SPF go?

As the last skincare step, before make-up.

Can two serums be used on the same day?

Yes, following the order of textures and avoiding incompatibilities.

Should you wait between each product?

One minute is usually enough.

Where does eye contour care go?

After the serum, before the cream.

Does serum go before or after sunscreen?

Before. SPF is the last skincare step in the morning, just before make-up.

Does hyaluronic acid go before or after cream?

Before, on slightly damp skin. The cream comes next to keep the hydration in.

What is the minimum skincare routine?

A gentle cleanser, a suitable serum, a cream and SPF 50 in the morning. Add an exfoliant or retinol in the evening once this base is well tolerated.