If there is one certainty among the many, many uncertainties in our world right now, it is this: Taking the time to care for ourselves should no longer be considered an indulgence. Rather, for so many reasons, it is a necessity. With skin care, though, there is another undeniable truth: It can often feel overwhelming. “The skin-care market has really boomed in the last few years,” says Sejal Shah, MD, a board-certified dermatologist. “While this is great because it gives us a variety of new ingredients and formulations, this can be really confusing for the consumer—especially a newbie.”
So forget everything you’ve seen on TikTok and start here, with this simple, no-nonsense guide to building a skin-care routine. We consulted a team of dermatologists to walk us through exactly which products you need, how to use them, which ones to avoid, and when to level up.
In this story:
The Basics
Start simple
They say a good chef must first master a simple omelet. Think of your skin-care routine as your omelet. After you have a solid foundational routine in place and know that you can stick to it, you can add ingredients, if you choose. “You don’t need a dozen products to have healthy skin,” says board-certified dermatologist Jenna Queller, MD. “In fact, the more products you introduce at once, the harder it becomes to know what’s actually helping and what’s causing irritation.”
It may not sound very exciting, but keeping to the essentials and avoiding trendy ingredients or methods is your best bet. “Social media often promotes products that aren’t appropriate for everyone,” Dr. Queller says. Instead, she recommends “choosing products based on your skin type and concerns, rather than what’s currently popular online.”
Consider your skin type
Dr. Queller says she frequently sees people using products designed for someone else’s skin type. “A friend’s favorite product may not be appropriate for your skin, and what works well for one person can cause irritation or breakouts for another.”
Introduce one product at a time
Start simple and slow. “I recommend introducing only one new product every two to four weeks,” says board-certified dermatologist Kseniya Kobets, MD. “That way, if you develop irritation, it’s much easier to identify the culprit instead of guessing between five new products.”
Stay consistent
Sticking with your routine—provided you don’t have any reactions to the products—is key to seeing results. “One of the biggest misconceptions is that skin care works overnight,” says Dr. Queller. “Most active ingredients need at least six to 12 weeks of consistent use before you see meaningful improvement.”
Don’t be afraid to ask for help
You don’t have to do this alone. If you’re dealing with issues like persistent acne, eczema, rosacea, melasma, or just want to fact-check your routine, it’s worth visiting a dermatologist. “A personalized treatment plan can often save months of frustration,” says Dr. Queller, “and help you achieve better results more quickly.”
Skin-Care 101: The Foundation of Your Routine
Step 1: Cleanse
You can’t cook an omelet in a dirty pan (well, you can, but it wouldn’t pass a health inspection). Using a gentle cleanser twice per day—once in the morning, once in the evening—is where you should start.
Cleansing in the morning will help remove any evidence of sweat or oil left from your beauty sleep, says board-certified dermatologist Divya Shokeen, MD. If you have very dry or sensitive skin, you can skip the product and just rinse your face with water in the morning to keep things as gentle as possible; but cleansing in the evening is a nonnegotiable, since you’ll have accumulated a day’s worth of all kinds of pore-clogging culprits (makeup, sweat, dead skin cells, and other debris). Plus, Dr. Queller notes, “a properly cleansed face allows the rest of your skin-care products to work more effectively.”
