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Dearest Erin and Wendy,

I am confused about layering of skincare products. So you've got all this stuff, right? Eye cream, moisturizer, sunscreen, maybe even a serum. What order does it go on in? How long do you need to wait between applying potions?

I've been trying to consolidate the moisturizer and sunscreen into one step, but I can't find a SPF30 that is a rich enough moisturizer, so I think I'm stuck with at least three steps in the morning. I crave certainty, order and a writ-in-stone morning routine. Please help.

Best best best as ever,
S

I'm a big fan of keeping it simple, too! My easy breezy answer after the jump...

My lovely, beautiful S,

If there's one major tenet of skincare that myself and derms agree on, it's that keeping your routine as simple and hassle-free as possible wins the race. Besides, you can always make time to bust out all your fancies at night, but in the morning, nine times out of 10 you're likely in a hurry. There are a million and one moisturizer-plus-sunscreen products out there, and a lot of them bear light formulas so as not to scare away all the oily and combination skin sisters out there. But what's a dry skin lass to do? (Stay away from gel formulas, for one...)

I know for a fact that Chanel Precision Hydramax Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15 is fabulous and rich and combines a slight tint (so you can skip foundation, too!), but you asked for SPF 30, and I applaud you for that. In turn, I'm going to turn you on to a product that was made for girls who want it all in one, and fast: Joey NY Quick Moisturizer for Dry Skin SPF 30. It fulfills your sun protection requirements, but because it contains a line-filling antioxidant and marine collagen anti-aging complex, it acts like a serum. Plus, it's creamy enough to drench your skin in moisture, but absorbs fast so you can get moving asap.

I hope that helps! Let us know how it works out, and if you guys out there have any suggestions for "S," bring 'em!

xoxoxo,
e