Sunscreen or Moisturizer First?

Moisturizer first, sunscreen last. Dermatologists recommend applying sunscreen as the final step of your morning skincare routine — after your moisturiser has soaked in, and before any makeup.^[1] Give the moisturiser a minute or two to absorb, then apply your sunscreen in an even layer on top.

Why this order. Sunscreen forms the protective film that faces the sun, so it works best as the outermost skincare layer.^[1] Piling moisturiser or foundation on top of it can disturb that film and dilute the protection. Let each layer settle, then add the next:

• Cleanse
• Treatment/serum (if you use one)
• Moisturiser — let it absorb (~1–2 min)
• Sunscreen — the last skincare step
• Makeup (optional), after the sunscreen sets

"But I read chemical sunscreen goes on first." You may see the claim that chemical filters must touch bare skin to work, so they belong *under* moisturiser. In practice, the simple, dermatologist-backed rule is sunscreen last — it's easier to get right and keeps the protective layer on top where it belongs.^[1] What matters far more than the exact order is using enough and applying it evenly. How much you need.

A note on SPF moisturisers. A good 2-in-1 (moisturiser + SPF) is fine and better than skipping sunscreen — but because people tend to apply moisturiser thinly, you may fall short of the labelled SPF. On a day with real sun exposure, a dedicated sunscreen applied generously is the safer bet.

In short: moisturiser, then sunscreen, then makeup — sunscreen is always the last skincare step, applied generously and given a moment to set.