Thanks to its finely tuned formulas based on decades of scientific research, you know SkinCeuticals products will deliver effective results to help you meet your skin care goals. With more than fifty products to choose from, however, what you might not know is where to start when it comes to building a routine. We’re here to help you kickstart your skin care journey with SkinCeuticals by answering some common questions such as:

• What are the steps for a skin care routine with SkinCeuticals?

• How do I layer products for my morning skin care routine?

• How do I layer products for my nighttime skin care routine?

• How to layer serums

What are the steps for a skin care routine with SkinCeuticals?

SkinCeuticals’ skin care philosophy is based on three pillars: preventing future damage, correcting existing damage and protecting healthy skin.

In our recent LovelySkin x SkinCeuticals Masterclass: SkinCeuticals 101, aesthetician and SkinCeuticals Brand Educator Cori Ramos recommends you start your SkinCeuticals skin care regimen by picking one product from each of these three categories.

Prevent: Pick one antioxidant serum

SkinCeuticals is known for its patented, antioxidant-packed vitamin C serums that work to prevent skin damage caused by environmental damage and the natural aging process. If you’re new to SkinCeuticals, you don’t need to stress about layering multiple antioxidant serums from the start—just choose one. They all feature pure vitamin C and ferulic acid, plus an additional antioxidant for a specific skin need.

For normal to dry skin: SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic

If you’re concerned with signs of aging such as fine lines and wrinkles and your skin tends toward the dry side, this is your go-to choice for a starter antioxidant serum. In addition to 15% pure vitamin C and 0.5% ferulic acid, it also contains 1% vitamin E, which helps moisturize skin by replenishing lipids.

For normal to oily skin: SkinCeuticals Silymarin CF

If you’re also concerned with signs of aging and your skin tends to be oily, then Silymarin CF is the right antioxidant serum for you. In addition to 15% pure vitamin C and 0.5% ferulic acid, it also contains 0.5% silymarin and 0.5% salicylic acid to gently exfoliate and balance oil production.

For skin that’s prone to discoloration: SkinCeuticals Phloretin CF

In addition to 10% pure vitamin C and 0.5% ferulic acid, this antioxidant serum also contains 2% phloretin, an antioxidant that helps improve discoloration by encouraging cell turnover.

For sensitive, reactive skin: SkinCeuticals Serum 10 AOX+ Vitamin C Anti-Aging Serum

If you haven’t been able to tolerate vitamin C serums in the past, this formula was made for you. “This antioxidant serum contains a 10% concentration of ascorbic acid instead of 15% like C E Ferulic and Silymarin CF,” says LovelySkin CEO Dr. Joel Schlessinger, board-certified dermatologist, Mohs surgeon and cosmetic surgeon. “I recommend it for my patients who have had difficulties with vitamin C serums in the past, so they can still reap the benefits of antioxidants without irritation.”

For mature skin: SkinCeuticals Resveratrol B E

If you’re looking to build a SkinCeuticals regimen for mature skin, select this nighttime antioxidant treatment as your “prevent” step. It features 1% pure resveratrol and 0.5% baicalin, two antioxidants that support your skin’s natural repair processes and prevent oxidative damage over time. It has a soothing serum-gel texture and also contains 1% vitamin E to help moisturize and condition skin.

As you become more accustomed to your new routine, you can branch out by switching between these antioxidants serums as needed in response to changes in your skin’s needs or the changing seasons.

Correct: Pick one serum or cream to address specific concerns

Corrective serums and creams is the largest category for SkinCeuticals, so you’re not alone if the sheer volume of options makes decision-making feel a bit daunting! Ramos recommends focusing on your primary skin concerns and picking one or two serums or creams from this category.

To plump and hydrate: SkinCeuticals HA Intensifier Multi-Glycan Multi-Dimensional Volumizing Serum

This corrective hyaluronic acid serum helps fill fine lines, instantly plump skin and provide deep hydration with 12% Proxylane, 1.3% hyaluronic acid, 2% licorice extract and 2% post-biotic ferment extract. Because it stimulates multiple types of glycans in your skin that are responsible for structural volume, this is a great choice if you’re concerned with sagginess and loss of fullness.

To soften expression lines: SkinCeuticals P-TIOX Wrinkle Modulating Peptide Serum

If you’re most concerned about expression wrinkles on the surface of your skin, this peptide serum should be your first pick from the “correct” category. Inspired by the science behind injectable wrinkle relaxers, it improves the appearance of nine types of expression lines with an advanced peptide complex and reveals glass skin radiance with 5% polyhydroxy acid and 5% niacinamide.

To target sun damage and dullness: SkinCeuticals Glycolic 10 Renew Overnight Exfoliating Treatment

If dullness and visible signs of aging from sun exposure have got you down, this overnight treatment can help you get your glow back. It contains 10% glycolic acid and 2% phytic acid to effectively exfoliate skin for improved brightness and clarity.

To diminish dark spots, fine lines and breakouts: SkinCeuticals Retinol 1.0 Maximum Strength Refining Night Cream

Choosing a retinol night cream from the “correct” category is an effective way to boost cellular turnover in your skin, which in turn helps reduce breakouts, discoloration, fine lines and wrinkles.

“With 1% pure retinol, this is SkinCeuticals’ maximum-strength cream for skin that has successfully tolerated retinol in lower concentrations,” says LovelySkin Medical Director Dr. Daniel Schlessinger, a board-certified dermatologist, Mohs surgeon and cosmetic surgeon. “If you are trying retinol for the first time, I recommend starting with the 0.3% retinol concentration first and eventually working your way up to the 0.5% retinol and 1% retinol concentrations.”

To boost anti-aging results: SkinCeuticals Cell Cycle Catalyst

Because this anti-aging exfoliating serum helps boost cellular turnover and skin vitality, it’s poised to take your skin care routine to the next level with a 7.7% multi-acid complex and 1% taurine. Ramos also recommends this corrective serum as a one-step skin-renewal treatment for anyone who cannot tolerate other popular exfoliants such as retinol or glycolic acid.

For chronically dry, dehydrated skin: SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore Anti-Aging Cream

This rich, silky face cream is meant for you if you’re most concerned with loss of moisture and fullness. It provides plumping moisture and restores your skin barrier by replenishing lipids with a combination of 2% ceramides, 4% natural cholesterol and 2% fatty acids.

For mature skin: SkinCeuticals A.G.E. Interrupter Advanced Corrective Cream

If signs of aging as a result of collagen decline such as wrinkles, crepiness and thinning are your top concern, then consider adding this anti-wrinkle cream to your SkinCeuticals regimen for mature skin. It has a whipped balm texture and helps improve skin laxity and deep wrinkles with 18% Proxylane, 3% HEPES, 1% niacinamide and a 4.25% wild fruit flavonoid blend.

Protect: Pick one broad-spectrum sunscreen for daily use

For beginners, this may feel like the most straight-forward category. We all need a broad-spectrum sunscreen to protect our skin from skin cancer and visible signs of aging. SkinCeuticals has several sunscreens to choose from. Here are a few of our favorites:

If you like an untinted mineral fluid sunscreen, consider SkinCeuticals Sheer Physical UV Defense Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50. It provides broad-spectrum protection with two mineral sunscreens (5% zinc oxide and 6% titanium oxide) and dries to a matte finish.

If you prefer a tinted mineral fluid sunscreen, SkinCeuticals Physical Fusion UV Defense Tinted Sunscreen SPF 50 will be more your style. It has a subtle universal tint to help even out skin tone and boost radiance, and it protects your skin with 5% zinc oxide and 6% titanium oxide.

If a more hydrating lotion formula suits your skin, you might try SkinCeuticals Clear Daily Soothing UV Defense Sunscreen SPF 50. This hybrid formula combines mineral and chemical sunscreen ingredients (7% zinc oxide, 8% homosalate, 5% octisalate and 5% octocrylene) for long-lasting protection and an invisible finish. Soothing ingredients such as chamomile extract and glycerin help reduce redness and leave your skin feeling soft and hydrated.

How do I layer products for my morning skin care routine?

For your morning skin care routine with SkinCeuticals, here is your recommended order of application:

1) Cleanser + toner

2) Antioxidant serum

3) Corrective serums, from thinnest to thickest

4) Corrective creams, including eye creams and moisturizers Sunscreen

Exceptions: If you’re using SkinCeuticals Cell Cycle Catalyst as a corrective serum, it’s meant to be applied after cleansing and toning before your antioxidant serum. Also, if you’re using a retinol cream or Resveratrol B E, those are for evening only.

How do I layer products for my nighttime skin care routine?

For your nighttime skin care routine with SkinCeuticals, here is your recommended order of application:

1) Cleanser + toner

2) Antioxidant serum

3) Overnight actives such as retinol night creams or Glycolic 10 Renewal Overnight Corrective serums, from thinnest to thickest Corrective creams, such as eye creams and moisturizers

Exceptions: If you’re using SkinCeuticals Cell Cycle Catalyst as a corrective serum, it’s meant to be applied after cleansing and toning, before your antioxidant serum.

How to layer serums

When you’ve mastered a basic SkinCeuticals routine with one product from each of the three pillars (prevent, correct, protect), you might be ready to expand your routine and learn how to layer serums.

When it comes to layering SkinCeuticals serums, you’ll want to follow the routines detailed above and make sure the first serum in your routine is your antioxidant serum. Then, when it comes to your corrective serums, apply them from thinnest to thickest.

One notable rule-breaker when layering SkinCeuticals serums is Cell Cycle Catalyst. Because this serum has a very thin texture, it’s an exception to the usual recommendation to always apply your antioxidant serum first. Instead, Cell Cycle Catalyst should be applied after cleansing and toning and before your antioxidant serum.

Are you looking to learn more about SkinCeuticals? Listen in as LovelySkin Director of Product Operations Chrissy and Cori Ramos address frequently asked questions about building a routine and layering SkinCeuticals serums in this SkinCeuticals 101 video.