What's the Right Order to Apply Centella Products in Your Skincare Routine?

Centella is well known as an ingredient that helps with soothing care, and it's released in various formulas such as toner, essence, ampoule, and cream. This leads to a common question: 'I use several centella products, but I'm confused about the order.'

To cut to the conclusion, rather than basing the order on a single ingredient, the basic skincare principle is to layer products based on texture — from thin to thick.

Why is 'lighter texture first' the basic principle?

If you layer multiple formulas without order, absorption becomes uneven — especially if you apply a heavy cream first, the lighter toner or essence layered on top has difficulty reaching deeper into the skin.

That's why, after cleansing, the general principle is to apply toner → essence/serum → cream, moving from low-viscosity, more hydrating formulas to higher-viscosity, more oily formulas. This is also why centella toner goes first and centella cream goes last.

However, this order is a general rule based on 'normal skin condition.' If your skin is irritated and sensitive, there's something more important to focus on than the order.

When skin is sensitive, what matters more than the order is 'how gently it's covered'

Right after a lifting or laser procedure, or during periods when the skin has become sensitive due to exfoliation or excessive cleansing, layering multiple steps on top of each other can itself cause friction and burden on the skin.

During such times, it may actually help to simplify the routine—lightly filling in moisture with a toner, then thinly applying a single cream containing ingredients that help soothe irritation and provide moisture care.

Right after a procedure, redness and heat often remain, so it's recommended to pat the product in for absorption rather than rubbing. Once the redness subsides over time, the focus of care shifts toward addressing tightness and dryness.

Stage-by-stage progress: How does skin change in the days right after a procedure

Depending on the type of procedure, generally the first 1 to 3 days after treatment are when redness, heat, and sensitivity are most pronounced. During this period, it's best to minimize irritation and focus on soothing care.

From day 4 onward, as acute irritation subsides, tightness, fine flaking, or roughness are often felt within the skin. From this point, it's natural to shift the direction of care toward replenishing deep moisture.

As such, the skin after a procedure can be divided into 'a period that first needs soothing' and 'a period that needs deep moisture,' so changing the step to match the timing—rather than continuing to use the same cream—can affect the results.

A summary of the stage-by-stage home care routine

Step 1 (right after cleansing): Lightly tidy up the skin with a gentle, non-irritating toner. Absorb it in with your hands rather than rubbing.

Step 2 (focus on soothing): If there is redness or heat, apply a cream containing irritation-relieving ingredients in a thin layer to form a protective barrier.

Step 3 (focus on deep moisture): Once the redness subsides and tightness begins to be felt, switch to a highly moisturizing cream to fill moisture even into the stratum corneum.

For products containing Centella ingredients, within this flow, the toner can be placed at step 1 and the cream at steps 2 to 3.

2-STEP care that switches creams according to timing

ZXQMAGAZINETERM Aviju Cream ZXQ is composed of two steps in consideration of these stage-by-stage changes. The approach is to use the Ultra Cera-Rich Cream, focused on redness and barrier care, during the first 1 to 3 days right after a procedure, and then switch to the Hydro Re-Boosting Cream from day 4 onward, when tightness and dryness are felt.

The Ultra Cera-Rich Cream has been confirmed to help soothe redness and support barrier care when used after physical irritation, and the Hydro Re-Boosting Cream has been confirmed to help with redness, barrier, moisture, and skin texture care when used for 2 weeks after chemical irritation (P&K Skin Research Center human application test, individual results may vary). Both products are based on a combination of 5 types of ceramides, allowing for a natural transition between them at the cream stage in the routine.

Recovery after a procedure is determined by home care

Right after a procedure, it may help to focus on soothing, and after a few days, switch to a cream focused on deep hydration to support the recovery process. AVIU Cream is composed with this flow in mind, consisting of Ultra Cera-Rich Cream (STEP1) and Hydro Re-Boosting Cream (STEP2), making it convenient to use step-by-step alongside soothing products like Centella.