What should a daily skincare routine include?

What should I do in the morning?

1. 1Wash with a gentle cleanser. Use lukewarm water, massage gently with your fingers, and pat dry rather than rubbing with a towel.
2. 2Apply any skin medication or treatment after cleansing. This is the general order for treatments, not a reason to add one if you have no particular concern to treat.
3. 3Apply moisturizer while your skin is still damp. Moisturizer traps water in the skin; oily skin needs moisturizing too.
4. 4Apply broad spectrum SPF 30 or higher to skin not covered by clothing. Allow 15 minutes before sun exposure.
5. 5Apply makeup after your skincare.

How do I make sunscreen protection last?

Wear sunscreen daily, including in winter. SPF 30 or higher is the everyday starting point; SPF 50 or higher is a useful choice for planned time in the sun, such as a beach visit or outdoor sport. Broad spectrum means protection against both UVA and UVB radiation. SPF mainly describes protection against sunburn, not how many hours you can stay outside.45

Use enough sunscreen to cover exposed skin evenly. Remember your ears, hairline, neck, hands, and lips, using SPF lip balm for the latter. For coverage of the entire body, an average sized adult or child needs at least one ounce; that is not a face only amount. Reapply at least every two hours during sun exposure and more often when swimming or sweating.4

Water resistant sunscreen is not waterproof. Its label states whether water resistance lasts 40 or 80 minutes while swimming or sweating, so follow its reapplication directions. Combine sunscreen with shade and covering clothing, and limit sun exposure especially between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Never spray sunscreen directly onto your face. Discard expired sunscreen; if there is no expiry date, discard it three years after purchase, or sooner if you cannot establish its age.4

What should I do at night?

1. 1Remove makeup if you are wearing it. Micellar water or a cleansing balm can do this before your face wash. If you use makeup wipes, choose fragrance free ones.
2. 2Wash with a gentle cleanser suited to your skin type. Limit routine face washing to twice daily, with an additional wash after sweating.
3. 3Apply any medication or treatment after cleansing, then apply moisturizer.

The application order matters because it affects how well products work: cleanse, treat, then moisturize or apply sunscreen. If you use a cream around your eyes, apply it gently with your ring finger, which puts less pulling force on that delicate area. Using several treatments, especially multiple products for signs of aging, can irritate skin rather than improve the routine.3

How do I choose products for my skin?

Choose products intended for your skin type, and look for labels saying "noncomedogenic" or "won't clog pores." Match your moisturizer to how much hydration your skin needs. Products do not need to be expensive to work, so the price tag is not an extra active ingredient. Buying fewer products also reduces cost and the chance of irritation from an overloaded routine.15

A moisturizer with sunscreen can combine two basic steps if it offers broad spectrum SPF 30 or higher and you reapply it as directed. A separate facial sunscreen is another option, and is preferable to relying on the SPF in makeup alone. Whichever format you choose, sun protection still needs proper coverage and reapplication.12

Do I need serum, toner, or exfoliation?

An antioxidant serum or cream is optional in the morning. Vitamin C can help protect against damaging environmental molecules called free radicals and support collagen production. Toner is also optional, even if the bottle sounds disappointed about its supporting role. It can remove leftover dirt or makeup after cleansing, but alcohol based toners can strip natural oils and cause dryness or irritation.2

Start with a gentle cleanser without microbeads, which can cause irritation and inflammation. If you want an exfoliating product, glycolic acid is an option. Exfoliation is an addition to the basic routine, not a replacement for cleansing, moisturizer, or sunscreen. Choose it for a specific goal rather than adding it simply because another step exists.5

How should I introduce new products?

Introduce products one at a time. For sensitive skin, try a pea sized dot behind your ear along the jawline, then wait one or two days to check for a reaction before applying it across your face. Natural ingredients can cause allergies too. Speak with a dermatologist about unusual skin symptoms, ongoing skin issues, or uncertainty about which products suit your skin.25