The right order to apply skincare
Which step comes first, why thin goes before thick, and the short routine that suits pregnancy, breastfeeding and the Malaysian sun.
You bought a serum and now you are standing at the sink wondering whether it goes on before the moisturiser or after it.
Before. It goes after cleansing and before moisturiser, and one rule settles nearly every version of this question: thin to thick. Watery products first, creams and oils after, sunscreen last in the morning. Anything you put under a heavy layer reaches your skin. Anything you put over one mostly sits on top.
The full list of steps
Nobody needs all of these. Think of it as a menu.
1. Make-up remover. Only on days you wore make-up or a lot of sunscreen. Micellar water or a cleansing balm lifts the oily layer that water leaves behind.
2. Face wash. The cleanse itself, with something that suits your skin. In Malaysian humidity, a gel cleanser is often more comfortable than a rich cream one.
Mama's Choice Gentle Face Wash is a soft gel made for skin during pregnancy and breastfeeding, with rice extract, niacinamide and hydrolysed collagen, and without sulfates or fragrance. It clears away dirt, oil and the day's make-up and leaves your face feeling soft, without that tight, squeaky feel. In a Mama's Choice satisfaction survey of 128 mothers in Indonesia (2022), 96% said their skin felt more moisturised and softer afterwards.
3. Exfoliation. Once or twice a week at most, never every day, and never on the same night as another strong product. Gentle chemical exfoliants are kinder than gritty scrubs. While you are pregnant, keep acid strengths low and leave professional peels until later.
4. Toner. Optional. It adds a light first layer of water after cleansing, which some people with oily skin like. Many skip it with no harm done.
5. Essence. A watery layer that adds moisture. Pour a little into your palm and press it in rather than rubbing.
6. Serum. A concentrated product aimed at one concern. One serum is enough. Layering several is how a routine starts causing the very irritation it was bought to fix.
7. Sheet mask. Two or so times a week, for 10 to 20 minutes. Take it off before it dries, because a drying sheet starts drawing water back out of your skin.
8. Eye cream. The skin around your eyes is thinner than anywhere else on your face. Use your ring finger and tap it on; dragging pulls at delicate skin.
9. Moisturiser. Everyone needs one, oily skin included. Skipping it because you feel greasy often brings more oil, since skin short of water tends to compensate.
10. Sunscreen. The last step every morning, and the one that does most for how your skin looks in ten years. Malaysia's UV index runs high all year, and you still catch it on cloudy days and through car windows.
Mama's Choice Daily Protection Face Moisturizer folds steps 9 and 10 into one. It is a light moisturiser with SPF 20 PA++ from mineral filters (zinc oxide and titanium dioxide), and its rice extract and hyaluronic acid help dry skin hold on to moisture. It is not greasy, so it sits comfortably under a tudung or make-up. SPF 20 is medium protection, so reapply if you are outdoors, and keep to the shade at midday.
If you like things simple, the 2 in 1 Face Care Package puts the face wash and the moisturiser together, which covers the core of a morning routine. Buy it on Shopee or from the product page.
Morning and evening routines
| Step | Morning | Evening |
|---|---|---|
| Make-up remover | No | If you wore make-up or sunscreen |
| Face wash | Yes | Yes |
| Exfoliation | No | Once or twice a week |
| Toner | Optional | Optional |
| Essence | Optional | Optional |
| Serum | If you use one | If you use one |
| Sheet mask | No | A couple of times a week |
| Eye cream | Optional | Yes, if you use one |
| Moisturiser | Yes | Yes |
| Sunscreen | Yes | No |
Which steps can you skip?
Most of them.
Cleanser, moisturiser and sunscreen make a complete routine. Everything else is an extra, and extras are worth adding one at a time so you can tell which of them is doing anything.
If your skin is irritated right now, going back to those basics for a fortnight usually does more good than adding a soothing product on top.
What changes when you are pregnant or breastfeeding?
The order stays the same. Some ingredients change.
Retinoids, including retinol and prescription tretinoin, are usually stopped in pregnancy, and hydroquinone is generally avoided too. High-strength acids and peels can wait. Pregnancy can also make skin more reactive, so fragrance-free products are often easier to live with. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has a short guide to the skin changes pregnancy brings, and your doctor or the pharmacist at your klinik kesihatan can check a specific product with you.
Our face products are formulated for pregnancy and breastfeeding, and the ingredient dictionary lists what is in each of them.
How long before you know it is working?
Skin renews itself over weeks. Give any new product 8 to 12 weeks before you judge it. Most routines are given up on far sooner.
Take a photo on day one, by the same window at the same time of day. It is a much fairer record than your memory of how your face looked two months ago.
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This article is for information only and is not a substitute for diagnosis or medical advice. Please talk to your doctor about your own situation.
