Serums and treatments come next
If you don’t already know, serums are where most of the targeted ingredients live. These formulas are concentrated and designed to address specific concerns like dehydration or dullness or uneven texture. The best serums usually contain ingredients like vitamin C, hyaluronic acidOr niacinamide, which requires direct contact with the skin to work properly.
Apply one or two drops and spread it evenly all over the face using your fingers. There’s no need to oversaturate your skin—more product doesn’t mean better results. Allow about 20 to 30 seconds for the serum to set before applying the next layer so it has time to be absorbed rather than mixed into the subsequent product.
Seal everything with moisturizer
Once the light treatments are absorbed, moisturizer locks them in. This step helps prevent water loss and keeps the skin barrier functioning properly throughout the day. Without it, hydration evaporates rapidly and the benefits of the earlier steps are lost faster than they should. The last thing you want is for all your hard work to go to waste.
Choose a formula that matches your skin type. Lighter gels are suitable for oily skin, while thicker creams work better for dryness or colder climates. Many of the best moisturizers for men focus on barrier-supporting ingredients like ceramides and glycerin, which help keep moisture in instead of letting it escape.
SPF is always the last step
If you’re doing your morning routine, sunscreen always comes last. Nothing should go over it as SPF needs to form an even protective layer on the skin. If you apply something over it, that layer gets damaged and the protection is no longer reliable.
Use at least SPF 30 and spread it across the entire face, including the sides of the nose and hairline. Reapply during the day if you are out for extended periods of time. Even if the weather looks inclement, UV exposure still occurs, and skipping this step undoes all the work you’ve done so far. If you’re still not sure what to do or how to do it, we have a full guide on how much SPF is actually enough.
