The Order You're Applying Your Skincare In Is Probably Wrong

You can buy every right product for your skin — the correct cleanser, a good moisturiser, the right treatment for your concerns — and still not get the results you're expecting. Often, the missing piece isn't which products you're using. It's the order you're putting them on.

Why Order Actually Matters

Skincare works in layers, and each layer changes how the next one behaves. Apply a heavy cream before a lightweight serum, and the serum simply can't get through — it sits on top of the barrier you just created and does very little. Apply your moisturiser before it has a chance to lock in a hydrating serum, and you've skipped the exact step that was meant to trap that hydration in.

The general rule: go from thinnest, most active formulas to thickest, most occlusive ones. Your skin absorbs lightweight, water-based products best when nothing is blocking the way, and heavier creams are best used last, to seal everything in.

The Correct Order For Most Routines

Morning:

1. Gentle cleanser
2. Hydrating toner or essence (if you use one)
3. Serum (targeted treatment — hydration, brightening, etc.)
4. Moisturiser
5. SPF (always last, always daily)

Evening:

1. Cleanser (double cleanse if you wear makeup or sunscreen)
2. Toner or essence
3. Treatment serum
4. Moisturiser

The one step that trips people up most is where the moisturiser goes. It's not first, and it's not something to skip because you already used a serum — it's the step that seals in everything applied before it.

Common Mistakes People Make

• Applying moisturiser before serum. This blocks the serum from absorbing at all.
• Skipping moisturiser because a serum "feels hydrating enough." Serums treat; moisturisers seal. Skin needs both, especially in winter.
• Applying SPF before moisturiser. SPF should always be the last step in a morning routine, not the first.
• Layering too many active ingredients at once. More steps isn't automatically better — a routine of three well-ordered products usually beats six competing ones.

Where a Moisturiser Like Intense Moisturiser Fits In

Because a moisturiser's job is to seal in hydration and support the skin barrier, it should always go near the end of your routine — after any serums, before SPF. Honey Biotics Intense Moisturiser is formulated with MGO 570+ Manuka honey, Natural Vitamin E, and four other natural ingredients designed to lock in moisture and support a compromised barrier, which is exactly the role a good "last step" moisturiser should play.

More From Honey Biotics, Coming Soon

Right now, building the routine order above with us mostly means the Intense Moisturiser doing the "seal it in" step. That's about to change. We're working on a wider range designed to fill in the other steps of a proper routine — including a cleanser, an essence, an eye treatment, and a daily barrier cream — all with the same natural-ingredient approach as the Intense Moisturiser. More on these soon.

Click here to see the new range.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the order I apply skincare in really make a difference?

Yes. Layering thin, active formulas before thicker, occlusive ones (like moisturisers) allows your skin to actually absorb the active ingredients rather than blocking them with a heavier layer.

Should moisturiser go before or after serum?

After. Serums are treatments meant to absorb into the skin; moisturiser goes on top to seal that treatment in and support the barrier.

Where does SPF go in a morning routine?

Always last. SPF needs to sit on top of skin, undiluted by other products, to do its job properly.

Do I need every step every day?

No. Cleanser and moisturiser are the two non-negotiables. Serums, toners, and treatments can rotate based on what your skin needs that day.

This article is general information, not medical advice. Speak to your doctor about your individual situation.