Serum before or after moisturiser? Eye cream at the beginning or at the end? When building a facial routine, the order of application is one of the most common questions. Good news: there is a simple rule that works for the vast majority of routines.
The rule to remember: from the lightest texture to the richest
Apply your skincare from the most fluid to the thickest. A light texture, such as a serum, spreads easily over bare skin. A richer cream then comes last to “seal” the routine. If you reverse the order, the cream forms a layer on which the serum spreads less easily.
In practice, a complete facial routine follows these steps:
- Cleanse
- Apply the serum
- Apply the eye cream
- Finish with the moisturiser
Step 1: cleanse the skin
Cleansing removes impurities, excess sebum and the traces of the day (make-up, sunscreen, pollution). It is the foundation: the following products are applied to clean skin.
Cleansing oils that turn into milk on contact with water are appreciated for their gentleness: massage onto dry skin, add a little water, then rinse. This is the principle of Calmveil Cleanser, an oil-to-milk cleanser designed for sensitive skin.
Step 2: the serum
The serum is usually the most concentrated product in the routine, with a fluid texture. Apply a few drops to clean skin, smoothing from the centre of the face outwards.
Calmveil Serum combines peptides, hyaluronic acid, aloe vera and sodium PCA to provide intense hydration and help visibly smooth the appearance of fine lines.
Step 3: the eye cream
The skin around the eyes is thinner than on the rest of the face. Use a dedicated product, in a small amount, and pat it in with your ring finger without rubbing, from the inner corner outwards.
Eye cream is applied after the serum and before the moisturiser. Calmveil Eye Cream, with hyaluronic acid, aloe vera and shea butter, hydrates this delicate area and helps visibly smooth the eye contour.
Step 4: the moisturiser
The moisturiser comes last: it helps maintain hydration and brings comfort. Apply it to the face and neck with gentle movements.
Calmveil Cream combines hyaluronic acid, aloe vera, betaine and shea butter in a light yet nourishing texture.
What about sun protection in the morning?
In the morning, sun protection is the very last step, after the moisturiser. It remains essential, even in winter or on cloudy days.
Morning and evening: should the routine be the same?
A simple routine can be exactly the same morning and evening. In the evening, cleansing is particularly important to remove the traces of the day. In the morning, some people simply rinse with water before applying their skincare: adapt it to your skin and your habits.
How long should you wait between two products?
No need for a stopwatch: a few seconds, just long enough for the product to absorb and for the skin to no longer feel damp, is enough. If a product “pills” (forms small flakes), it is often a sign that the previous layer has not had time to absorb, or that too much product was applied.
In summary
- Apply products from the lightest to the richest.
- Recommended order: cleanser, serum, eye cream, moisturiser, then sun protection in the morning.
- Pat the eye cream in, without rubbing.
- A small amount of each product is enough.
To follow this order without thinking about it, the Calmveil Ritual Set brings together the serum, the eye cream and the moisturiser. You can also find all the illustrated steps on the Calmveil ritual page.