So you’ve got your cleanser, moisturizer, toner, and face masks… but which product should you use first? Whether you’re a skincare minimalist or looking to pamper yourself, we’ve got the perfect skincare routine that will leave your products in perfect harmony with your skin - both day and night. 

Why order matters

No matter the price, rave, or quantity of skincare products, the order can make or break results on your skin. In other words, best practices for skincare can optimize the products on your vanity and make sure they do their job. This is  due to variations in consistency and density among skincare products that can impact what your skin absorbs and what is left out. For example, a water-based serum cannot penetrate through moisturizer, meaning that it will not contact your skin if you moisturize first. 

Sounds complicated? Not to worry! We’ve curated the perfect, simplified guide for your daytime and nighttime skincare routine with our full Three Ships assortment.

Morning Skincare Routine

Since you are most active during the day, your skin inevitably tags along and gathers little ‘souvenirs’ wherever you go. You may be working, going out, exercising, or taking on other responsibilities and hobbies which may trap dirt, pollution, sweat, and other debris into your skin. Even more, exposure to UV rays means that your daytime skincare routine should aim to protect and preserve your skin. Here’s your daytime skincare routine:

Step 1: Cleanser

• Your Three Ships options:
• Refresh Papaya + Salicylic Acid Cleanser
• Purify Aloe + Amino Acid Cleanser

Step 2: Eye Mask

• Your Three Ships options:
• Brighter Days Red Algae + Avocado Biodegradable Eye Masks

Step 3: Toner

• Your Three Ships options:
• Calm Lavender Hydrosol Toner
• Awake Rose Hydrosol Toner

Step 4: Water-based Serum

• Your Three Ships option:
• Replenish Ceramides + Blueberry Barrier Repair Serum
• Jelly Drops Mushroom Hyaluronic Acid + Vitamin C Serum
  *if layering serums, apply in the above order or apply on alternating days

Step 5: Creams

• Your Three Ships option:
• First Light Vitamin C + Caffeine Eye Cream
• Radiance Grape Stem Cell + Squalane Day Cream
• Restore Ceramides + Gotu Kola Barrier Repair Cream

Step 6: Oil-based serum

• Your Three Ships options:
• Glow 49% Jojoba Oil Serum
• Boost 49% Rosehip Oil Serum

Step 7: SPF

• Always finish off your skincare routine with your preferred SPF!

Step 8: Lip Mask/Balm

• Your Three Ships option:
• Buttercream Hydrating Lip Mask

Pro tip: A rule of thumb to layer your skincare properly is to start off with the lightest, thinnest products and finish with the thickest or creamiest. 

Evening Skincare Routine

Winding down from the day, your night skincare routine focuses on cleaning off the debris collected on your skin, removing any makeup or excess product, and allowing your skin to repair and refresh for the next day. Here’s your nighttime skincare routine:

Step 1: Cleansing Oil

• Your Three Ships options:
• Nourish Lavender + MCT Cleansing Oil

Step 2: Water-based Cleanser

• Your Three Ships options:
• Refresh Papaya + Salicylic Acid Cleanser
• Purify Aloe + Amino Acid Cleanser
• Harmony Cucumber + Kombucha Microbiome Balancing Cleanser

Step 3: Mask

• Your Three Ships options:
• Superfruit Lactic + Multifruit 8% AHA Exfoliating Mask
• Soothe Rosehip Vitamin C Clay Mask
• Detox Green Tea Antioxidant Clay Mask
• Off Duty Sea Algae + Bio-Peptide Smoothing Biodegradable Eye Masks

Step 4: Toner

• Your Three Ships options:
• Calm Lavender Hydrosol Toner
• Awake Rose Hydrosol Toner
• Fresh Start Lime Pearl + Prickly Pear 5% PHA Resurfacing Treatment

Step 5: Water-based Serum

• Your Three Ships option:
• Replenish Ceramides + Blueberry Barrier Repair Serum
• Jelly Drops Mushroom Hyaluronic Acid + Vitamin C Serum
• Skin Hero Bakuchiol + Calendula Bio-Retinol Serum
  *if you use all three products, we recommend alternating days. Our favorite way to use these products are: using Replenish + Skin Hero at night and using Jelly Drops during the day. 

Step 6: Moisturizer

• Your Three Ships option:
• First Light Vitamin C + Caffeine Eye Cream
• Dream Bio-Retinol + Shorea Butter Night Cream
• Firm Believer Goji Stem Cell + Pomegranate Smoothing Neck + Face Cream
• Restore Ceramides + Gotu Kola Barrier Repair Cream

Step 7: Oil-based Serum

• Your Three Ships options:
• Glow 49% Jojoba Oil Serum
• Boost 49% Rosehip Oil Serum

Step 8: Lip Treatment

• Your Three Ships option:
• Lip Treatment Kit 

We hope that our guide makes skincare more digestible, no matter how many products you use!

If you would like to have more day/night skincare routine tips, check out our Expert Talk with Dr. Renée A. Beach, MD, FRCPC. 

As well, specific skin concerns require customized routines. For cystic acne, check out The Best Skincare Routine to Treat Cystic Acne with Dr. Julia Carroll. For rosacea, read A Dermatologist’s Tips for a Rosacea-Friendly Skincare Routine with Dr. Katie Beleznay.