Skincare Order: Steps to Follow and Common Mistakes

Following the correct order in your skincare routine is not a mere cosmetic whim; it is a biological necessity. Skin is an intelligent organ designed to protect us from the environment, which means it doesn't easily allow any molecule to pass through.

If we apply products without a logical strategy, we can hinder the absorption of certain active ingredients and prevent them from acting effectively on the skin.

In this official MEL13 guide, we explain how to build a proper skincare routine based on skin physiology and our technology developed as a spin-off from the University of Granada, so that every melatonin molecule counts in your daily ritual.

How to create a correct skincare routine with MEL13? The density rule

To understand how MEL13 professional skincare works, forget generic product names and focus on their textures. The effectiveness of a facial routine largely depends on skin permeability. That's why there's a universal rule in cosmetics: apply products from lowest to highest density.

Water-based and light products, like MEL13 Serum, contain small molecules such as melatonin and CoQ10, capable of penetrating deeper layers of the skin and acting in different cellular compartments, including mitochondria.

If you apply a rich, oil-based moisturizer first, you can create a kind of "shield" that hinders the absorption of subsequent treatments, thus reducing their regenerative effectiveness.

Why do we follow this rule at MEL13?
Our packs — such as the routine for mature skin or anti-aging treatments — are designed to act synergistically. The recommended order is: eye contour → serum → MEL13 or MEL13 Plus cream, which maximizes the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect of the formula.

What is the actual order of the MEL13 skincare routine?

The correct structure of a facial routine aims to maximize the absorption of active ingredients and strengthen the skin's barrier function. This is the recommended order in MEL13 routines:

1. Cleansing (routine base)
Removes impurities, excess sebum, and residue to leave pores clean and receptive to subsequent treatments.

2. MEL13 Serum (active treatment)
Light, water-based textures allow for better penetration of active ingredients like melatonin and CoQ10, which help support antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cell regeneration processes.

3. MEL13 Eye Contour
The skin around the eyes is thinner and more delicate, requiring specific treatment. MEL13 Eyes, with melatonin and CoQ10, reduces puffiness, dark circles, and fine lines.

4. MEL13 Moisturizing Cream or MEL13 Plus Nourishing Cream
Acts as a sealing layer that strengthens the skin barrier, deeply moisturizes, and improves skin elasticity and firmness.

5. Sun protection (morning only)
The last part of the daytime routine protects the skin from UV radiation and helps prevent photoaging.

This order allows water-soluble active ingredients to act on the skin first, while more nourishing formulas help seal in hydration and protect the epidermis, as outlined in our MEL13 facial routines.

Why should MEL13 skincare be done every day? (The importance of consistency)

A common question is whether the skin needs a break from cosmetics. The answer from the scientific perspective we apply at MEL13 is clear: consistency is key in any skincare routine.

The skin follows an approximate 28-day renewal cycle, but it is exposed 24 hours a day to factors that generate oxidative stress, such as UV radiation, pollution, free radicals, or blue light from screens.

Therefore, daily care fulfills two fundamental functions:

• Constant protection, because external aggressors do not stop.

• Cellular repair, as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory active ingredients help the skin maintain its natural processes of cellular repair and regeneration.

In MEL13 formulas, we use melatonin and coenzyme Q10, molecules with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity that help support cellular metabolism and the skin's natural defense mechanisms.

Interrupting the routine for long periods can reduce these benefits. Therefore, skincare should be understood as a skin health habit, not a one-time action.

This approach is based on more than 30 years of scientific research led by researchers Germaine Escames and Darío Acuña, who have studied the role of melatonin in cells. MEL13 translates that knowledge into an accessible and effective cosmetic routine.

Order of the MEL13 morning routine: protection and cellular energy

The morning routine has a clear objective: to prepare the skin to defend itself from daily aggressors. During daylight hours, the skin enters protection mode against factors such as UV radiation, blue light, and environmental pollution.

The order of application helps optimize the effectiveness of each product.

1. Facial cleansing

Yes, in the morning too.

During the night, the skin accumulates sebum, sweat, and metabolic waste, as well as residues from products applied the previous night. Gentle cleansing removes this film and leaves the skin ready to better absorb subsequent treatments.

2. MEL13 Serum

After cleansing, the skin is in the ideal state to receive concentrated active ingredients.

MEL13 Serum, with melatonin and CoQ10, provides an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory action that helps the skin prepare against daily oxidative stress. Its light, oil-free texture makes it suitable for all skin types.

3. MEL13 Eye Contour

The skin around the eyes is up to five times thinner than the rest of the face and has fewer sebaceous glands.

Applying it before face cream allows it to act without interference and helps improve puffiness, dark circles, and fine lines.

4. Hydration: MEL13 cream or MEL13 Plus

The cream plays a key role: sealing previously applied active ingredients and reinforcing the skin barrier.

• MEL13: lighter texture, ideal for normal, combination or oily skin and young skin.

• MEL13 Plus: more nourishing formula for dry or mature skin.

Both help keep the stratum corneum hydrated and flexible.

5. Photoprotection

It is the last step, and one of the most important, of the daytime routine.

Solar radiation is one of the main factors of photoaging and cellular damage to the skin, so applying sunscreen daily is essential. It should always be applied at the end of the routine, as applying other products on top could reduce its effectiveness.

Order of the MEL13 night routine: recovery and regeneration

By day the skin protects itself; at night it regenerates.
During nighttime rest, natural processes of cell repair and toxin elimination are activated. Therefore, following a proper order of creams before sleeping helps optimize the absorption of active ingredients and promotes the cellular nutrition proposed by the MEL13 routine.

Double night cleansing: the professional secret

Double cleansing is a key step in the night routine.

First step: oil cleanser
Dissolves stubborn sunscreen (SPF), makeup, and pollution particles adhering to the skin.

Second step: water-based cleanser
Removes sweat, sebum, and dirt residue for a deeper cleanse. Without complete cleansing, invisible impurities can hinder the absorption of subsequent treatments.

Intensive regeneration treatments

MEL13 Regenerating Serum
Applied after cleansing to take advantage of maximum skin absorption. Its formula with melatonin and CoQ10 provides an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory action that helps support the natural processes of cell repair and regeneration during the night.

MEL13 Plus Intensive Treatment
The last step of the night routine. Its richer lipid texture helps hydrate, reinforce the skin barrier, and improve skin elasticity and firmness after daily stress.

During the night, the skin is usually more receptive to treatments, making it the ideal time to apply repairing and regenerating formulas like those in MEL13 routine packs, designed to act synergistically and visibly improve the appearance of the skin.

5 mistakes in your MEL13 skincare routine that can ruin its results

Following the correct skincare order is essential, but poor execution can reduce the effectiveness of active ingredients and prevent even the most advanced formulas from performing at their best. Here are some of the most common mistakes that can affect your MEL13 routine.

1. Applying products to completely dry skin

Slightly damp skin is more receptive to certain hydrating active ingredients. Ingredients, such as hyaluronic acid, work by retaining water in the skin, so applying them right after cleansing can improve their effectiveness.

A good tip is to gently pat your face dry with a towel, without rubbing, leaving the skin slightly damp before applying serum.

2. Not respecting absorption time

Applying products too quickly one after another can cause "pilling" (when the product accumulates or forms small balls).

To avoid this:

• Allow 30-60 seconds after applying serum.

• Wait 1-2 minutes after cream before applying makeup or sunscreen.

The skin usually indicates when it's ready for the next step: when the product no longer feels slippery.

3. Mixing incompatible active ingredients

Some ingredients can interfere with each other or increase the risk of irritation if combined in the same routine.

For example:

• Vitamin C and retinol can alter pH if used together.

• AHA/BHA with vitamin C can be too exfoliating for some skin types.

A common strategy is to use vitamin C in the morning and retinol at night.

MEL13 formulas focus on topical melatonin and CoQ10, antioxidants and anti-inflammatories that can be easily integrated into different routines such as vitamin C or retinol. 

4. Forgetting your neck and décolletage

Many people apply products only up to their jawline, but the skin on the neck and décolletage is thinner and can show signs of aging earlier.

Extending serum, moisturizer, and sunscreen to these areas helps maintain a more uniform appearance.

5. Not adapting the routine to the skin's condition

Consistency is important, but the routine should also adapt to the skin's condition.

If the skin is irritated, sensitized, or after intense sun exposure, it is advisable to simplify the routine:

• gentle cleansing

• restorative hydration

• sun protection during the day

Can I skip steps in the routine if I have oily skin?

Common mistake for oily or acne-prone skin: avoiding hydration

One of the most frequent mistakes for oily or acne-prone skin is to eliminate hydration from the routine. However, oily skin can also be dehydrated, meaning it lacks water, not oil.

When hydration is omitted, the skin may produce even more sebum as a compensatory mechanism, worsening shine and greasy feel. Therefore, the key is not to eliminate products, but to adapt textures to your skin type.

A good strategy is to opt for:

• Lightweight MEL13 Serum, which penetrates quickly without leaving heavy residue.

• Fluid textures, such as emulsions or hydrating gels, ideal for the daytime routine.

• Matte-finish sunscreen, which protects the skin without adding excess shine.

In many cases, a simple and consistent routine is enough: cleansing → treatment → sun protection, regardless of skin type.