Level Up Your Skincare Routine
Quick answer: To level up your skincare routine, apply products from thinnest to thickest: cleanse, press a water-based serum such as hyaluronic acid into damp skin, follow with a richer serum, then moisturiser, and wear a separate sunscreen in the morning. At night, add a lip mask so your lips feel as cared for as your face. Thin Lizzy Hyaluronic Acid Serum is an easy first upgrade: a light, hydrating serum that helps skin look smoother and dewier.
Most of us know we should have a skincare routine. The questions are which products to use and what order to put them on. Get the order right and every product sits where it should, so your skin feels more hydrated and looks fresher. Here's a simple routine you can build on, step by step.
Why the Order of Your Skincare Matters
The general rule is to apply products from the thinnest, most watery texture to the thickest. Light, water-based serums sink in easily on clean skin. If you put them on over a rich cream or oil, they tend to sit on top instead. Thicker products then go on last to seal in moisture and leave skin feeling soft.
What a Good Routine Includes
- Cleanser: removes makeup, oil and the day's grime so the rest of your products go onto a clean base.
- Water-based serum: a light hydrating layer, such as hyaluronic acid.
- Richer serum or gelée: adds nourishment and helps skin look plumper and more radiant.
- Moisturiser: seals everything in and keeps skin feeling comfortable.
- Sunscreen (morning): always the last step of your morning skincare, before makeup.
- Lip care: lips have very thin skin and dry out easily, so they deserve their own step.
Our Picks
Hyaluronic Acid Serum
Best for: the first serum step, straight after cleansing.
A hydrating serum made with hyaluronic acid in the form of sodium hyaluronate, a moisture magnet that holds water in the top layers of the skin. Pressed into damp skin, it helps skin feel plumped with moisture and look smoother, dewier and more youthful.
- Made with sodium hyaluronate
- Light, water-based texture
- Use morning and night
- Suits all skin types
Caviar 3R
Best for: a richer second serum step for dry, dull or mature skin.
A light, luscious gelée infused with rose water that melts into the skin for an instant lit-from-within glow. It nourishes and soothes skin that feels stressed, and with regular use skin looks plumper and refreshed, and the look of fine lines appears softer. Use it as a serum, or on its own as a light moisturiser.
- Lightweight gelée texture
- Infused with rose water
- Use as a serum or light moisturiser
- A little goes a long way
Lip Mask 3in1 Intense Hydration
Best for: soft, smooth-feeling lips, overnight or through the day.
A rich moisturising lip balm with hyaluronic acid and mango butter. Wear it overnight as a mask so lips feel silky soft by morning, or use a little during the day for long-lasting moisture and a natural, non-sticky gloss. The light pink tint enhances your natural lip colour, and it helps the look of fine lines on the lips appear softer.
- With hyaluronic acid and mango butter
- Overnight mask or daytime balm
- Light pink tint and natural gloss
- Cruelty-free
Your Step-by-Step Skincare Routine
- Remove makeup and cleanse: massage your cleanser into your face for about a minute, then rinse and gently pat dry, leaving skin slightly damp.
- Hyaluronic acid serum: press four or five drops into damp skin. Damp skin helps it hold onto moisture.
- Richer serum: smooth a small amount of Caviar 3R over your face and neck with gentle upward strokes.
- Moisturiser: seal it all in with your moisturiser. If your skin is normal or oily, Caviar 3R may be enough on its own.
- Morning: sunscreen: wear a separate sunscreen as the last step before makeup.
- Night: lip mask: apply a generous layer of lip mask before bed and let it work while you sleep.
Extra Steps Worth Adding
- Gentle exfoliation: once or twice a week, a mild exfoliant helps skin look smoother and brighter. Don't overdo it.
- A five-minute mask: apply a thicker layer of Caviar 3R as a quick mask when skin feels especially dry, then massage in any excess.
- Neck and décolletage: take every step down your neck and chest, which often show dryness first.
Tips for Getting the Most from Your Routine
- Be consistent. A simple routine done every day beats an elaborate one done occasionally.
- Introduce one new product at a time, and patch test if your skin is sensitive.
- Use gentle pressure. Press and smooth rather than rub or drag.
- Give products a minute to settle between steps, especially before makeup.
Want to go further? Read about the benefits of hyaluronic acid, what Caviar 3R is and how to use it and how to choose a serum for your skin type.
What Customers Say
"Lovely feeling on your face. My skin feels nice and soft. Would definitely recommend it."
Julie S., verified customer (Hyaluronic Acid Serum)
"My skin felt great after using on face and neck"
Denise M., verified customer (Caviar 3R)
"I love how hydrated my lips feel every morning after using this as i hop into bed at night"
Julie M., verified customer (Lip Mask)
Read all Hyaluronic Acid Serum reviews →
Frequently Asked Questions
What order should I apply skincare products in?
From thinnest to thickest: cleanser, water-based serum, richer serum, moisturiser, then sunscreen in the morning. Makeup goes on last.
Should I apply hyaluronic acid to wet or dry skin?
Slightly damp skin is best. Hyaluronic acid draws in moisture, so applying it to damp skin and following with a moisturiser helps skin feel more hydrated.
Do I need a different routine at night?
Your night routine can be the same as your morning one without sunscreen. It's also a good time for a lip mask or a slightly richer layer of moisture.
How long until I see a difference?
Hydrating products can make skin feel softer straight away. For a fresher, more even look, give a new routine a few weeks of consistent use.
Can I buy Thin Lizzy skincare in stores?
Yes. Thin Lizzy is available at Farmers, Life Pharmacy, Chemist Warehouse and Unichem stores across New Zealand. The range can vary by store, so the easiest way to get the full range, bundles and online deals is to shop online. See our FAQ page for stockist details.
Looking for a deal? Many of our best sellers are available in bundle offers from time to time. See our current Bundle Offers →
Final Thoughts
Levelling up your skincare is less about adding lots of products and more about using a few good ones in the right order. Cleanse, hydrate, nourish, moisturise and protect, and don't forget your lips.
