How to Layer the AURA All Round Serum: A Complete Routine Guide for Southeast Asian Skin

The Core Routine

Morning (skin slightly damp after cleansing):

1. Toner or essence, if used
2. All Round Serum — 1–2 pumps across face, eye area, neck
3. Wait 60–90 seconds
4. Lightweight moisturiser (gel or emulsion in wet season)
5. SPF — every day, including overcast days

Evening (after thorough cleansing):

1. Toner, if applicable
2. All Round Serum — same dose
3. Wait 60–90 seconds
4. Night moisturiser or facial oil as needed

The Slightly Damp Skin Principle

Apply serum when skin is slightly damp after washing — not wet, not fully dried. Several peptides in the formula function as humectants, drawing moisture into skin. On slightly damp skin, this process is more efficient. In heavily air-conditioned rooms where skin dries quickly, apply immediately after patting (not rubbing) dry.

Combining with Other Actives

Vitamin C: Apply before the All Round Serum in the morning. Vitamin C is most effective at lower pH (~3.5). Wait 30–60 seconds between steps.

Niacinamide: Fully compatible. No specific ordering requirement. Niacinamide reinforces the barrier from a ceramide precursor standpoint while the peptides work structurally.

Retinol: An excellent pairing — retinol accelerates cell turnover while peptides support the structural rebuild that faster turnover requires. Apply serum first, wait 60 seconds, then apply retinol. For sensitive skin or those new to retinol, alternate nights initially and increase frequency as skin adjusts.

AHA/BHA Exfoliants: Use on separate evenings from retinol. The All Round Serum can be used on any evening including exfoliation nights. Allow 5–10 minutes after an acid before applying the serum.

Why Twice Daily

The formula is designed for twice-daily use because peptide signalling requires sustained stimulus to produce cumulative structural change. Once-daily provides signal; twice-daily provides the intensity that matches the clinical protocols behind the evidence.

Morning application prepares the barrier for UV, air conditioning, and pollution. Evening application works with the skin's circadian repair cycle — the period from midnight to 6 AM when cell turnover accelerates and collagen synthesis is most active.

The Wet Season Adjustment

In Southeast Asia's wet season, the main adjustment is your moisturiser, not your serum. Switch to a gel or emulsion if you're using a cream formulated for drier conditions. The serum requires no seasonal change — barrier peptides become more relevant in wet season, not less, because daily oscillation between outdoor humidity and air conditioning is at its most pronounced.

Not sure what else your skin needs in your specific city and season? The AURA skin analysis maps your current climate to your skin's behaviour. Take the free analysis →