Skincare Routine Order: The Correct Steps for Every Skin Type

Thinnest consistency to thickest. Water-based before oil-based. Treatment actives before occlusives.

That's it. Every "10-step Korean routine" or "skinimalist 3-step" boils down to those three rules. Once you know them, you can build a routine from any brand.

1. Gentle cleanser — rinse only if your skin feels oily; otherwise a splash of water is enough
2. Hydrating toner or essence
3. Antioxidant serum (vitamin C is the gold standard)
4. Hyaluronic acid serum on damp skin — see the HA timing guide
5. Eye cream
6. Moisturizer
7. SPF 30+ — non-negotiable, even indoors near windows

1. Oil cleanser or micellar water (if you wore SPF or makeup) — this is the "first cleanse" of double cleansing
2. Gentle water-based cleanser
3. Exfoliating toner (AHA/BHA) — 2–3 nights a week, not nightly
4. Hydrating toner
5. Treatment serum — retinol, peptides, or niacinamide
6. Hyaluronic acid on damp skin
7. Eye cream
8. Moisturizer or sleeping mask

Don't use retinol and AHAs the same night. Alternate.

Strip the routine down to 4 steps: gentle cleanser → hyaluronic acid on damp skin → fragrance-free moisturizer → mineral SPF. Add one active at a time, and only after 2 weeks of zero reactivity. dermHA was originally formulated for exactly this skin type — every product is fragrance-free, hypoallergenic, and safe for rosacea, eczema, and post-procedure skin.

• Toner if it's an alcohol-based "astringent" — those strip the barrier. Hydrating toners are fine.
• Eye cream if your face moisturizer is gentle enough — most are.
• Essence + serum + ampoule stacking — pick one hydrator (HA) and one treatment active.
• Exfoliating every day — 2–3× a week max, or you'll wreck your barrier.