How to Build a ( plated ) Skin Science Routine (AM/PM, Step by Step)
A step-by-step ( plated ) Skin Science routine: which serum goes first, morning and evening versions, how it fits with retinol and vitamin C, and where Eye, Body and Hair Serum go.
( plated ) Skin Science is a range of serums, not a full regimen. There is no ( plated ) cleanser, moisturizer or sunscreen, so the real question is where the serums fit into the routine you already have. The answer is simple: first, on dry skin, and left to dry. This guide lays out the morning and evening order and how to combine ( plated ) with actives from other brands.
What is the basic ( plated ) Skin Science routine?
Cleanse, apply one ( plated ) face serum to dry skin, let it dry completely, then moisturize and finish with sunscreen in the morning. The face serum is Intense Serum for a corrective course or Daily Serum for maintenance, used once daily. Add Eye Serum once daily around the eyes, Calm Serum when skin feels stressed, Body Serum after showering and Hair Serum on the scalp.
What is the one rule for layering ( plated )?
( plated ) goes on first. The directions for Intense Serum and Daily Serum are the same: after cleansing, apply to clean, dry skin before other skincare products, and allow the serum to absorb and dry completely before you layer anything else.
That one rule answers most routine questions. Whatever else you use, from a vitamin C serum to a night cream, it goes on after the ( plated ) step has dried. ( plated ) does not make a cleanser, moisturizer or sunscreen, so those three come from the rest of your shelf.
Every ( plated ) product is built on what the brand calls Renewosome Technology: purified exosomes derived from human platelets, listed on the label as Human Platelet Extract. Exosomes are tiny vesicles that cells use to carry signals to one another. The serums contain the vesicles, not cells. For more on the technology, see What Is Exosome Skincare?.
Which face serum goes in the routine?
Pick one. Intense Serum ($258, 15 mL) is the corrective serum for the look of fine lines, redness and brown spots. Daily Serum ($258, 30 mL) is the maintenance serum with antioxidants and added hydration.
The brand suggests a sequence: use Intense for 6 to 12 weeks of corrective care, then switch to Daily for the long term. When an Intense bottle runs out mid-course, the Intense Serum Refill ($244) drops into the same bottle. The full comparison is in Intense Serum vs Daily Serum vs Calm Serum.
What does a ( plated ) morning routine look like?
Step 1, cleanse. Use a gentle cleanser and pat skin fully dry. The serums are meant for dry skin.
Step 2, ( plated ) face serum. Apply Intense Serum or Daily Serum to the face. Keep it away from the eyes.
Step 3, wait. Let the serum absorb and dry completely. This is the step people skip.
Step 4, eye area. Tap a small amount of Eye Serum under the eye and along the orbital bone with your ring finger. Eye Serum is used once daily, morning or evening, so choose one slot and keep to it.
Step 5, other serums. If you use an antioxidant serum such as vitamin C from another brand, it goes here.
Step 6, moisturize. Any moisturizer that suits your skin type.
Step 7, sunscreen. A broad-spectrum sunscreen is the last step every morning.
What does a ( plated ) evening routine look like?
Intense Serum and Daily Serum are once-daily products, and the directions do not specify morning or evening. If you applied your face serum in the morning, the evening routine is simpler. If you prefer to use it at night, move it here and keep the morning to cleanser, moisturizer and sunscreen.
Step 1, cleanse. Remove sunscreen and makeup, then pat skin dry.
Step 2, ( plated ) serum, if this is your slot. Intense Serum or Daily Serum, on dry skin, then let it dry completely. On evenings when skin feels stressed or reactive, this is also a good slot for Calm Serum.
Step 3, eye area. Eye Serum, if you did not use it in the morning.
Step 4, your night active. Retinol or an exfoliating acid from another brand, if you use one, goes on after the ( plated ) step is dry.
Step 5, moisturize. Finish with your moisturizer or night cream.
How does the routine look at a glance?
| Product | Where | How often | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intense Serum or Daily Serum | Face | Once daily | First step after cleansing, AM or PM |
| Eye Serum | Under-eye and orbital bone | Once daily | AM or PM |
| Calm Serum | Treated or stressed areas | Up to 2 to 3 times daily | As needed |
| Body Serum | Chest, arms, hands, abdomen, legs | Once daily | After bathing |
| Hair Serum | Scalp | Once daily | At least 1 hour before washing or heat styling |
How does ( plated ) fit with retinol, vitamin C and acids from other brands?
The brand directions cover order, not specific pairings: ( plated ) first on clean, dry skin, fully dry, then everything else. Within that, general skincare practice applies.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is an antioxidant most people use in the morning. Apply your ( plated ) serum, let it dry, then apply vitamin C, moisturizer and sunscreen.
Retinol and other retinoids
Retinol is a vitamin A derivative most people use at night, and it can leave skin feeling dry when you first start. Apply it after the ( plated ) step has dried, or keep ( plated ) in the morning and retinol in the evening so each has its own slot.
Exfoliating acids
Glycolic, lactic and salicylic acid products exfoliate the surface. Use them a few times a week, at night, and not on the same night you start another new active.
Starting rules
Introduce one new product at a time and give it about two weeks before adding the next, so you can tell what each one is doing. If skin feels sensitized, pause the acids and retinol first and keep the routine simple. If a professional has given you a plan, their instructions come first.
How do you use ( plated ) around professional treatments?
Calm Serum is the product built for this. The brand positions it to support skin before and after cosmetic procedures, with beta-glucan and oat kernel extract, a cooling feel and a non-occlusive finish. Directions are a thin layer on the treated area, up to 2 to 3 times daily, allowed to dry before other products.
( plated ) also lists Intense Serum, Daily Serum, Eye Serum and Body Serum as suitable for post-procedure skin. What you use in the first days after a treatment, and when you restart retinol or acids, is a decision for the provider who treated you. Follow their aftercare first.
Where do Body Serum and Hair Serum fit?
Body Serum
Body Serum ($338, 75 mL) is for skin below the neck. Apply once daily to clean, dry skin after bathing or showering, massage into areas such as the chest, arms, hands, abdomen, knees and legs, and wait about 5 minutes before any other body product, such as lotion or sunscreen.
Hair Serum
Hair Serum ($379, 30 mL) is for the scalp. Apply 1 full dropper directly to the areas of concern once daily, massage with your fingertips, and avoid washing or heat styling for at least 1 hour. Evening, or any time well before a wash, works for most people. It is designed to improve the look of hair density and fullness with consistent daily use.
How long before you judge the routine?
Consistency matters more than the number of products. ( plated ) says visible improvement can appear in as little as six weeks with Intense Serum and as little as 4 weeks with Eye Serum, with daily use. Individual results vary, so give a routine at least that long before you change it. All seven products are ranked in The Best ( plated ) Skin Science Products, and Exosomes vs Growth Factors explains how this category differs from growth factor serums.
Where should you buy ( plated ) Skin Science?
( plated ) Skin Science is a professional skincare line, sold through skincare professionals and authorized retailers. Stock from an unauthorized seller has an unknown history and no retailer standing behind it, which matters when a single 15 mL serum costs $258.
SkinCrew is an Authorized ( plated ) Skin Science US Retailer. Every product is sourced direct through official ( plated ) Skin Science channels, arrives batch-fresh with fast US shipping, and is backed by our 45-Day Satisfaction Guarantee. Free US shipping applies to orders of $99 or more, which covers every product in the range. Shop all seven on the ( plated ) Skin Science brand page, or browse more guides on The Skin Edit.
See Where to Buy ( plated ) Skin Science Online for the seller checklist.
Want a routine built for you?
Tell our clinical team your skin type, your main concern and the actives you already use, and they will map where ( plated ) fits.
Ask the SkinCrew Clinical TeamWhat else do people ask about a ( plated ) routine?
What order do I apply ( plated ) serums?
First, straight after cleansing, on clean and dry skin. Let the serum absorb and dry completely, then apply any other serums, moisturizer and, in the morning, sunscreen.
Do I use ( plated ) Intense Serum in the morning or at night?
Either. The directions say once daily, after cleansing, before other skincare products. Pick the slot you will keep to every day.
Can I use ( plated ) with retinol?
Yes, as separate steps. Apply the ( plated ) serum first and let it dry completely, then apply retinol, or use ( plated ) in the morning and retinol at night. Introduce one new product at a time.
Can I use ( plated ) with vitamin C?
Yes. In the morning, apply the ( plated ) serum to dry skin, let it dry, then apply your vitamin C serum, moisturizer and sunscreen.
Do I need a moisturizer with ( plated )?
Yes, if your skin needs one. ( plated ) makes serums only, and the directions say to let the serum dry before layering moisturizers. Daily Serum adds hydration, but it is not a replacement for moisturizer or sunscreen.
Can I use ( plated ) Intense Serum and Daily Serum in the same routine?
The brand describes them as a sequence. Use Intense for 6 to 12 weeks, then transition to Daily for long-term maintenance.
How often can I use ( plated ) Calm Serum?
Up to 2 to 3 times daily, as a thin layer on clean, dry skin. Let it dry before applying other products.
How do I apply ( plated ) Eye Serum?
Once daily, morning or evening. After cleansing, tap a small amount under the eye and along the orbital bone with your ring finger, and let it absorb before other eye or face products. Avoid direct contact with the eyes.
How do I use ( plated ) Hair Serum?
Apply 1 full dropper to the areas of concern on the scalp once daily, massage with your fingertips, and avoid washing or heat styling for at least 1 hour.
How many ( plated ) products do I need?
One face serum is enough to start: Intense Serum or Daily Serum. Eye, Calm, Body and Hair Serum are additions for specific areas and situations.