How to build a simple skincare routine

What to use in the morning

1. 1Wash with a gentle cleanser and lukewarm water. Massage with your hands, then pat your skin dry rather than rubbing it.
2. 2Apply moisturizer while your skin is damp. Oily skin needs moisturizer too.
3. 3Finish with sunscreen that has SPF 30 or higher.

Choose broad spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher and apply it every day, including in winter. Cover skin not protected by clothing, and reapply every two hours or after swimming or sweating. For a long day outdoors, one dermatologist recommends SPF 50 or higher. A moisturizer with sunscreen can be convenient if it is broad spectrum and SPF 30 or higher, but makeup and some moisturizers with SPF may not provide enough protection on their own, so a separate facial sunscreen is a better default.234

What to do at night

1. 1If you wear makeup, remove it before washing; most cleansers do not remove all makeup.
2. 2Wash once with a gentle cleanser.
3. 3If you use a skin medication or other treatment, apply it after cleansing. Then apply moisturizer.

Limit face washing to twice a day and after sweating. Advice differs on double cleansing for oily skin, so a second cleanse is not a required part of a simple routine.123

Choose products for your skin type

• Dry skin is flaky, itchy or rough.
• Oily skin is shiny and greasy.
• Sensitive skin may sting or burn after product use.
• Combination skin is dry in some areas and oily in others.
• Normal skin is clear and not sensitive.

Choose a gentle cleanser and a moisturizer that suits your skin type. If you want to avoid products labeled to clog pores, look for one marked noncomedogenic or won't clog pores. If you are unsure about your skin type or what products to choose, ask a dermatologist before starting a routine.3

You do not need expensive products to build the routine. Keeping the list short can also help control costs, and product price alone does not tell you whether a serum's ingredients or formula suit your needs.3

What can stay optional

Some alcohol based toners can strip natural oils and cause dryness or irritation.2

Exfoliation is not required for the basic routine. If you choose to exfoliate, use a glycolic acid product a couple of times a week instead of cleanser at that step, rather than adding both. Avoid specialized brushes, salt scrubs, sugar scrubs and charcoal based products, which can irritate skin.14

Add one new product at a time. If you have sensitive skin, test a small amount behind your ear and along your jawline, then wait a day or two and check for a reaction before applying it to your whole face. Gentle products with fewer ingredients and little or no fragrance are a sensible place to start.12

Stop using a product and make an appointment with a dermatologist if you develop irritation or signs of contact dermatitis. For a specific skin issue, a clinician can recommend a routine or prescription treatment suited to it.12

Do I need a serum?

No. A serum is an optional extra; cleanser, moisturizer and sunscreen already make a complete basic routine. A serum is a concentrated product, not a moisturizer, and it usually goes on after cleansing and before moisturizer.26

If you want to add one, choose it for a specific goal and its ingredients. An antioxidant serum can be used in the morning; vitamin C products can help protect skin from damaging molecules in the environment and support collagen production. Vitamin C serum does not replace sunscreen.12

Serum performance depends on its active ingredients, formula and stability, not just its price. Add one serum at a time, and be careful about combining acid based serums with other acids or retinol products, since those combinations can irritate skin.6