Skincare steps in order of importance

Put sun protection first in importance

Sun protection helps prevent wrinkles, age spots and skin cancer. Choose a broad spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher, which protects against both UVA and UVB rays. Apply it every morning, including in winter and on cloudy days. Cover exposed skin, including your ears and neck, rather than stopping at your face. Apply sunscreen 30 minutes before going outdoors and reapply at least every two hours, following the package instructions, and after swimming or sweating. Use shade and protective clothing too: sunscreen should not be your only protection.124

Keep cleansing gentle

Cleansing removes excess oil, makeup, sunscreen and dirt. Wash in the morning and before bed, and after sweating; extra washing can remove protective oils and increase dryness. Wet your skin, gently massage cleanser with your hands, rinse thoroughly and pat dry. Use lukewarm water rather than scrubbing with a washcloth. If makeup remains after your usual cleanser, use a makeup remover before cleansing. A second cleansing step is not a requirement for every routine.356

Moisturize even if your skin is oily

Moisturizer traps water in your skin and reduces water loss. Apply it morning and evening; for a basic routine without a treatment step, apply it while skin is still damp. Choose a product suited to your skin type rather than skipping moisturizer because your skin produces oil. Effective products do not have to be expensive, so the basics deserve your budget before bottles with a more elaborate job title.123

Add a treatment for a specific concern

Treatments belong in a routine when they address a particular goal, such as breakouts, dark spots or fine lines. Retinol and retinoids can help with those concerns and are generally used at night. Medication or treatment usually goes after cleansing and before moisturizer. If you already use an acne treatment that stays on your skin, be careful about adding an acne cleanser: combining treatments can cause excessive dryness and irritation.3567

Which steps can you skip?

An antioxidant serum is optional, even if the dropper makes it look like a laboratory requirement. Vitamin C can help protect against environmental damage, but it does not replace sunscreen. Toner and eye cream are also optional. Toners can cause dryness or irritation, and the eye area can be sensitive. Exfoliation is an addition, not a foundation; avoid abrasive microbeads, which can irritate skin.136

Importance is not application order

Sunscreen has the highest priority, but it goes near the end of your morning routine. Use this sequence:3

1. 1Cleanse gently and pat dry. In the evening, remove makeup first if needed.
2. 2Apply medication or treatment if you use one. Otherwise, skip this step.
3. 3Apply moisturizer.
4. 4In the morning, apply sunscreen, then makeup if desired. At night, finish with moisturizer.

If your skin is sensitive, add less

Introduce new products one at a time. For sensitive skin, test a small amount behind your ear along the jawline and wait a day or two before applying it to your whole face. Avoid heavily fragranced products. If a product causes irritation or contact dermatitis, an inflamed skin reaction, stop using it and make an appointment with a dermatologist. Using several products, especially multiple products for signs of aging, can irritate skin rather than improve it.367