How to Create a Skincare Routine for Beginners

If you’re new to the world of skincare, it is undoubtedly overwhelming. Just look at “cleansers”, and there are an absurd amount of products available. They’re categorized by skin type, formulation, whether they’re first-cleanse or second cleanse … and it’s the same story for every category. Hydrating serums abound. There are pages and pages of moisturizers on Sephora. New products are being released every day, often to great hype, adding to the confusion. So how does someone know where to begin?

I’m going to let you in on a little secret. No one needs a ten-step routine replete with sheet masks, serums, and fancy toners and moisturizers. It’s fun, for sure. You won’t catch me giving up my extensive collection any time soon. But I fully recognize and admit it isn’t necessary. The most fundamental aspect of skincare is doing what works best for your skin, and protecting it in order to age gracefully. In order to do so, I believe you really only need 4-5 steps.

Cleanser

To me, this is the most important step (paralleled only with SPF). Cleansing your skin allows you to remove all the impurities it has collected over the day. It keeps your pores clean (making them look smaller), reduces the causes of some acne (like whiteheads and blackheads), and preps your skin for the rest of your routine. Finding a cleanser that works for your skin is critical.

For normal/oily skin types, I highly recommend the Youth to the People Superfood Cleanser. It smells like green juice and works gently to remove any dirt or buildup. It has a subtle lather but is really kind to the skin. Additionally, the company is super involved in social causes and committed to sustainability - so they’re a great one to support!

For drier skin types, I love the Kate Somerville Goat Milk Cleanser. It’s creamy and doesn’t lather, instead feeling more like a moisturizer that you wash off. It is super gentle and non-irritating, and one of my favorite cleansers.

A single cleanse is a good place to start. However, if you want to get a little fancy I would look at trying a double cleanse in the evening, where you begin with an oil or balm cleanser and finish with a gel or foam cleanser (like the two listed above). The first cleanse gets rid of oil based impurities (such as makeup or sunscreen, which you MUST wear - the makeup is up to you!) and the second washes away anything left. For first timers, Drunk Elephant’s Slaai Butter Cleanser is creamy and luxurious and best of all, doesn’t give the fuzzy eyes a lot of cleansing balms are known for. I would also recommend Farmacy Beauty’s Green Clean.

I tend to cleanse at night, sticking to water-only in the mornings, but that is a personal decision that depends on your skin type.

Toner

Many people don’t think a toner is necessary, and it isn’t really if you have a PH-balanced cleanser. But I think it’s a great way to add hydration into a routine and prep your skin for the rest of your steps. My two favorites are the Indie Lee COQ-10 Lotion and the Fresh Beauty Rose Deep Hydration Toner. Any gentle hydrating mist would work for this step too.

Targeted Serum

This step depends on your skin concerns. For example, if you have dehydrated or dry skin, I would recommend looking into a hydrating serum such as Drunk Elephant’s B-Hydra or Caudalie’s Vinosource SOS serum.

If you’re concerned with texture or breakouts, I would look at a serum that contains acids, such as the Drunk Elephant TLC serum.

Moisturizer

A moisturizer is another vital step in your routine. It seals everything in and keeps your skin hydrated for the day. Even if you have oily skin, you can still find a moisturizer that will work for you.

If you want a light cream, I would go for the Youth to the People Kale Superwhip Moisturizer. It’s light, fluffy and doesn’t cause breakouts or excess oil production. I love reaching for this on warm days.

If you’re looking for a heavier duty cream, the Lala Retro moisturizer from Drunk Elephant is a fantastic option.

SPF

Sunscreen is so so so SO important! No amount of anti-aging products will work for you the way spf does. It is critical to protect our skin from the sun’s harsh rays.

My favorite sunscreen is the Tatcha Pore-perfecting sunscreen, but Supergoop also offers many good options for a range of skin types.

Is it fun to pile on the masks? To test new products? To take 45 minutes to do my routine some nights? Yes, yes, and oh most definitely yes. Skincare is my way to relax, take time for myself, and truly take stock of where I am. It’s my creative outlet and a form of therapy. But if I needed to, for whatever reason, I could go back to basics and my skin would be fine. If you’re looking for a place to start, this is it: create a 4-5 step basic routine that you do consistently. Your skin will thank you. Then you can start adding in all the fun extras :)

**As an addendum, I would like to point out that many of the products I’ve listed here are on the pricier side. I fully recognize that, and I’ve been privileged to be able to include them in my routine. I only wanted to recommend products I’ve had personal experience with. That being said, there are options for each of these steps at a range of price points (for example, The Ordinary and the Inkey List are fantastic for low-budget options!) and price is not the important factor when choosing your skincare.