Beauty Calculators
Skincare order.
Tick what you own. You get a morning routine and an evening routine in the usual order: cleanse, thin and watery first, creams and oils after, sunscreen last by day. Runs in your browser.
Your products
Your routine
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Worked example
You tick cleanser, vitamin C, retinoid, moisturizer and sunscreen. Morning: cleanser, vitamin C, moisturizer, sunscreen. Evening: cleanser, retinoid, moisturizer. Vitamin C and sunscreen are morning-only, the retinoid is evening-only, and sunscreen is last by day. If you also tick an acid, the tool splits the evenings into an acid night and a retinoid night.
How it works
Order follows one rule of thumb: cleanse, then thinnest and most watery to thickest and oiliest, so the heavier layers do not block lighter ones from reaching the skin. Sunscreen goes last in the morning among skin care, before makeup.
Placement rules built in: vitamin C and sunscreen are morning products; retinoids, exfoliating acids and face oil are evening products; an acid and a retinoid are not scheduled on the same night because layering them is a common cause of irritation. Spot treatments go on just the spot, before the moisturizer.
What this is not. It is a convention, not a clinical protocol. Prescription products (tretinoin, benzoyl peroxide, azelaic acid) come with their own directions from your prescriber, which come first. Introduce one active at a time. Check pairs with the ingredient conflict checker and ramp up with the retinol schedule generator.
Sources and basis: American Academy of Dermatology Association, skin care and sun protection guidance (daily broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen SPF 30 or higher; moisturizer after treatment products); standard cosmetic-science layering convention (thin to thick). Order positions are this tool’s convention.
FAQ
What order should I apply skincare products?
Cleanser, toner or essence, serums from thinnest to thickest, eye cream, moisturizer, then in the morning sunscreen. At night, finish with face oil if you use one.
Does vitamin C go before or after sunscreen?
Before. Vitamin C is a serum, so it goes on after cleansing and before moisturizer and sunscreen. Sunscreen is the last skin care step in the morning.
Does retinol go before or after moisturizer?
Most people apply it after cleansing and before moisturizer. If your skin is sensitive, applying moisturizer first (the sandwich method) can reduce irritation.
Can I use an acid and retinol in the same routine?
Not at the start. Alternate nights and add them one at a time. If your skin burns, peels or stings, stop and rest.
Do I need a toner?
No. It is optional. Skip it if your routine is already long.
Disclaimer
Not medical advice. This is a general layering guide. If you have acne, rosacea, eczema or are using prescription skin products, follow your prescriber’s directions for order and timing.