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Layering is the quiet secret of Korean skincare. Applied in the wrong order, even good products can pill, block one another or simply not absorb. Applied in the right order, they build on each other — cleanse, hydrate, treat, seal, protect.
The golden rule: thinnest to thickest
Water-based products go first, oil-based products go last. Anything with a heavier or occlusive texture would otherwise block lighter formulas from reaching the skin.
Morning order
- Gentle low-pH cleanser (or just water on very dry mornings).
- Hydrating toner or essence — patted into damp skin.
- Antioxidant serum — Vitamin C, niacinamide or both.
- Eye cream, if you use one.
- Moisturiser — light in summer, richer in winter.
- Broad-spectrum SPF 50 — always the final step.
Evening order
- Oil or balm cleanser — melts SPF, sebum and pollution.
- Water-based low-pH cleanser (the second half of double cleansing).
- Toner or essence.
- Treatment serum or ampoule — PDRN, peptides, retinal, exfoliating acid (one at a time).
- Hydrating serum layer, if your skin needs it.
- Moisturiser, sleeping mask or occlusive balm to seal it all in.
How to layer actives without irritation
- Vitamin C — morning. Pairs well with niacinamide, peptides and SPF.
- Retinol / retinal — evening, 2–4 nights a week. Never same night as AHA/BHA.
- AHA / BHA — evening, 1–3 times a week. Skip on retinoid nights.
- PDRN and peptides — nightly, gentle enough to alternate with retinoids.
- Niacinamide — morning or evening, plays well with almost everything.
For step-by-step ritual guidance and a routine built to your skin type, take the Litsy Skincare Quiz — it walks you through the exact order for your concerns.
