When I first started thinking about writing this, I thought about calling it “Skincare for Dummies” to drawback to those hideous reference books, and then remembered that just because someone does not know about skincare does not make them a dummy, just not educated on that subject. As for me, I revolve a lot of my life around my skin with knowing I’m not going to go somewhere without my routine to stopping to buy a lip balm if I’m out and notice my lips are dry without a balm in any pocket. I take for granted my passion for skincare and go down a judgemental hole when someone asks questions of the order they should apply products and how to use certain lotions ‘n’ potions, but that’s going to end here. If I was trying to help someone who is truly clueless about skincare find a routine that works for them, the following is what I would recommend in order of how I would add them. Building a routine starts by getting a product or two and using them consistently before you level up and go on to add something new. Patience and consistency is the name of the game.
1. Sunscreen
I think sunscreen is the most important skincare product. Many sunscreens on the market are moisturizing, so it cuts down on the immediate need for that other step if you’re not ready to commit to a moisturizer yet and it protects you from cancer and premature aging. My favorite is Kypris Heliotropic and, yes, it is expensive but it is fully mineral-based, which means it is good for you and the environment. It also spreads easily and does not leave the dreaded white cast.
2. Cleanser
Maybe it’s weird this would be my second addition, but I’d rather protect myself with sunscreen and pray some lukewarm water would take it off at the end of the day than just use a cleanser and leave my skin susceptible to dryness. There are a ton of cleansers out there for different skin types, but my number one favorite for anyone at any time would be Glossier’s Milky Jelly Cleanser. It’s soft and doesn’t strip for people who are on the drier side, but removes dirt and oil easily for people who are more oily. It’s also safe for use around the eyes, so you can skip a separate makeup remover.
3. Moisturizer
I love moisturizer an embarrassing amount. There’s no better feeling when it comes to beauty (in my opinion) than looking in the mirror and seeing your skin plump and dewy. A great staple is the Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion for Body and Face. For some reason, I highly trust this body/face duo. It doesn’t clog pores and always leaves my face silky smooth. It’s too good for me to question.
4. Serum
This is the fun part. Serums have high concentrations of hard-working ingredients so you can target pesky concerns. Serums are one of the products I recommend to invest in because the active ingredients are going to be much higher on the ingredient list. For anti-aging and hydration, I like the Indie Lee Stem Cell Serum. For oily or acne-prone skin, I love the Osmosis Clarify Blemish Retinal Serum or the Kypris Clearing Serum if you want to avoid retinal. There are tons of serums out there for every skin type, so it can be fun to play around and see what works for you. If you’re not sure what you need, opt for a vitamin C serum. Pretty much everyone can benefit from a vitamin C serum because it brightens, lightens, and tightens, meaning it’s a dream for dullness, hyperpigmentation, and aging skin.
5. Eye Cream
While some people argue eye cream is just moisturizer in a smaller pot with a higher price tag, I can assure you they’re not the same. The skin around the eyes is much thinner than the skin on the rest of your face, so it requires something a bit different. Even if you don’t deal with dark under-eyes or bags under the eyes, using eye cream is great as a preventative step. Keeping the undereye area hydrated can decrease the formation of wrinkles as you age and prevention is a lot less painful or costly than undoing damage in the long run. I’m using Saturday Skin’s Wide Awake Brightening Eye Cream right now and it’s pretty good. Does anyone have an eye cream they truly can’t live without?
Extras: After you build a routine, adding in some other products that you may not use every day but that will boost results when you need them can be super helpful. Bonus: some of them are kind of satisfying and fun to use. These will not be in the order of how I would add them because they really are all just extras. Personally, all of these things are important to my daily skincare routine, but I don’t expect everyone to have the want or need for all of these things.
Masks: Much like with serums, masks give a jolt of active ingredients for the duration you’re wearing them and can target a variety of concerns. My all-time favorites are May Lindstrom’s Problem Solver when my skin feels congested and Cocokind’s Chlorophyll Mask mixed with honey when I’m healing breakouts or want some moisture.
Tools: I have a jade roller, a gua sha, and a NuFace Mini that I really love. The jade roller is the most fool-proof alongside the gua sha because you do need to know how to use each of them but I find the jade roller to be a bit easier and quicker as the roller really does a lot of the work for you. The gua sha is just a bit more intense. Both of these tools aid in lymphatic drainage and if I’m consistent with them, I really do notice firmer and more even skin. As for the NuFace, that gets into skincare junkie territory. It is a microcurrent device approved for at-home use that stimulates APT in the skin. It feels a little weird and when I’m working around my mouth, I can taste metal, but it’s all worth it for more toned facial muscles.
Exfoliants: These are imperative if you have dry skin and are trying to infuse moisture. If you’re just moisturizing the loose layers of skin, the skin beneath it won’t have any nourishment. My favorite is May Lindstrom’s Clean Dirt because it leaves my skin feeling softer than anything I’ve ever used before and the ritual of mixing the powder with water in a little bowl feels very special.
Lip Treatments: As someone who admittedly doesn’t drink as much water as I should (I know, I know), lip balm is a must-have. I have every flavor of Glossier’s Balm Dot Com except Mint because that’s not my style, so I think it’s safe to say I love their balm. It’s affordable, smells great no matter which one you choose, hydrates, and locks in the hydration. I also love everything from Henné. I have their Lip Exfoliator, Lip Serum, Luxury Lip Balm, and Luxury Lip Tint, so I pretty much have a full lip routine in addition to my skincare routine, but we can get into that later.
Toner: You may have used a toner in the past that dried your skin out and made it feel gross, but I promise there are ones out there that will change your mind completely. I’ve recommended the Moon Juice Exfoliating Acid Potion to tons of people and if they get it, they automatically become as obsessed as me. As someone who has tried two different Biologique Recherche formulas and didn’t like either (I’ve tried P50 Original 1970 and P50 PIGM 400), I can affirm that this is better and more affordable. For dry skin, the Laneige Toner gets a ton of hype, so checking that out may be a smart option.
Now you’re ready. I’ve told you everything I know and I hope I can help someone put a routine into practice. Leave any questions down below.