What Are The Right Skincare Steps?

The rule of thumb when applying skincare is to apply the lightest first and the heaviest last, since thinner products can’t penetrate thicker products. So, for example, if you were to incorrectly layer a serum over your moisturizer, that serum would be rendered almost ineffective. Similarly, if you were to layer your moisturizer over a face oil, that moisturizer would be blocked from properly hydrating your skin, leading to skin barrier irritation and dryness over time.  

 

Here’s a little guide to screenshots. But before you freak out at seeing a 10-step routine, don’t worry: You really only need three products for a great, simple routine

 

You do not need a 10-step skincare routine (or even a 5-step routine). Virtually all faces and skin types do far better – see less irritation, allergic reactions, and breakouts—with fewer products, so if you’re just starting out, keep it simple:

 

• Cleanser: a gentle, sulfate-free face wash free
• Moisturizer: a simple fragrance-free formula that can be used twice a day
• Sunscreen: a mineral- or chemical-based sunscreen with at least SPF 30

 

That’s it. Three products. Seriously. It’s not glamorous, but good skin doesn’t need to be (just ask your dermatologist or anyone on the Beauty Tribe team—simple is always better).

 

Step 1: Cleanse

Please, for the love of the beauty gods, remove your makeup and wash your face before slathering on your products. For ingredients to absorb properly, you need clean skin that’s totally free of oil and grime.

This means if you want to do things right, skip the makeup wipes (they leave behind a layer of gunky residue that can break you out and irritate your face) and opt for a cleansing oil, which dissolves all makeup without stripping your skin. Then follow up with a gentle, creamy cleanser (especially if you have acne-prone skin).

 

How to Choose the Best Cleanser for Your Skin Type

• Dry skin: The best type of face wash for dry skin should be creamy, non-foaming face washes with barrier-boosting ingredients like ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and glycerin.

Ixora Hydrating Face Cleansing Gel

 

• Oily skin: Avoid too-stripping formulas (like charcoal-, sulfate-, and clay-based cleansers) and look instead for gel-based face washes or gentle foaming cleansers for oily skin.

Bioderma Sebium Gel Moussant Purifying Foaming Cleanser for Combination/Oily Skin 200ml

 

• Acne-prone skin: As with oily skin, acne-prone skin should avoid harsh cleansers and look instead for gentle, creamy cleansers—yes, really—to minimize inflammation (dry, irritated skin = more acne breakouts).

LA ROCHE POSAY SR0133 EFFACLAR FOAM GEL 200ML

 

Step 2: Toner

Face toners used to be terrible, alcohol-based liquids that irritated the hell out of your face. But today’s (good) toners are filled with either gentle, hydrating ingredients to coddle dry and sensitive skin or with chemical exfoliants to treat acne, oil, and bumps. Toners are not meant to be something that sits around on your skin and feels heavy. They’re essentially just priming your face for ingredients to be better absorbed later on.

Ixora Balancing Facial Toner

 

Step 3: Serum

Ah, serums—the product you probs keep buying, never really using, and getting panicked that you’re neglecting out of confusion. But we gotcha. Serums are essentially just shots of extremely concentrated nutrients, hydration, and antioxidants that really amp up your skin health as soon as you apply them. People often skip out on using them, but they’re honestly the heavy lifters of your skincare routine.

Teami Hibiscus Infused Vitamin C Serum

 

For almost all skin types, the PROS swear by using vitamin C serum every morning, which protects your skin from the inflammation and damage caused by environmental damage during the day while also brightening dark spots and uneven tones over time. Vitamin C serum is the MVP for dry, oily, and acne-prone skin, but it’s also a little strong. So if your skin is sensitive, use it every other morning (or every two mornings) instead.

 

Step 4: Eye Cream

Eye creams tend to be lighter and thinner than face moisturizers, so make sure to apply them before you slather on your creams and oils

An important note: Even though eye creams seem like the be-all and end-all of skincare (and anti-aging), they’re honestly not necessary for most people. As long as you’re using moisturizer and sunscreen, your eye area is already getting the TLC it needs.

Clinique-All About Eye Cream

 

Step 5: Moisturizer

You need to be using a moisturizer. Always. Twice a day. No matter what because it’s the only thing that’ll keep your skin barrier—aka the very temperamental thing responsible for making your face look good—healthy and happy.

A moisturizer not only infuses your skin with hydration, but it also helps trap in all the products underneath it to make the ingredients even more effective. You can use the same moisturizer morning and night, but if you plan to skip sunscreen (shame), your a.m. formula needs to have at least SPF 30. And remember to let it sink in for 5 to 10 minutes before applying makeup

Thalgo Source Marine Hydra-Marine 24H Gel Cream 50ml

 

Because you finally learned virtually everything (ish) in the world about skincare. You may now refer to yourself as a mini dermatologist (but, like, maybe not in front of any actual doctors, k?). Now, please, go deck out your face and bask in the glory of knowledge.