**Skincare Routine Order**

• Step 1: Cleanser

Since you removed your makeup and washed your face with a cleanser at night, you may feel there’s no need to use a cleanser in the morning and prefer to just rinse your face with water. However, for the products you use to be absorbed optimally by the skin, your pores need to be open, meaning your skin must be completely free of oils and impurities. Your skin produces sebum even while you sleep. Therefore, to increase the effectiveness of your products, it’s beneficial to cleanse your pores with a gentle cleanser that does not damage the skin’s protective barrier before your daytime routine.

• Step 2: Toner

Many people wonder at which step toner should be applied in the skincare routine. Toners that are rinsed off the skin should be applied to cleansed skin before serum. Exfoliating toners containing AHA/BHA fall into this category. Since exfoliating toners can make your skin sensitive to the sun, use them during your nighttime routine. All other non-exfoliating toners can also be applied in the evening to deeply cleanse your pores, allowing your nighttime skincare products to be absorbed better.

• Step 3: Targeted Treatments

Since the skin undergoes repair during the night, it’s best to include targeted treatments for concerns like dark spots or acne in your evening routine. For the ingredients to penetrate the skin effectively, there should be no barrier, so apply targeted treatments before your moisturizer. Apply a thin layer of the product directly on the spot, wait 5 minutes before proceeding to the next step, and then apply moisturizer to your face while avoiding the treated areas. Finally, gently press the moisturizer on top of the treated spots to set the product.

• Step 4: Serum

Serums, which contain high concentrations of active ingredients, penetrate deeper into the skin compared to other products due to their fine molecular structure. They provide intensive care for various skin concerns, from dark spots to wrinkles. During the day, you can apply a serum containing antioxidants to protect your skin from free radical damage. In addition to Vitamin C, known for brightening and firming the skin, you can opt for antioxidants that provide anti-aging benefits, such as Vitamin E, green tea, resveratrol, and caffeine.

• Step 5: Eye Care

The skin around the eyes is thinner and more sensitive, making it more vulnerable to environmental damage. Since the eye area is one of the first places to show signs of aging, always keep it moisturized. Make sure to include an eye cream in both your morning and evening routines.

• Step 6: Moisturizers and Facial Oils

Moisturizing is another essential step in your skincare routine, as important as cleansing. Regardless of your skin type or concerns, never skip applying a moisturizer in the morning and evening. The key to healthy skin is maintaining a strong skin barrier. If you don’t have time for long routines or prefer a simpler approach, just do this: cleanse your skin morning and night, and follow up with a moisturizer suitable for your skin type!

Face oils have a occlusive effect, which can prevent absorption if applied over other products. However, when applied underneath, they help lock in serums or moisturizers, enhancing the effectiveness of your routine.

• Step 7: Sunscreen

Although face oils are typically the last step in skincare, during the day this changes slightly, and sunscreen comes last. Physical sunscreens with mineral filters do not penetrate the skin; they reflect UV rays and protect the skin’s surface. Since these sunscreens block sunlight and other external factors, products applied on top do not reach the deeper layers of the skin. Therefore, it’s best to apply sunscreen after your skincare routine and before makeup.