Riverstone

You can own great products and still get poor results if you apply them in the wrong order. Layering is not complicated, though. One rule covers most of it: go from thinnest to thickest.

Why order matters

Thin, water-based products cannot pass through a thick, oil-rich layer applied before them. If you put a cream on first, a watery serum applied afterwards mostly sits on top and does little. Applying lightest first lets each layer absorb before the next one seals it in.

The standard order

Step	Product type	Riverstone example
1	Cleanser	Quartz Gel Cleanser
2	Mist / toner	Spring Water Toning Mist
3	Water-based serum	Hyaluronic Pebble Serum
4	Treatment serum	Niacinamide or Retinal
5	Eye cream	Driftwood Eye Cream
6	Moisturizer	Slate Daily Moisturizer
7	Sunscreen (AM only)	Mineral Shield SPF 30

Do you need to wait between steps?

Usually a few seconds is enough — just let each layer settle so it is not still wet. The one exception worth a longer pause is an active treatment like the Smooth Stone Retinal Treatment: waiting a minute or two before your moisturizer can make it more comfortable.

Common mistakes

• Applying sunscreen before moisturizer — SPF always goes last in the morning.
• Layering too many actives at once — introduce one at a time.
• Skipping moisturizer because skin feels oily — hydration and oil are not the same thing.
• Rubbing products in hard — press and pat instead.

For a full routine using this order, read Building a Simple Skincare Routine, or see every product on the Shop page.