Cleansing removes dirt, oil and debris. Moisturizer traps water in the skin. Sun protection helps prevent wrinkles, age spots and skin cancer. Effective skincare can be inexpensive, which is awkward for products whose main selling point is the receipt. Adding several products can increase both spending and irritation, so build around these basics before buying extras.1

What is your skin type?

  • Dry skin feels flaky, itchy or rough.
  • Oily skin looks shiny and feels greasy.
  • Combination skin is dry in some areas and oily in others.
  • Sensitive skin can sting or burn after product use.
  • Normal skin is clear and not sensitive.
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Look for products intended for your skin type. Labels such as "noncomedogenic" or "won't clog pores" are useful things to look for. Moisturize even if your skin is oily, and remember your body and lips as well as your face. If you cannot identify your skin type, a dermatologist can help you choose a starting routine.1

What should you do in the morning?

  1. 1Wash with a gentle cleanser. Choose one that is not abrasive and does not contain alcohol.
  2. 2Apply moisturizer while your skin is still damp to help trap water.
  3. 3Apply broad spectrum SPF 30 or higher sunscreen to skin not covered by clothing.
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A moisturizer with sunscreen can combine two steps if it offers broad spectrum protection and SPF 30 or higher. It still needs reapplication every two hours and after swimming or sweating. Do not treat an SPF label on makeup as a substitute for properly applying sunscreen.14

How do you wash without irritating your skin?

  1. 1Wet your face with lukewarm water.
  2. 2Use your fingertips to apply the cleanser gently. Skip washcloths, mesh sponges and scrubbing.
  3. 3Rinse with lukewarm water.
  4. 4Pat gently with a soft towel rather than rubbing, leaving skin damp for moisturizer.
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Limit face washing to twice a day and after sweating heavily. Wash once in the morning and once at night, and as soon as possible after a sweaty workout or other activity. Sweat can irritate skin, particularly under a hat or helmet. Apply creams gently around your eyes without pulling on the skin.3

What changes at night?

  1. 1Remove makeup if you wear it. Micellar water or a cleansing balm can help remove makeup that an ordinary cleanser leaves behind.
  2. 2Wash with a gentle cleanser suited to your skin type.
  3. 3Apply moisturizer. There is no need for sunscreen at night.
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Removing makeup first does not mean everyone needs two cleansers. For a beginner, one gentle wash is a sensible starting point. An additional cleansing step is an option for oily skin, not a requirement for every face.24

How do you use sunscreen properly?

SPF measures protection against UVB radiation. Broad spectrum sunscreen protects against both UVA and UVB. For UK sunscreen labels, look for SPF 30 or higher and at least four star UVA protection; a UVA symbol inside a circle indicates the EU standard. Check the expiry information, including how long the sunscreen lasts after opening.5

Cover exposed areas, including your face, neck and ears. Adults covering the entire body need around six to eight teaspoons; applying sunscreen too thinly reduces protection. For prolonged sun exposure, apply 30 minutes before going out and again just before leaving. Reapply every two hours, after swimming, sweating or towel drying, and whenever sunscreen rubs off, including water resistant formulas.5

Use shade, protective clothing and sunglasses alongside sunscreen. Cloudy weather does not rule out sunburn, and people of every skin tone can get skin cancer. Seek medical help for sunburn if you feel unwell or your skin swells badly or blisters.5

Do you need serums, toner or exfoliation?

Serums and toners are optional, despite the shelf space devoted to making them look compulsory. Add a product for a specific goal rather than to fill a missing category. Vitamin C can help with dark spots and sun damage, but it does not replace sunscreen. Apply an optional morning serum after cleansing and before moisturizer, and use one serum at a time.24

Retinol and other retinoids, ingredients related to vitamin A, can help with acne, fine lines and dark spots. Use them at night before moisturizer; they can dry or irritate skin. Exfoliation is not a required basic step. If you choose it, avoid abrasive brushes and salt or sugar scrubs. Glycolic acid is a chemical exfoliant that helps remove dead skin and even skin tone.2

A moisturizer is generally preferable around sensitive eyes to avoid adding another potentially irritating product.2

How should you introduce something new?

Introduce products one at a time. If you have sensitive skin, try a pea sized dot behind your ear along the jawline and wait a day or two before applying it across your face. Avoid heavily fragranced products. "Natural" does not mean a product cannot cause an allergy. Stop using a product if irritation develops and arrange a dermatologist appointment. Unusual skin symptoms also deserve medical attention rather than another skincare purchase.24

Where this answer comes from

  1. 1Skin care on a budgetaad.org
  2. 2The Correct Order for Skin Care Productshealth.clevelandclinic.org
  3. 3Face washing 101aad.org
  4. 4Facebookhealth.clevelandclinic.org
  5. 5Sunscreen and sun safetynhs.uk