What Order Should I Apply My Skincare Routine in the Morning and Night?

One of the most common questions we get asked is about skincare routine order. In short, the order you apply your skincare products is important and affects how well your skin absorbs the products and the efficacy of the product. A general rule most people like to follow after cleansing is applying products from the lightest to heaviest consistency.

Not sure where to start and what products to use for your skincare journey? Come into Aesthetica for a complimentary skin consultation. During your consultation, one of our skin experts will analyze your skin using EMAGE and create a customized treatment plan and skincare routine to treat your concerns.

Step-by-step guide for your morning skincare routine ☀️

A good morning routine protects and prevents the skin from aging. This routine should help your skin feel calm, hydrated, and protected all day.

Step 1: Cleanser

You should be cleansing your face in the morning and before bed. Many people assume that in the mornings they don’t need to wash their face, but that is completely false. The truth is, the oils in your hair and the dirt, debris, and oils on your pillow, sheets, and blanket clog your pores. Congested pores trap bacteria in your skin, which leads to breakouts.

Some of our favorite cleansers that we carry at Aesthetica are:
zo skinhealth cleanser collection
ZO SkinHealth Gentle, Hydrating, and Exfoliating Cleanser
skinceuticals cleansers at Aesthetica
SkinCeuticals Glycolic Renewal and Gentle Cleanser
skinmedica cleansers at Aesthetica
SkinMedica AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser and Purifying Foaming Face Wash
Skinbetter cleansing gel at Aesthetica
Skinbetter Cleansing Gel

Step 2: Toner and/or hydrating Mist

Toners serve a number of purposes. For one, they can remove other dirt, oil, or debris remaining after cleansing your face, but also, they can help replenish your skin, restore your skin’s pH level, and prep your skin for the rest of your routine. There are toners that help combat different skin concerns such as oily skin or soothing sensitive skin. The right toner can make all the difference in your skincare routine.

Some of our favorites at Aesthetica are:
SkinMedica Even & Correct Pads
SkinCeuticals Phyto Corrective Essense Mist
skincare routine order step 2 toners
ZO SkinHealth Calming pH Balancing Toner and Complexion Renewal and Oil Control Pads

Step 3: Prevent

Majority of us start thinking about a consistent skincare routine to prevent or slow down aging. Our favorite skincare products that slow down aging are growth factors. Think of these products as Botox in a bottle. Growth factor serums restore the skin’s elasticity, smoothness, and suppleness for a more youthful appearance. They also help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and support collagen and elastin health and the skin’s repair and renewal functions. Our two favorite medical-grade growth factor serums are both clinically proven to enhance aging skin and to help support healthy skin. Try them by shopping at Aesthetica today.

Aesthetica favorite anti-aging growth factors are:
tns advanced plus serum skinmedica
SkinMedica TNS Advanced+ Serum
zo growth factor serum
ZO SkinHealth Growth Factor Serum

Step 4: Hydrating serums

For patients who have dry skin or just want extra hydration, plump, and pamper we recommend using a hyaluronic acid (HA) serum. The correct way to use HA serums is to wet your fingers and apply the HA serum for maximum absorption.

Aesthetica favorite HA serums we carry are:
skinmedica ha5 serum
SkinMedica HA5 Serum
alastin ha immerse
Alastin HA Immerse

Step 5: Skin concern specific treatments

At Aesthetica, we carry a number of nutrient dense and concentrated medical-grade treatments to address specific concerns. Our favorite skin treatment products we recommend to all of our patients to help protect their skin from free radicals are antioxidant products.

Our favorites include:
alto advanced skinbetter
Skinbetter Alto Advanced Defense and Repair Serum
illuminating aox serum and daily power defense from zo skinhealth
ZO SkinHealth Illuminating AOX Serum and Daily Power Defense
skinmedica lumivive
SkinMedica Lumivive Day and Night System

There are patients who want products to address specific skin concerns such as hyperpigmentation, redness, or acne.

Some of our favorite add-on products include:
skinbetter even and tone correcting serum
Skinbetter Even and Tone Correcting Serum
even and tone correct pads and even and tone treatment
SkinMedica Even & Tone Correct Treatment and Pads

Shop most of these products in-store at Aesthetica or through our online stores!

Step 6: Eye cream

If you choose to use an eye cream, apply it after your serums and treatments, but before your moisturizer. Eye creams can help add more moisture and hydration to the eye area, help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, help with the appearance of dark circles, and overall help rejuvenate the delicate skin around your eyes.

Some Aesthetica favorite eye creams include:
skinbetter instant effect eye gel
Skinbetter Instant Effect Eye Gel
zo skinhealth eye cream collection
ZO SkinHealth Brightening, Intense, and Growth Factor Eye Treatment
skinmedica eye cream collection
SkinMedica Instant Bright and TNS Eye Repair Cream

Step 7: Moisturize

Since moisturizers have a thicker consistency, they should be applied after all your serums and treatments, but before your sunscreen. Moisturizers help increase the skin’s water retention, repair the skin barrier, and seal in all your skincare products you’ve applied. At Aesthetica, we carry different moisturizers from Alastin, SkinMedica, ZO SkinHealth, and SkinCeuticals for different skin types. Patients with dry skin may not need or want the same moisturizer as those with oily or acne prone skin. Shop some of your favorite moisturizers with us in store or online!

Our favorite moisturizers at Aesthetica:
zo skinhealth moisturizer collection
ZO SkinHealth Renewal, Recovery, and Hydrating Cream
skinceuticals triple lipid restore
SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore
skinmedica aha bha cream
SkinMedica AHA/BHA Cream
skinbetter trio
Skinbetter Trio Rebalancing Moisture Treatment

Wondering if we carry your favorite moisturizer in-store at Aesthetica? Call us at 801-785-8884 to check or to hold your product.

Step 8: Protect

This step is the most important step in any skincare routine that should not be missed! You guessed it, it’s sunscreen. Sunscreen can not only help moisturize, even, brighten, and give the skin a glowing appearance, but it also protects your skin from the sun’s harmful rays. At Aesthetica, we carry tinted and non-tinted sunscreens with different formulations. Drop into Aesthetica and shop some of our favorites!

Aesthetica favorite medical-grade sunscreens
zo skinhealth sunscreens
ZO SkinHealth Medical-Grade Tinted and Non-Tinted Lotions and Powder Sunscreen
alastin hydratint
Alastin HydraTint Sunscreen
skinbetter sunscreen collection
Skinbetter Tinted and Non-Tinted Lotion, Stick, and Compact Sunscreen

Step 9: Makeup routine

This isn’t a part of a skincare routine, but once you’ve applied your sunscreen, you can apply your makeup for the day.

Step-by-step guide for your nighttime skincare routine 🌙

Your nighttime routine resets your skin and assists your skin in its restoration process. Our goal for our nighttime skincare routine is to cleanse the skin and create a fresh canvas for your skin cells to work on. Review our recommended step-by-step instructions on the order of your skincare products.

Step 1: Cleanser

Your first step is the same as your morning skincare routine and that is to cleanse your skin from oils, debris, and dirt that has accumulated on your skin throughout the day.

Step 2: Exfoliate

At Aesthetica, we highly recommend most of our patients to adopt an exfoliator and add it into their nighttime routine. Some exfoliators are more aggressive than others and can only be tolerated a few times a week, some are less aggressive than others and most patients do well using them daily. Not sure where to start with an exfoliator? Schedule a complimentary skincare consultation with one of our Master Estheticians today to help!

Exfoliators we love here at Aesthetica include:
zo skinhealth exfoliator collection
ZO SkinHealth Dual Action Scrub and Exfoliating Polish
resurface skin polish alastin
Alastin ReSurface Skin Polish
skinmedica aha bha exfoliating cleanser
SkinMedical AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser

Step 3: Prevent

Your growth factor serum should be used twice a day for optimal results. Shop in-store at Aesthetica today.

Step 4: Hydrating serums

If you opt in to use a hyaluronic acid (HA) serum, this too should be used at night and during the day. Our favorites are the SkinMedica HA5 and Alastin’s HA Immerse. Shop with us in store or shop online today!

Step 5: Skin concern specific treatments

Some of these skin concern specific treatments are used twice daily, others are either used during the day or at night. At Aesthetica, we carry a number of nutrient dense and concentrated medical-grade treatments to address specific concerns. These treatments help your skin cell turnover and reset while you sleep or they can help address specific skin concerns such as hyperpigmentation, redness, or acne. Not sure which products to use for your skin concerns or which you should be using at what time and the frequency? Come in and one of our skin expert Master Estheticians can help. Call us today to schedule a complimentary appointment today at 801-785-8884.

Step 6: Correct

Spot treatments are for patients who want to address a specific area of the skin such as acne or pigmentation. These products are usually very concentrated, are only applied on a as needed basis, and we typically recommend our patients to apply them at night.

Some of our favorite products we recommend for spot treatment at Aesthetica include:
skin medica even and correct dark spot cream
SkinMedica Even & Correct Dark Spot Cream
zo skinhealth acne control
ZO SkinHealth Acne Control

Shop these products through our online store. Have questions? Call us at 801-785-8884

Step 7: Eye cream

Unless you’re using a retinol based eye cream, most eye creams should be applied with your day and nighttime routine. If your eye cream is the Skinbetter EyeMax Alpharet Overnight Eye Cream, or similar, it can only be used at night.

skinbetter eyemax alpharet overnight eye cream
Skinbetter EyeMax AlphaRet Overnight Cream

Step 8: Retinol

Retinoids are vitamin A derivatives that speed up skin cell turnover. Retinoids have years of clinical research as anti-aging compounds. Retinoids trigger cellular exfoliation and promote collagen production, improve skin texture, reduce fine lines and wrinkles, reduce and prevent breakouts, lighten dark spots, and remove dead skin cells.

Depending on how well your skin tolerates retinol products, we recommend starting off by using retinoids a couple times a week as a part of your nighttime routine and increasing your dose as directed by one of our skin experts. At Aesthetica we offer medical-grade retinols. Some of these retinoids are more aggressive and some are less aggressive. We also offer Skinbetter Alpharet which is an ideal retinoid for patients with sensitive skin. Come in for a complimentary skin consultation to see which retinoid product may be best for you.

Medical-grade retinols at Aesthetica
skinbetter alpharet
Skinbetter AlphaRet Overnight Cream
zo skinhealth retinol collection
ZO SkinHealth Wrinkle+Texture Repair, Radictal Night Repair, and 0.25, 0.5, and 1% Retinol
alastin retinols
Alastin Renewal 0.25 and 0.5% Retinol

Step 9: Moisturize

Moisturizer is going to be your last step for your nighttime routine to seal in all the other skincare products you’ve applied, repair your skin barrier, and increase your skin’s water retention. Your nighttime moisturizer can be the same one you use at night or a thicker one. Some patients prefer a thicker moisturizer at night and a lighter consistency moisturizer during the day. Whatever your preference may be, we got it all at Aesthetica. Come in and shop with us at Aesthetica today!

The ✨extras✨

Now we understand that there are the girlies that want the extra pizzazz. We are here for it and we have just the products to elevate your skincare routine. Products like neck creams, face masks, post-procedure skincare products, and of course, lip care products.

skinmedica ha5 smooth and plump lip system
SkinMedica Smooth and Plump Lip System
skinmedica neck correct cream
SkinMedica Neck Correct Cream
zo skinhealth enzymatic peel and complexion clearing masque
ZO SkinHealth Enzymatic Peel and Complexion Clearing Masque
alastin
Alastin Skin Nectar with TriHex Technology and Restorative Skin Complex
alastin soothe and protect recovery balm
Alastin Soothe+Protect Recovery Balm

Shop in-store with us, or through our online stores, for even more products!

Our team is here to help

Schedule a Complimentary Consultation!

Aesthetica is a premier medical spa in Pleasant Grove, Utah with over 15 years of experience.

"*" indicates required fields

Name*
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Our team is here to help

Schedule a Complimentary Consultation!

Aesthetica is a premier medical spa in Pleasant Grove, Utah with over 15 years of experience.

"*" indicates required fields

Name*
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Up
d

Welcome to Aesthetica

Request an appointment today.

Call us at (801) 785-8884

Business Hours
Monday 9 am - 7 pm
Tuesday 9 am - 7 pm
Wednesday 9 am - 7 pm
Thursday 9 am - 7 pm
Friday 9 am - 6 pm
Saturday 9 am - 3 pm
Sunday Closed