Your customers own ten products and still can't tell you which one goes on first. When they're confused, they buy less. Build a skincare routine around your product line, and every product knows where it belongs in the order.
People buy the whole set, and they use it all. The tricky part is knowing what goes where, and why.
In this guide, you'll learn the full order step by step, plus which formulas to reach for at each step, so your brand sells a routine people love.
1. Cleanse to Clear Oil and Dirt
Every routine starts with a clean face. A good cleanser washes away oil, dirt, and grime so the next products can sink in.
Your customers should wash their faces twice a day. In the morning, a gentle cleanser rinses off whatever they used the night before. At night, they need something stronger to cut through makeup, sweat, and the day's buildup.
The cleanser they pick depends on their skin type. Oily skin loves a gel or foaming face wash. Dry skin does better with a cream or oil cleanser that won't leave it tight.
At RainShadow Labs, we make face cleansers for every skin type, from charcoal washes to coconut milk formulas. Each one ships ready for your label so that you can offer your customers a clean start under your own brand.
2. Tone Right After You Cleanse
Forget the old toners that stung and dried you out. Today's toners, essences, and mists hydrate instead. They leave the skin ready to absorb your serum.
Use a toner morning and night. A few swipes balance the skin, so the products after it work better.
Our facial toners hydrate, brighten, balance, or clarify, depending on what your customer's skin needs. Pick a formula, test it, and sell it under your own name.
3. Exfoliate to Slough Off Dead Skin
Dead skin cells accumulate, leaving the face dull and rough. Exfoliating sweeps them off, clears out pores, and brings fresh skin to the surface faster. Most people only need it once or twice a week.
You can exfoliate in three gentle ways at home. Chemical exfoliants like alpha hydroxy acid dissolve buildup, enzymatic ones break it down, and physical scrubs buff it away. Stronger peels are a job for your esthetician.
Sensitive skin needs a lighter touch. Keep it to nighttime, or just a few times a week, so you don't trigger irritation.
We offer exfoliators from sugar scrubs to triple-acid peels. You'll find scrubs, peels, and masks made with natural exfoliants and skin-loving oils.
Add a Mask Once or Twice a Week
A mask is an extra treatment worth adding once or twice a week. It soaks the skin in concentrated vitamins and nutrients that absorb fast.
Masks hydrate and firm the skin, but they can do more than that. The right one fights stubborn skin concerns like acne, big pores, and dark spots.
4. Treat Skin Concerns With the Right Serum
Serums are the strongest products in your lineup. They hold the most active ingredients and the smallest molecules, so they sink deep into the skin. That's why they go on early, before heavier products block the way.
No single serum suits everyone. Here's a quick guide to the most popular actives:
- Vitamin C and niacinamide brighten and fight free radicals. Use them morning or night.
- Retinol speeds up cell turnover and softens fine lines. Use it at night only.
- Hyaluronic acid floods the skin with hydration. Use it any time of day.
Facial oil is the one exception. Put it near the end, like a top coat that seals everything in. It works best at night, when skin loses the most water.
Our serums cover hydration, brightness, and anti-aging, with proven actives like hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, and niacinamide. They feel light, sink in fast, and come ready for your brand.
5. Apply Eye Cream Twice a Day
The skin around your eyes is seven times thinner than the rest of your face. It needs gentle, steady care. A daily eye cream softens fine lines, dark circles, and puffiness.
One small trick helps here. Make eye cream one of the first leave-on products you reach for, so the product sinks right in.
Our eye care treatments cover the under-eyes, lashes, and brows. Some formulas hydrate, others brighten or boost circulation, so every customer finds a suitable formula.
6. Moisturize to Lock In Hydration
Moisturizer keeps skin soft, calm, and protected all day. It feeds the skin barrier, the layer that holds moisture in and keeps irritants out. A healthy barrier means healthier skin.
Order matters here, too. Moisturizers have bigger molecules than serums. Put them on after your serum, or they'll block those actives from working.
A lot of people get this wrong, but oily skin needs moisture too. Skip it, and the skin often makes even more oil.
We make moisturizers from light lotions to rich night creams, with options for dry, oily, and sensitive skin. Every base is ready for you to label and sell.
7. Finish With SPF Every Morning
Sunscreen is the last step of your morning routine and the one that matters most. Daily SPF blocks the rays that irritate, cause early aging, and some skin cancers. Wear it year-round, rain or shine.
Here are a few pointers to make this step easier:
- Put SPF on last in the morning, right over your moisturizer.
- Reapply throughout the day so the protection holds.
- Skip it at night, since there's no sun to block.
Some SPF moisturizers handle both jobs at once. If your customers want a little coverage, a tinted SPF evens out skin tone, and a nourishing lip product adds color.
Match the Routine to Your Customer's Skin Type
Each skin type calls for a different skincare routine, and that comes down to genetics. You can't change your skin type, but the right products keep it in check.
Here are the most common skin types:
- Normal skin stays balanced, so it isn't too oily or too dry.
- Dry skin feels tight and flaky, so it wants richer formulas.
- Oily skin shines by midday, so it does best with light, oil-free options.
- Combination skin pairs an oily T-zone with drier cheeks.
- Sensitive skin reacts fast, so it needs gentle, soothing ingredients.
Once you know your customer, you can match a formula to each step. That's how a brand turns a shelf of products into a routine people come back to.
Build Your Full Skincare Routine With RainShadow Labs
Building a complete skincare routine means covering every step from cleanser to sunscreen, and finding a partner who can formulate them all.
RainShadow Labs has made private-label personal care products since 1983. Our in-house R&D, manufacturing, and quality control keep your launch moving, so you skip the wait at outside labs.
Choose ready-to-label formulas or build a custom blend with us. You run the brand, and we handle the science.
Want to stock a full routine without ever running a lab? Explore our skincare collection and label it as your own.
Frequently Asked Questions
What order should skincare products go in?
Go lightest to heaviest. Cleanse, tone, exfoliate, treat with serums, apply eye cream, moisturize, then finish with SPF in the morning. This order lets each product absorb before the next one seals it in.
Can you use serum and moisturizer together?
Yes, and you should. Put your serum on first, since it's lighter and packed with actives. Follow with moisturizer to lock in hydration and seal everything underneath.
How often should you exfoliate?
Once or twice a week suits most people. Sensitive skin should stick to the low end and exfoliate at night. Daily exfoliating strips the skin and stirs up irritation.
Do you need a different routine for morning and night?
Mostly the same, with a few swaps. Your morning routine ends with SPF. Your nighttime routine skips sunscreen and makes room for retinol and richer creams.