Does a simple skincare routine need a serum every day?

What should you use every day instead?

Start with products that suit your skin type, rather than adding steps because they appear in someone else's routine. Dry skin can need a more hydrating moisturizer, while sensitive skin needs particular care with new products.23

1. 1Cleanse gently in the morning and evening. Use your hands to wash, then gently pat your face dry.
2. 2Apply a treatment after cleansing if you use one. Otherwise, move straight to moisturizer.
3. 3Apply moisturizer morning and evening to help keep water from evaporating from your skin.
4. 4Finish your morning skincare with sunscreen. Use SPF 30 or higher every day, including winter, and SPF 50 or higher when you expect to spend time in the sun. Apply makeup afterward if you wear it.

Sunscreen belongs on exposed areas such as your face, neck and hands. The SPF in makeup or moisturizer often is not enough for sun protection, so do not assume those products have covered the sunscreen step.25

When is a serum worth adding?

Choose an ingredient for the concern you want to address. Vitamin C and niacinamide can help reduce redness and discoloration. Retinol can help with collagen production and fine lines. For hydration, moisturizer already has a useful job in your routine; adding another bottle is not the starting requirement.5

A serum is supposed to contain a higher concentration of active ingredients than a cream, but the word alone does not tell you how effective the product will be. Skincare marketing can make extravagant claims, and 'serum' is not a qualification awarded to a bottle. A higher price does not mean a product is more effective, either; affordable products can be part of a consistent routine.56

If you use a serum, must it be daily?

The ingredient matters more than the serum format. Vitamin C fits into a morning routine after cleansing and before moisturizer and sunscreen. Use one serum at a time rather than layering several. Vitamin C supports sun protection but does not replace sunscreen. Avoid combining it with chemical exfoliants such as alpha hydroxy acids, which can disrupt skin's pH balance.1

Retinol belongs in an evening routine. Topical retinoids, a family of vitamin A treatments, can cause irritation, redness and peeling. Start with a minimal amount on alternate nights rather than assuming daily use is necessary from day one. Prescription tretinoin, isotretinoin and adapalene should not be prescribed during pregnancy.16

How do you keep an optional step from becoming a problem?

Introduce new products slowly so you can tell which ones are useful and which ones cause trouble. Adding several at once makes that harder, turning a routine into a committee with no minutes. Patch test a new product on your inner arm before applying it to your face, especially if your skin is sensitive. Be particularly careful about product choices if you have acne, rosacea or eczema.3

Using too many products can irritate skin, particularly when several target signs of aging. If a new product causes skin irritation or contact dermatitis, an inflamed skin reaction, stop using it and make an appointment with a dermatologist. A product that leaves your face feeling tight or dry is not a good fit.134