If you've been wondering whether moisturizer or sunscreen goes first, here's the rule the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) uses: wash your face, apply any treatment, then moisturizer and/or sunscreen, then makeup. Sunscreen is the outer layer of your skin care, and makeup sits on top of it.
Why sunscreen goes last
Your skin care goes on thinnest to thickest, which is how Cleveland Clinic dermatologist Dr. Sean McGregor explains it. Watery serums go first, creams go next, and sunscreen goes over everything. He calls sunscreen "the final step of your skin care routine."
There's a practical reason too. Sunscreen only gives you the SPF on the label if it forms an even film at the amount it was tested at. Anything you rub on top of it afterwards can thin that film or move it around.
Sunscreen before or after moisturizer: does the type matter?
You'll read online that chemical sunscreen has to go on bare skin first so it can "absorb". The sources we checked don't back that up.
- Mineral sunscreen uses zinc oxide, titanium dioxide or both. Chemical sunscreen uses neither, and a hybrid has both kinds. To check which you have, look at "Active Ingredients" on the label, says the AAD.
- The AAD says all three kinds "form a protective layer on your skin that absorbs the sun's rays."
- The Skin Cancer Foundation explains that mineral filters stay on top of the skin and mostly absorb UV, with only a little reflecting. Organic ("chemical") filters such as avobenzone absorb UV too.
- In a 2021 study, researchers applied moisturizer shortly before or after sunscreen on 25 volunteers. The sunscreens worked just as well either way.
- Even Supergoop, which mostly sells chemical sunscreens, tells you to put moisturizer first for "both mineral and chemical" formulas.
The one exception is face oil. Supergoop suggests applying a chemical sunscreen before a face oil, since oil on the bottom can get in the way. Our simpler suggestion is to skip face oil on mornings you're heading outside.
Skin care routine order, morning and night
Here are both routines as numbered lists. Leave out any step you don't use. The order is based on Cleveland Clinic's dermatologist-written guide and the AAD's order.
Morning order
- Cleanser
- Toner, if you use one
- Serum (for example, vitamin C)
- Eye cream, if you use one
- Moisturizer
- Sunscreen, SPF 30 or higher, broad spectrum
- Primer and makeup, if you wear them
Night order
- Cleanser
- Toner, if you use one
- Retinol or a serum (one active is plenty)
- Eye cream, if you use one
- Moisturizer
- No sunscreen
Retinol goes in the night routine. Cleveland Clinic says vitamin A derivatives "can become deactivated and cause irritation when exposed to sunlight," and that a pea-sized amount is all you need.
Serum or moisturizer first?
Serum first. It's thinner, so it goes on clean skin before your moisturizer. Cleveland Clinic puts serum right after cleansing in the morning, and eye cream between serum and moisturizer.
One serum is enough. Dr. McGregor also notes that vitamin C serum "reinforces your sunscreen — it does not replace it." You still need the sunscreen step.
How to layer it, step by step
1. Let the moisturizer settle
Wait until your moisturizer no longer feels wet. That's usually a minute or two. There isn't an official wait time; Supergoop suggests "at least 30 seconds." If your sunscreen goes on while the cream underneath is still slick, it's more likely to slide around or roll into little balls (pilling).
2. Measure your sunscreen
Use at least 1 teaspoon for your face, about enough to cover the length of your index and middle fingers. That's the AAD's guidance. It will feel like a lot. Here's why it's needed: SPF is measured in the lab at 2 milligrams per square centimeter of skin, and the AAD says many people put on only about 20–50% of the amount needed to get the SPF on the label.
3. Pat, then spread
Dot sunscreen over your forehead, cheeks, nose and chin, then smooth it out evenly. Don't skip your eyelid area, ears or neck. If a sunscreen is meant for your face, apply it with your hands. The FDA says spray sunscreens should never be applied directly to your face.
4. Give it 15 minutes before you go outside
The AAD says it takes about 15 minutes for sunscreen to protect you, and US sunscreen labels say to apply it 15 minutes before sun exposure. (The Skin Cancer Foundation suggests 30.) Use that time to put on makeup.
5. Then primer and makeup
Primer is a makeup step, so it goes over sunscreen, not under it. Some clear gel sunscreens are designed to work as a primer, so you might be able to skip one product.
6. Reapply every 2 hours outdoors
The FDA says to reapply sunscreen at least every two hours, and more often if you're swimming or sweating. A higher SPF doesn't let you go longer between coats: the AAD says high-number SPFs "last the same amount of time as low-number SPFs."
Is a moisturizer with SPF enough?
Only if you use as much of it as you would sunscreen, and most people don't. An SPF moisturizer is a sunscreen too, so the teaspoon rule applies. Cleveland Clinic says moisturizers and makeup with SPF are "usually not enough" on their own, and the AAD reminds you they still need reapplying outdoors.
In a 2019 study in PLOS ONE, 84 people applied SPF 30 sunscreen on one visit and SPF 30 moisturizer on another. With the moisturizer they missed 16.6% of the face, compared with 11.1% with sunscreen. Most of the difference was around the eyelids, and participants didn't realize they'd missed spots.
For a beach day, a hike or sports, choose a dedicated sunscreen that's water resistant (40 or 80 minutes). That's the only water claim the FDA allows on a label, since no sunscreen is waterproof.
Picks that help
Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen SPF 50
Best for: a clear sunscreen layer that sits well under makeup. Splurge.
- Broad spectrum SPF 50, with chemical filters: avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate and octocrylene, according to Supergoop.
- It's a clear gel that the brand says "doubles as a primer," with "no white cast on all skin tones." Supergoop says to allow 30 seconds before applying makeup.
- Wirecutter's face-sunscreen guide uses Unseen as the benchmark its clear-gel pick is compared against.
Vanicream Facial Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30
Best for: sensitive skin and anyone who wants mineral SPF. Drugstore.
- Mineral sunscreen with 19.5% zinc oxide as the only active, plus ceramides, according to Vanicream. The AAD notes that dermatologists recommend mineral sunscreens for sensitive skin.
- Wirecutter made it a top pick. Its panel found it "surprisingly pleasant" across skin types and tones, and it has no added fragrance.
- Keep in mind: Wirecutter lists it as not water-resistant, so it's for everyday wear rather than a swim.
CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30
Best for: a one-step moisturizer with SPF for normal to dry skin. Drugstore.
- Broad spectrum SPF 30 that combines zinc oxide with chemical filters. It also has ceramides, hyaluronic acid and niacinamide, according to CeraVe.
- It's non-comedogenic and free of added fragrance. Wirecutter has recommended it since 2018 and says it "nicely balances moisture and sun protection."
- Keep in mind: Wirecutter notes a classic sunscreen scent, and it isn't water-resistant.
Vanicream Daily Facial Moisturizer
Best for: a plain moisturizer that goes under your sunscreen. Drugstore.
- It has hyaluronic acid, squalane and five ceramides. The brand calls it "rich, but lightweight" and says it absorbs quickly, according to Vanicream.
- It's free of fragrance, dyes, parabens, essential oils and botanical extracts, and it's non-comedogenic.
- It has no SPF, so pair it with a dedicated sunscreen in the morning. Use it on its own at night.
FAQs
Do you put sunscreen on before or after moisturizer?
After. Moisturizer goes on first, then sunscreen, then makeup. The AAD's order and Cleveland Clinic's dermatologist both put sunscreen last in your skin care, and that's true for mineral and chemical formulas.
SPF or moisturizer first if my moisturizer already has SPF?
Then it's one step: put it on last, after serum and eye cream. Use the full teaspoon for your face. If you'll be outdoors for a while, put a dedicated sunscreen on over it or use one instead, and reapply about every two hours.
Sunscreen before or after lotion on your body?
After. Rub in body lotion first, let it settle, then apply sunscreen. The AAD says most adults need about 1 ounce (roughly a shot glass) to cover skin that clothing doesn't.
Primer or moisturizer first?
Moisturizer first, then sunscreen, then primer. Primer is part of your makeup, and the AAD puts makeup last.
Retinol before or after serum?
Use retinol at night in place of your serum, not on top of a second active. Apply it after cleansing and before moisturizer. Cleveland Clinic says a pea-sized amount is enough. If your skin feels dry, use a richer moisturizer over it.
Is SPF 30 enough?
For most days, yes. The AAD recommends SPF 30 or higher, which blocks 97% of UVB rays. Higher numbers block slightly more, but none block 100%. Using enough sunscreen and reapplying matter more than the jump from 30 to 50.
Do I need sunscreen at night?
No. Night is when retinol and richer creams go on. Sunscreen comes back as the last step the next morning.
Moisturizer, then sunscreen, then makeup: get the amount right and the order takes care of itself.