What should I do before bed?
- 1Remove makeup if you are wearing it. A makeup remover can lift makeup that your cleanser leaves behind. Options include micellar water and cleansing balms. If you use makeup wipes, choose fragrance free ones.
- 2Wash your face gently. Wet your face and neck with lukewarm water, massage in a gentle cleanser with your hands, and rinse thoroughly. Pat dry rather than rubbing with a towel. Avoid scrubbing and gritty facial scrubs.
- 3Apply a treatment only if you need one. Medication or a treatment for a particular concern goes after cleansing. Follow the directions for that treatment rather than adding several products aimed at the same problem.
- 4Finish with moisturizer. Apply a moisturizing lotion or cream to your face and neck. On nights without a treatment, apply it while your skin is still damp. Massage it in until absorbed.
Start with a cleanser and moisturizer rather than buying a complete collection. Drugstore products can cover the basics, so the routine does not need a luxury admission fee. Add another product to address a specific need, such as acne or fine lines, not simply to fill a vacant step.4
How often should I wash my face?
Wash before bed each day. Washing morning and evening is a common starting point, but once daily in the evening can be enough for dry skin. Cleanse after exercise as well. More washing is not automatically more effective: excessive washing removes surface oils and can leave skin dry and irritated. If cleansing regularly leaves your face feeling tight or flaky, reconsider the cleanser and frequency rather than scrubbing harder.15
What should I choose for my skin type?
| Skin type | Useful starting point | What to watch |
|---|---|---|
| Dry | Use a mild cleanser and a moisturizing lotion or cream. | Avoid alcohol containing toners and abrasive scrubs. |
| Oily | Choose a cleanser suited to oily skin. | Repeated washing can still remove too much surface oil. |
| Combination | Recognize that the forehead, nose and chin can be oily while the cheeks are dry. | Do not assume every part of your face needs stronger cleansing. |
| Sensitive | Choose gentle products and avoid heavily fragranced formulas. | Stinging during or just after cleansing can be a sign of sensitivity. |
| Acne prone | A cleanser containing salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide is an option. | Combining a medicated cleanser with leave on acne treatments can cause excessive dryness and irritation. |
Do I need toner, double cleansing or eye cream?
Toner is not essential, and some alcohol containing formulas strip oils and cause dryness. For a basic routine, leave it out. A separate eye cream is not required either; moisturizer is the simpler starting point. An optional product remains optional, even when the bathroom shelf has reserved a place for it.26
Double cleansing means using an oil based cleanser followed by a water based cleanser. It is an option for oily skin, not a requirement for everyone. Start with one gentle wash; if makeup remains, use a makeup remover before cleansing rather than repeatedly washing your face.26
Should I add retinol at night?
Retinol is an optional treatment, not part of the minimum routine. Retinoids are compounds derived from vitamin A; regular use can improve wrinkles, sun spots and skin texture. Retinol is available in creams and lotions without a prescription, while a doctor can prescribe a stronger retinoid. For an adult adding retinol, a cautious starting schedule is a pea sized amount over the face every three days before bed. Apply it after cleansing and before moisturizer. Increase toward nightly use only as your skin tolerates it, and watch for redness, significant peeling or irritation.1
For tweens and teens, focus on cleansing, moisturizing and daily sun protection rather than adding products for wrinkles or sun damage. Retinol, vitamin C and exfoliating acids aimed at those concerns can irritate young skin without providing a benefit. A dermatologist can advise whether a retinoid or salicylic acid is appropriate for a young person with acne.7
What should I expect from the routine?
Cleansing removes dirt, excess oil, makeup and sunscreen. Moisturizing helps keep water from escaping through the skin and relieves dryness. Those are different jobs from treating acne, dark spots or wrinkles, which require products chosen for that concern. Use the basics consistently rather than adding several treatments at once. More products can increase irritation, especially when several target signs of aging.356
How do I introduce products safely?
Introduce one new product at a time. For sensitive skin, try a small amount behind your ear or along your jawline and wait a day or two before applying it across your face. Stop using a product if it causes skin irritation, and make an appointment with a dermatologist. Seek medical advice for unusual skin symptoms rather than trying to solve them by expanding the routine.26
For teens using acne products, see a dermatologist if breakouts leave dark marks or scars, or have not improved after a few months of treatment without a prescription. Benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid can cause dryness and irritation, so keep a gentle moisturizer in the routine.7
Where this answer comes from
- 1Winning the skin gamehealth.harvard.edu
- 2Facebookhealth.clevelandclinic.org
- 3Should I apply my skin care products in a certain order?aad.org
- 4Daily skin care in 3 simple stepshealth.harvard.edu
- 5Soaps and cleansersdermnetnz.org
- 6The Correct Order for Skin Care Productshealth.clevelandclinic.org
- 7A dermatologist’s guide to skincare from growing up to glowing upaad.org
