When it comes to layering skincare products—order matters. Creating the perfect morning base isn't just about using quality products, it's about applying them in the correct order to maximize their benefits.
When products are layered incorrectly, they can actually prevent each other from delivering their promised benefits and results, leaving you with a compromised base for makeup or an uneven complexion throughout the day.
Follow our step-by-step guide below to create the perfect base for skincare base for your makeup, or to create a glowy look for those no make-up days.
The Foundation Principle: Why Your Morning Layering Sequence Matters
Think of skincare layering as building the perfect foundation for a house. Just as you need a solid base before adding walls and a roof, your skin requires a thoughtful sequence to create the ideal morning base.
Traditional beauty wisdom—now confirmed by modern dermatology—shows that when heavier creams are applied before lightweight treatments, they create an impenetrable barrier. Your most active ingredients—often found in serums—become blocked, unable to penetrate and deliver their transformative benefits.
This knowledge not only promotes healthier skin but also provides the ideal foundation for whatever comes next—whether it’s creating a full beat that lasts, or moisturizing your skin for the day ahead.
The Essential Rule: From Thinnest to Thickest
Our #1 skincare layering rule: Always go from thinnest to thickest.
That means starting with water-based products, then layer increasingly richer formulations. This follows the basic physics of skincare—thinner consistencies penetrate deeply, while richer formulas seal and protect.
This layering technique creates the ideal base structure, allowing each product to fulfill its purpose while preparing your skin for flawless makeup application or natural moisture that lasts all day.
Your Perfect Morning Layering System
Step 1: Cleanse - Create Your Clean Foundation
Our Green Tea Facial Cleanser combines traditional wisdom with wild-harvested honey and botanical extracts to create a gentle yet powerful morning cleanser that removes overnight buildup without stripping your skin's natural moisture.
Within weeks, you'll experience what generations have known—skin that appears visibly clarified and balanced, with a natural luminosity that provides the perfect first layer for your morning base.
Cleanse the MLC way: Try our Green Tea Cleanser
Step 2: Treat - Apply Your Active Ingredients
Our Miracle Serum features precious Baobab oil—Africa's "liquid gold"—in a lightweight formula that penetrates deeply to improve skin tone and texture. This crucial second step delivers active ingredients that work throughout the day beneath your other products.
Press 3-5 drops into still-damp skin after cleansing, allowing 30 seconds for absorption before the next step. Within weeks, 94% of women in our studies experienced visibly faded dark spots and more even skin tone—the perfect middle layer for your morning base.
Try Miracle Serum for yourself: Shop now
Step 3: Moisturize - Seal and Smooth
Our Olive Renewal Facial Cream provides the ideal third layer with hand-pressed olive oil that creates the perfect balance of nourishment and lightweight finish. This step seals in previous products while creating the smooth surface essential for makeup application or natural radiance.
Apply a pearl-sized amount, warming between fingertips before pressing gently into skin. Within days, experience what 96% of women in our studies reported: skin that appears plumped with moisture, visibly smoother, and perfectly prepped for whatever comes next.
Get the glow: Shop Olive Renewal Cream
Step 4: Protect - Shield Your Perfect Base
No matter the time of year, a skincare layering routine isn’t complete with sun protection.
Complete your perfect morning base with SPF to protect your skin against environmental damage. This essential final layer ensures your carefully constructed foundation remains intact throughout the day while preventing makeup oxidation and color changes.
Congrats—Your Perfect Base is Achieved!
This layering sequence isn't just about following rules—it's about creating the ideal foundation for your skin's natural beauty to shine through. By following this system, you create a flawless base that enhances both your skin's health and whatever comes next in your beauty routine.
Mary Louise Cosmetics invites you to transform your morning skincare into a perfect layering system that creates your ideal canvas—whether you want a naturally radiant complexion or makeup that lasts all day long!
