How to Layer Skincare

Firstly, let’s start with the basics – the reason it’s important to know how to correctly layer your skincare is so that you can optimise your routine and ensure your skin reaps maximum rewards every time. The good news is that it's not complicated, and once you’ve got the hang of it, you can tailor specifically to your own skin needs and trust us, you’ll never look back.  

An effective skincare routine is based on having the right products, using them at the right time, and applying them the right order. As an example, think about when you make a sandwich – if you didn’t have the top and bottom of the bun in the right place, it wouldn’t taste as good. It’s exactly the same with your skincare. Layering your products in the correct way means instead of cancelling each other out, they’ll work together in perfect harmony leaving you one step closer to your skin goals.  

As with everything at The INKEY List we’re all about making skincare simple so, we’ve done the hard work for you and rounded up the core steps you need to know and how to layer your products within each step.  

STEP 1: CLEAN 

The first step in every skincare routine, AM and PM, is always a full facial cleanse. This step is key to remove makeup, SPF, and other impurities that build up on the skin’s surface as well as creating a clean base to apply further products. Remember to make sure the water isn’t too warm as hot water can strip skin of its natural oils leaving your skin feeling dry and tight. 

You may also want to double up on your cleansers to maximise benefits – for example, using our bestselling Oat Cleansing Balm to effortlessly melt away makeup followed by Fulvic Acid Cleanser for a gentle exfoliation.  

Our recommended cleansers:  

• Oily or blemish prone? Try using our Salicylic Acid Cleanser for oil and breakout control!  
• Dry or sensitive? Try using our Oat Cleansing Balm for an effective yet nourishing cleanse.  

• Dull skin? Try using Fulvic Acid Cleanser for a gentle exfoliation to reveal glowing skin. 
• Dehydrated skin? try using Hyaluronic Acid Cleanser to deeply hydrate skin, leaving it soft, smooth, and healthy.  

STEP 2: HYDRATE  

After cleansing, it’s all about hydration. Boosting hydration in the skin is key not only to help maintain moisture levels and an effective skin barrier but also acts as a transporter for other skincare products to help them work more effectively.

One standout option for next-level hydration is Exosome Hydro Glow Complex. Designed to deliver deep, long-lasting moisture and restore skin vitality, it’s powered by exosome technology and contains ectoin, an ultra-soothing molecule known for protecting and strengthening the skin barrier. With its lightweight, glow-enhancing formula, it works beautifully on its own or layered after Hyaluronic Acid Serum for an amplified hydration boost.

Although Exosome Hydro Glow Complex already contains ectoin, if you wish to include both it and Ectoin Hydro-Barrier Serum in your routine, we recommend alternating them, perhaps Ectoin Hydro-Barrier in the morning and Exosome Hydro-Glow Complex at night, to maximise benefits without redundancy.

Our recommended Hydrators:  

• Want deep hydration + skin regeneration? Use Exosome Hydro Glow Complex solo or after Hyaluronic Acid Serum. 
• Prefer lightweight daily hydration? Try Hyaluronic Acid Serum after cleansing.
• Need barrier repair? Use Ectoin Hydro-Barrier Serum or alternate with Exosome for targeted support. 
  
  

STEP 3: TREAT  

Also known as the serums and treatments step. This is where your layering knowledge really comes into play. As a general rule, all you need to remember is: start with the products that have the thinnest consistency and layer up to the thickest/heaviest formulas.

Thinner products like serums won’t be able to penetrate thicker products like moisturisers, so applying them in this order ensures your skin gets the full benefits of each individual product. If using multiple serums in this step, wait about a minute between applying each one to help avoid pilling.

This is also where AM vs. PM matters. Some ingredients, like 15% Vitamin C & EGF, are better suited for morning use to brighten and protect against oxidative stress. On the other hand, Retinol Serum is best used at night due to increased UV sensitivity and reduced effectiveness in daylight.

If you’re already using targeted treatments, you’ll be happy to know that Exosome Hydro Glow Complex plays well with others. Though it fits beautifully in the hydration step, it can also be layered into this step to amplify the performance of treatment serums. Thanks to its innovative exosome technology designed to deliver actives deep into the skin it helps other ingredients absorb more effectively and can support overall skin regeneration and repair.

Our recommended treatments: 

• Dull skin? Try our 15% Vitamin C and EGF Serum for a glow boost. 
• Breakouts? Try our Succinic Acid Treatment to target blemishes and reduce inflammation. 
• Fine Lines and Wrinkles? Try our Retinol Serum to smooth and brighten with continued use.
• Hyperpigmentation? Try our Tranexamic Acid Serum to visibly fade dark spots and even tone.
• Oily skin or redness? Try using Niacinamide Serum  to help regulate oil and calm skin.
• Want to boost your entire routine? Use Exosome Hydro Glow Complex to support deeper delivery of active ingredients, rejuvenates skin, and helps treatment serums work harder.

In this step, don’t forget the eyes too. Most eye creams are formulated with active ingredients and are designed to target specific concerns so applying them before moisturizers will allow them to penetrate the skin better.  

Apply your eye cream around the orbital bone and under the brow - steering clear of your eye lids and gently pat in with your ring finger for the perfect amount of pressure.  

Our recommended eye creams:  

• Dark Circles? Try our Brighten-i Eye Cream to instantly illuminate while long-term helping to restore skin to its natural tone. 

• Puffiness? Try our Caffeine Eye Cream which can help reduce water retention under the eye. 
• Signs of ageing? Try our Retinol Eye Cream to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. 

STEP 4: MOISTURIZE  

Moisturizers are a vital step in the routine as your skin barrier requires moisture and hydration to stay healthy. Applying a moisturiser will help draw and lock moisture into the skin while the oils work on the surface helping to keep your skin barrier strong and improving overall texture. Adding a moisturizer at this stage will also help to seal in serums and treatments which can make them more effective.  

Our recommended moisturisers:  

• Mature skin? Try our Bio-Active Ceramide Moisturizer to help reduce wrinkles and leave skin looking radiant. 
• Oily Skin? Try our Omega Water Cream to immediately hydrate skin and help control oil production. 

STEP 5: SPF  

The most important step in any skincare routine, SPF. Unprotected sun exposure can damage skin, cause accelerated signs of aging and increase signs of hyperpigmentation. You should be wearing sunscreen with SPF 30 every single day – even when it’s cloudy or raining outside. That’s because the UV rays that cause sun damage are always present, with up to 80% of the sun’s rays still potentially being absorbed by your skin on overcast days. 

INKEY LAYERING TIPS  

• 15% Vitamin C + EFG Serum and Retinol can cause irritation if mixed. Use Vitamin C in your AM routine and Retinol in your PM routine.  
• Use any exfoliating acids on alternate nights to any Retinol products you may be using to avoid risking irritation. 
• If using Niacinamide in your routine, avoid layering with any exfoliating acids or Vitamin C to minimise irritation.  
• Avoid using more than one exfoliating acid a day, you could risk over exfoliation and irritation. 

Now you’ve got your layering knowledge locked – why not take our 2-minute skincare quiz to find a skincare routine that’s personalised for you and your skin goals.  

Have another question about skincare layering? Need advice on your routine? Our #askINKEY experts are ready and waiting to help you, chat to them today.