The short answer? Yes! Applying products in the correct order allows them to absorb into the skin correctly and help them perform their best. A routine you do in the morning typically isn’t exactly the same as the products you would apply in the evening. Even the thickness of the products you use can alter how effective they’ll be if they’re not applied in the correct order.

Typically, lighter products that have a thinner or more liquid consistency are applied earlier in the routine, while thicker products are usually applied as the final steps. Look to products like cleansers, facial mists, and toners at the beginning of your routine. Save thicker serums, moisturizers, face creams, and SPF to apply at the end. We’re breaking down the step-by-step routine to target your concerns and help you achieve healthy, glowy looking skin.

Our e.l.f hot take: facial mists are a majorly underrated step of a solid skincare routine. Why do we like them? They can help to add an extra layer of hydration and moisture back into the skin. They can also help products you apply later in your routine to optimally absorb into the skin. Many facial mists are also packed with ingredients to help soothe, balance, and refresh. The Holy Hydration! Hydrating Coconut Mist is formulated with a blend of Coconut Oil, Vitamin B5, and Vitamin E to help calm, nourish, and instantly soothe the appearance of skin. Spray the mist directly onto your skin following cleansing, or keep it in your bag for an immediate refresh throughout the day.

Your serum step is the one where the thicker consistency we mentioned earlier can come into play. Serums can range in thickness, with some sitting on the classic liquid side, while others lean into more of a liquid-to-thick, jelly-like consistency. Serums are often considered “active” skincare products, in that they contain ingredients that can help to even out skin tone, reduce fine lines, fade dark spots, brighten the appearance of skin, target acne, or simply help to hydrate and plump. What we’re saying is, they’re a key part of an effective routine.

Go in with the Holy Hydration! Triple Bounce, our serum that delivers 1.7% Hyaluronic Acid in three molecular weights which provide three different intensities of plumping hydration. Next, layer our Vitamin C Serum to help brighten and even out skin tone while delivering free-radical-fighting antioxidants to skin.

Another essential step of your skincare routine in the morning and the evening is moisturizer. Our skin requires a lot of hydration in order to feel and look healthy, so it’s crucial to deliver that hydration via a moisturizer or face cream. For those with oily skin or those who are prone to breakouts: you still need to hydrate your skin!

We recommend opting for a lightweight, gel-based moisturizer. The Gel-Yeah Moisturizer is a great choice as it’s specifically formulated with oily, breakout-prone skin in mind, and delivers moisture without the heaviness. If your skin runs on the drier side or you simply prefer a richer, thicker cream, the Holy Hydration! Fragrance Free Face Cream is your winner. Replenishing, plumping, and brightening, it absorbs quickly and can help to deliver hydration to the skin. Hydrated skin is also important for smooth, glowing makeup—another reason to never sleep on this step!

Now that your skin feels clean, hydrated, plumped, and nourished, finish it off with a glowy bronzed base that’s also an antioxidant-rich serum (can you tell we’re all about extra layers of skin-loving nourishment?!). Our best selling Bronzing Drops give a warm, sun-kissed glow, while moisturizing and nourishing skin with ingredients like sunflower seed oil and antioxidants like Vitamin E, plus marula oil and raspberry seed oil. Lightweight and non-greasy, it absorbs quickly and can be used on your face and body to serve back-from-vacation radiance. Apply it directly onto skin, or mix a few drops with your moisturizer for a glowy, hydrated look.