Your Skin Care Routine in 6 Easy Steps
No matter what your skin's needs are, finding the right skin care routine can feel daunting.
If your vanity is filled with half-used products that are ineffective, irritating or just underwhelming, we’re here to help. Understanding which skin care products are best for you — and how and when to apply them — is key to creating an effective ritual.
Let's walk through the skin care tips you need to craft the perfect routine. Then, we’ll talk about how to further cater and expand your skin care products to your skin’s unique needs.
Here's our guide to a basic, six-step skin care routine that you can adjust and customize as needed. For more specific recommendations, schedule a skin care consult with one of our board-certified providers.
Step 1: Cleanser
Twice a day, morning and evening
Ask any skin care provider and you’ll find that, regardless of where they differ, they all agree that the first step in any skin care routine should be thoroughly cleansing your face.
Properly cleansing your skin is an essential step because it removes dirt, debris, grime, makeup and dead skin cells that build up as the result of makeup and your environment. (Yes, pollution affects your skin.) It also leaves your pores open and ready to accept the remainder of your active ingredients.
We like Power Wash for normal to oily skin types and Gentle Rinse for those with dry, sensitive skin. If you're worried about cleansing irritating your skin, Gentle Rinse is perfect — it hydrates, soothes and deeply cleanses without stripping. In the mornings, you can use a cleanser if you like, especially if you’re hitting a morning workout and want to freshen up before you apply makeup.
If you choose to use a double cleansing technique, this is also where you’d do it.
ON THE BLOG: Breaking Down Your Skin Care Routine: First Up, Cleansers >
Step 2: Toner
Twice a day, morning and evening
Don’t worry if you’ve skipped this step in the past (or if you haven’t used a toner since you were a teenager — no judgment here!). This step is an opportunity to target specific skin concerns, like the appearance of pores or active breakouts. Today’s toners are nothing like the stinging, harsh formulas you may recall from your younger years. We recommend our best-selling Crystal Clear clarifying pads to treat acne, dullness, large pores, hyperpigmentation and signs of aging for every skin type. Sensitive skin types should use Crystal Clear once weekly, while oily skin types can tolerate daily use (AM or PM is fine — whenever it best fits your schedule).
ON THE BLOG: 8 Reasons Clarifying Pads Deserve a Spot in Your Skin Care Routine >
Step 3: Serums
Twice a day, morning and evening
Serums help nourish your skin, promote healing and fight the visible signs of aging. Whether you’re using a serum for its hydrating properties, to exfoliate your skin or to address other concerns, they should always fall at this point in your routine — right before eye products and moisturizer for maximum absorption. Be sure to pick a serum that can deliver the powerful blend of ingredients you need for your skin type and skin care concerns. If you have extremely damaged skin, you may want to use a serum both morning and evening.
We’re partial to our Youth Serum and Glow Factor. The hyaluronic acid and peptides in our Youth Serum provide deep hydration and noticeable plumping, while the vitamin complex in our Glow Factor helps repair damaged cells and build new collagen. Glow Factor is packed with active vitamins (in powder form — you get to play chemist and add this to the liquid!) and the perfect dose of antioxidants to brighten and revitalize your skin. Think of it as a daily multivitamin for your face — use every morning after your Youth Serum to reduce fine lines and wrinkles and brighten your skin tone.
Our Night Watch is a potent yet gentle treatment that refines pores, reduces the appearance of dark spots and wrinkles and improves skin texture. Packed with HPR, vitamins C and E, stearic acid and melatonin, this proprietary formula offers all the benefits of a prescription-strength retinol — with none of the irritation.
A good rule of thumb for using more than one serum is to apply them in order of consistency — from the thinnest to the thickest. Give each one time to absorb before moving on. You can also change your serums up depending on the time of day. Just make sure the active ingredients you’re using play well together!
ON THE BLOG: Serums, a Skin Care Routine Must-Have >
Step 4: Eye products
Twice a day, morning and evening
The skin around the eye area is more delicate than the rest of your face, so it’s important to choose a product that’s gentle but still capable of addressing your main skin concerns – wrinkle prevention, puffiness or dark circles. Eye-specific products can help to treat those concerns, and they should always go on before you moisturize.
We created Eye Sculpt, a fast-absorbing cream, for AM and PM use. Like our Youth Serum, Eye Sculpt is packed with peptides, hyaluronic acid and niacinamide to reduce puffiness and dark circles while minimizing fine lines. It’s suitable for all skin types and absorbs quickly, making this an easy step to include in your routine.
If you’re using a targeted eye cream, gently tap it into the area with your ring or pinky finger. This can help get the product exactly where it's needed while still being gentle on this sensitive, delicate area. And if you're using Eye Sculpt at night, be sure to put this on before your retinol product!
ON THE BLOG: Eye Sculpt, the Eye Cream That Actually Works >
Step 5: Moisturizer
Twice a day, morning and evening
Moisturizing your skin is crucial, no matter what your skin type or specific concerns may be.
In the morning, you’ll need a formula that absorbs quickly and provides a good base for cosmetics, which is why we love our High Beam brightening lotion. Suitable for all skin types, High Beam uses peptides, botanical extracts and natural skin brighteners to improve collagen production and reveal youthful, radiant skin. Gentle enough for everyday use, this formula hydrates skin while smoothing and brightening the complexion.
You can use High Beam as your moisturizer in the evening, but if your skin tends to be on the drier or sensitive side, Face Whip is a great alternative. Powered by ceramides and hyaluronic acid, which protect and repair your skin barrier, this whipped, lightweight moisturizer hydrates, plumps and smooths fine lines and wrinkles. (Extra dry or sensitive types can use this AM and PM instead of High Beam, too.)
If you’ve been relying on your moisturizer — or your makeup — to be your sun protection, we recommend that you add a separate SPF product to your skin care routine.
Step 6: Sunscreen
Once a day in the morning (and then reapply every 2 hours as needed)
Patients often ask what the most important skin care product is, and our answer is always the same: SPF. The best care is preventive care.
Every single morning skin care routine should end with sun protection — it’s the best thing you can do to make sure your skin looks healthy and youthful while also keeping yourself safe from skin cancer.
A quality sunscreen should have SPF 30 or above, broad-spectrum protection against both types of UV rays (UVA and UVB) and be water resistant. We recommend our 100% Mineral Tinted SPF and Sheer Defense SPF. 100% Mineral Tinted SPF is best for dry, normal and sensitive skin types, while Sheer Defense is best for those who are oily.
If you’re going to be in direct sunlight during the day (any time of the year — not just summertime), you’ll need to reapply your SPF every two hours, or any time it’s rinsed off with water, to avoid sun damage. And remember, the SPF in your makeup does not count as a reapplication, as you’re likely not applying enough makeup to get the full coverage an SPF provides.
ON THE BLOG: Here's Why You Should Wear SPF Every Day >
Weekly: Masks
2-3x a week, treat your skin to a detoxifying treatment with Clay Time. This polishing charcoal face mask is ideal for normal, oily and acne-prone skin. Powered by a combination of kaolin clay, charcoal powder and 1% salicylic acid, Clay Time absorbs toxins, reduces breakouts and reveals a clearer, softer complexion with every use.
ON THE BLOG: Is Clay Time As Good As Everyone Says It Is? >
How to customize your skin care routine to skin type
Knowing which of the five primary skin types your skin is most like can also help you more specifically cater your skin care routine steps.
Normal skin
Normal, well-balanced skin isn’t always without issues, but it usually doesn’t require too much specific consideration. Focus on products that thoroughly cleanse the skin and maintain its hydration, and make adjustments as needed.
Dry skin
Does your skin seem to be dry no matter what you do? Is dryness making your skin feel tight or itchy? Dry skin needs a much larger focus on hydration. Oil cleansers, hydrating serums and stronger moisturizers can make a big difference.
Oily skin
Do you deal with excess oil production? While we do need some oil on our skin to help keep it moisturized and healthy, too much can clog the pores or give us that shiny look. Skin care routines for oily skin should focus on managing excess oil while maintaining hydration.
Combination skin
Combination skin usually refers to a combination of oilier skin in the T-zone and dryer skin on the cheeks. Managing this skin type requires a multi-faceted approach — usually with specific serums that target both the oil and the dryness.
Sensitive skin
People with sensitive skin need to pay closer attention to the ingredients in each of the products they use — and how they use them. Many of the usual ingredients or products out there can lead to increased sensitivity, redness or other signs of irritation in those with sensitive skin.
Look for fragrance-free gentle cleansers and use extra time and caution when adding new products to your routine.
How to tailor your skin care routine for specific concerns
Getting healthy skin requires customizing your skin care routine steps and products for the specific issues that your skin may be dealing with. But don’t worry if you have more than one — many of the active ingredients and techniques work for multiple issues!
Breakouts
If you struggle with breakouts, you need to look into products and cosmetic treatments that address their root cause. While not everyone has the same triggers for their blemishes, which can range from bacterial overgrowth to excess sebum on the skin’s surface, there are a few common tactics you can depend on.
If you have acne-prone skin, active ingredients like salicylic acid can help remove impurities from the skin and reduce the likelihood of breakouts. Including active ingredients while also addressing any underlying issues that may be contributing can make a difference.
Dullness
Eventually, we all lose at least some of the natural radiance we were born with. Finding ways to get your glow back isn’t hard, though, especially if you know where to start.
For example, Vitamin C (especially in serum form) can help improve skin radiance. This powerful antioxidant can also protect the skin from free radicals while evening out your skin tone. Regular exfoliation can also help brighten the skin, especially when followed by a quality moisturizer.
Hyperpigmentation (dark spots)
As we age, it becomes more and more likely that we’ll start to see areas of hyperpigmentation (or dark spots) on the skin.
Increased skin cell turnover can gradually fade these areas, and exfoliating skin care products are extremely efficient at doing this. Don’t expect an instant fix, though. It takes time and patience to see a real difference. Cosmetic treatments, like microneedling, can also help reduce the appearance of dark spots.
Fine lines and wrinkles
Fine lines and wrinkles are one of the top age-related concerns we hear about. Creating a skin care routine that is supportive of your anti-aging concerns is crucial. While you may not be able to completely reverse fine lines and wrinkles (although cosmetic treatments like Botox and filler can help), you can absolutely slow their progression down.
Retinol is one of the most popular anti-aging products available for this, as it can boost collagen production, promote cell turnover and make the skin appear firmer and more plump. However, it can also cause irritation at first, so introduce it slowly into your routine.
Questions?
Starting a new skin care routine can be intimidating, but we're here to help you create one that's both effective and approachable for you. Remember, the general rule of thumb is to apply the thinnest products first, and then work your way up to the thickest. (Except for your retinol product, which should be applied after cleansing and toning and before your moisturizer.)
To get personalized recommendations for your unique skin, schedule a consult with one of our board-certified providers. We'll help determine the best treatment plan and skin care routine for you!
This article was medically reviewed by Madeline Stoffer, MSN, NP-BC, a board-certified nurse practitioner with six years of experience in cosmetic dermatology.
Sources:
The Roles of Vitamin C in Skin Health | PMC
Skin Pigmentation Types, Causes and Treatment—A Review | PMC
