Skincare routine basics

A good routine is short and consistent. This guide covers the order to apply products, how to test something new, what labels like “fragrance-free” mean, and where the line sits between a cosmetic and a drug, using the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) and the FDA as sources.

The order to apply products

The AAD suggests this sequence: wash your face; apply any medication or treatment product; apply moisturizer and sunscreen; then makeup. Serums go in the treatment step, before moisturizer. The AAD also warns that using too many products can irritate skin, so start with a cleanser, a moisturizer and sunscreen, and add one product at a time.

Sunscreen

In the United States, products with an SPF claim are regulated as drugs, and StageLook does not sell them. Buy a sunscreen from a pharmacy and use it as the last skincare step in the morning.

Patch testing

Before using a new product on your face, the AAD suggests applying it to a quarter-sized spot on the underside of the arm or the bend of the elbow twice a day for seven to ten days. If the spot turns red, itchy or swollen, stop.

Fragrance-free vs unscented

“Fragrance-free” means no scent chemicals were added. “Unscented” products can still contain fragrance that masks the smell of other ingredients, as both the AAD and the FDA note. The FDA also allows “fragrance” to appear as a single word on the label because formulas are trade secrets.

Cosmetic or drug?

The FDA defines cosmetics as products for cleansing, beautifying, promoting attractiveness or altering appearance. A product becomes a drug when it claims to treat or prevent disease or to affect how the body works: treating acne or eczema, restoring hair growth, antiperspirant, sunscreen and similar claims. Everything on StageLook is a cosmetic; product pages describe skin types and textures, not treatments. Under the Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act of 2022, brands are responsible for registering with the FDA where required, keeping safety records and reporting serious adverse events.

Reading a product page

• Skin type: “for dry skin” or “acne-prone skin” describes who the product is made for, not a medical effect.
• Ingredients: listed by the brand in full. Look for ingredients you already know you tolerate.
• Directions: how much, how often and which step.

Choosing from our range

Browse serums, face creams, eye care and cleansers and toners from EpiLynx, Love by Jade and Shea Radiance.