The order you put products on gets more attention than it deserves, but it still helps to have a plan, and the plan differs between morning and night. A convenient rule of thumb is thinnest to thickest: a watery product first, then a cream. Treat that as a habit that keeps things simple. It is not a proven rule.
The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) gives a firmer answer for what comes first. It advises washing your face twice a day, when you wake up and before you go to bed, and, if your skin feels dry, applying moisturiser after washing. So both routines include a cleanse, with moisturiser after it.
In the morning, sunscreen goes on before you head out. The AAD says to apply it before going outdoors and notes that it takes approximately 15 minutes for your skin to absorb the sunscreen and protect you. To stay protected outdoors, it advises reapplying every two hours, and straight after swimming or sweating. For acne-prone skin, the AAD suggests a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher, labelled "non-comedogenic" or "won't clog pores".
At night there's no sunscreen, but there is one extra step at the start. The AAD lists sleeping in makeup as a habit that can worsen acne and says to remove your makeup before you go to bed. Then cleanse, then moisturise.
For moisturiser, the AAD gives a specific instruction: after washing your face, leave some water on your skin, then apply moisturiser, because applying it after you wash helps trap water in the skin.
If you use an acne treatment, how you spread it matters too. The AAD warns against putting acne medication only on your blemishes. Instead, spread a thin layer evenly over the acne-prone area. If you tend to break out on your forehead, nose and chin, that means all three.
Is all-natural the best type of acne therapy?
The more useful question is whether a natural product works, and whether it works better alone or alongside a standard treatment. One trial looked at exactly that. In a randomised, double-blind 8-week study published in 2014, 60 people with mild to moderate acne were compared on two regimens. One used tretinoin 0.05% cream plus a 50% aloe vera gel. The other used tretinoin plus a vehicle (an inactive base). The tretinoin and aloe combination was significantly more effective at reducing non-inflammatory, inflammatory and total lesion scores, and redness was less severe in that group by the end.
Note what was tested there. The aloe gel was added to tretinoin, a standard retinoid, not used instead of it. It is also a single small trial. So the honest answer to the title is that a natural ingredient may help as part of a routine, but "natural" alone is not the best choice by default.
That ties back to routine order. The AAD says treatments such as benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, adapalene, tazarotene and tretinoin tend to dry and irritate the skin, and that a daily moisturiser can help your skin tolerate them. The NHS adds that you should not scrub your skin, as this can irritate it and make acne worse, and suggests seeing a GP if you've tried treating acne yourself and it isn't getting better.
Keep it short enough that you'll actually stick to it, and give it time. The AAD notes that trying new acne treatments too often can irritate your skin and cause breakouts, and that it may take several weeks to a few months before you see a difference. this contact form is a good way to ask a supplier for guidance on where a specific product fits in that order.
More on who we are on About Us, or reach us directly via Contact Us.
This article is general information, not medical advice. If acne is severe, scarring or not improving, speak to a pharmacist, GP or dermatologist.
References
- Hajheydari Z, Saeedi M, Morteza-Semnani K, Soltani A. Effect of Aloe vera topical gel combined with tretinoin in treatment of mild and moderate acne vulgaris: a randomized, double-blind, prospective trial. J Dermatolog Treat. 2014;25(2):123-9. PMID 23336746
- NHS. Acne. nhs.uk/conditions/acne
- American Academy of Dermatology. 10 skin care habits that can worsen acne. aad.org
- American Academy of Dermatology. How to apply sunscreen. aad.org
- American Academy of Dermatology. Moisturizer: Why you may need it if you have acne. aad.org
- American Academy of Dermatology. Acne: Tips for managing. aad.org