What order to apply acne products, day and night

Acne products go on in a short, fixed order. Morning: wash with a gentle cleanser, put on moisturizer, then sunscreen SPF 30 as the last step. Night: wash, let your face dry fully, put the acne treatment on in a thin layer, then moisturizer. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) says to apply any medicine right after cleansing, then moisturizer or sunscreen, then makeup, and that "the sequence in which you apply your skin care products affects how well the products work." For toner, serum, eye cream and the general order for any skin type, see skincare routine order. For every step of the routine, with amounts and timelines, see the complete acne skincare routine.

The order, morning and night

Morning

Step	Product	Why it goes here
1	Gentle cleanser	Removes oil and sweat from the night
2	Moisturizer, labeled non-comedogenic	Acne treatments dry the skin, and moisturizer helps skin tolerate them
3	Sunscreen, SPF 30 or higher	The AAD says sunscreen goes on after other skin care and beneath makeup

Night

Step	Product	Why it goes here
1	Gentle cleanser	Removes sunscreen, makeup and the day's oil
2	Wait until your face is fully dry, 10 minutes after washing	The adapalene label says to pat dry before applying
3	Acne treatment, a thin layer on the whole area that gets pimples	The AAD puts medicine right after cleansing
4	Moisturizer	Applied after the treatment, to cut dryness

With two acne gels, step 3 becomes two steps. The next section explains the order.

Why the acne treatment goes on right after washing

The AAD order is: wash your face with a gentle cleanser and gently pat dry, apply medication right after cleansing, then moisturizer and/or sunscreen, then makeup. The drug directions agree. The FDA rules for acne product labels tell users of benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid products to "clean the skin thoroughly before applying this product" and to "cover the entire affected area with a thin layer."

The adapalene gel label says to "clean the skin gently and pat dry before applying the product," and to cover the entire affected area with a thin layer. It says: "if your acne is on the face, apply the product to the entire face." It sets no wait time between washing and the gel, so wait until your face is fully dry, 10 minutes after washing.

Wash gently, with your fingertips. The AAD says scrubbing with washcloths, sponges and other tools can irritate your skin, and the adapalene label says irritation is more likely with abrasive cleansers.

Two acne gels on the same night

Some acne routines use two treatments together: benzoyl peroxide, which the NHS says reduces the bacteria on your skin, and adapalene, a retinoid that the AAD says works to clear your pores. The UK NICE guideline (1.5.1) lists "a fixed combination of topical adapalene with topical benzoyl peroxide for any acne severity" as a first-line option, applied once daily in the evening. A fixed combination is one gel that holds both. In the US, each is sold without a prescription as its own gel. The 2024 AAD guideline lists "combining topical therapies with multiple mechanisms of action" as good practice.

Neither label says which of the two goes on first. What the sources do say:

• The adapalene label warns that irritation is more likely "if using more than one topical acne medication at a time."
• NICE (1.5.7) says to start benzoyl peroxide or a retinoid on alternate days, or to wash it off after an hour, to lower irritation.
• The NHS says benzoyl peroxide can bleach clothing, fabrics and hair. Use a white pillowcase and towel.

Skinli's plan for people without a prescription puts benzoyl peroxide 2.5% gel on first, waits 5 minutes, then puts on adapalene 0.1% gel and moisturizer, every other night for the first 2 weeks (see the sample plan). If your skin stings a lot, the plan puts moisturizer on before the gels and washes them off after 1 hour for the first 2 weeks.

Retinoid with benzoyl peroxide covers the evidence for using the two together.

If the treatment stings

Moisturizer helps your skin tolerate the treatment. The AAD says acne treatments "tend to dry and irritate the skin" and that "using a moisturizer every day can help your skin tolerate these medications." The adapalene label's patient leaflet says a moisturizer may help decrease dryness, and says to avoid products with alpha hydroxy or glycolic acids, which may worsen irritation.

For skin that stings a lot, some routines put a thin layer of moisturizer on before the acne gel. No drug label gives that order, and the standard order stays treatment first, moisturizer second. If dryness or peeling still bothers you, the FDA label rules allow cutting benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid use to once a day or every other day.

The morning order and sunscreen

Morning is wash, moisturizer, sunscreen. The AAD says to "always put sunscreen on after other skin care products," and beneath your makeup, on its page on skin care in your 20s. Its sunscreen FAQs say to choose SPF 30 or higher, broad spectrum and water resistant, and to apply it to dry skin 15 minutes before going outdoors.

For moisturizer after a morning wash, the AAD advises leaving some water on your skin and then applying moisturizer, because this helps trap water in the skin.

Sunscreen matters more on acne treatment. The adapalene label says to limit sun exposure and use sunscreen when going outdoors. The NHS says benzoyl peroxide makes skin more sensitive to sunlight.

Where each acne product fits

Product	Morning or night	What the source says
Adapalene 0.1% gel	Night	NICE describes adapalene combinations applied once daily in the evening. A dermatologist quoted by the AAD advises using a retinoid only at night
Benzoyl peroxide gel	Night, or day under sunscreen	The FDA label rule says: "if going outside, apply sunscreen after using this product"
Salicylic acid	Either, not with adapalene	The adapalene label says irritation is more likely with more than one acne medicine at a time
Moisturizer	Both	After treatment at night, before sunscreen in the morning
Sunscreen	Morning	Last skincare step, before makeup

Adapalene goes on once a day at most. The label says "applying more than directed will not provide faster or better results, but may worsen skin irritation." MedlinePlus adds that many skin care products can irritate your skin if you use them with adapalene. For where a cosmetic retinol goes, see when to use retinol in your skincare routine.

Thin to thick is a rule of thumb

Many skincare sites say to apply products from the thinnest to the thickest. It is a common rule of thumb, and no study tests it. The AAD order page does not use it. Where a label or the AAD gives an order, follow that. For extra steps the AAD does not rank, such as a serum, thin to thick is a reasonable way to decide: a watery serum goes after the cleanser and before a cream.

Makeup goes on last. The NHS says to use makeup that is non-comedogenic, meaning it will not clog pores, and to remove it at the end of the day. The AAD adds that even non-comedogenic makeup can cause acne if you sleep in it. To check a product's ingredient list, use the comedogenic checker.