Makeup remover (PM, if you wore makeup that day; can also help remove sunscreen) - can be a micellar water, cleansing oil, cleansing balm, or other type of makeup remover. I personally prefer cleansing balms for my reactive/inflammation-prone skin; my favorite is but I also love . I also still like Paula's Choice Gentle Touch Makeup Remover (the liquid version, not the wipes); I use that mostly to remove stubborn eye makeup. Gentle cleanser (PM, optional AM) - you want a cleanser that doesn’t leave your skin feeling stripped, tight, dry, or “squeaky clean.” I’ve been testing e.l.f. Pure Skin Face Cleanser for a week and it works very well. Other options: CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser (non-lathering cream cleanser), CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser Bar (a lathering soap-free bar), CeraVe Cream-to-Foam Cleanser, , and plenty of others. Some folks don’t need to wash their face in the morning. I often just gently wipe my face with a wet plush microfiber cloth (like a Makeup Eraser), focusing just on the parts of my face that need it (usually around my eyes). If I do need a morning wash, I use a cleansing balm instead of my PM cleanser. But definitely wash your face each night to remove the day’s crud and cooties. Moisturizer (PM and AM) - apply it while your face is damp, but not soaking wet. This will help your moisturizer seal in hydration instead of dryness. A few good options for very dry skin: CeraVe Moisturizing Cream, Aveeno Eczema Therapy Daily Moisturizing Cream, Vanicream Daily Facial Moisturizer, Vanicream Moisturizing Cream, etc. For very dry flaky skin, I usually recommend using a petrolatum-based balm—Aquaphor Ointment, CeraVe Healing Ointment, Vaseline, etc.—as a moisturizer. Petrolatum’s the most occlusive (water loss preventing) skincare ingredient on the market, aside from hydrocolloid patches. Petrolatum creates a barrier to protect skin, seal in hydration, and promote healing. Contrary to popular belief, it doesn’t clog pores and it's not the same stuff that goes in gas tanks. Whether or not you should use it as a moisturizer kinda depends on what’s really happening with your skin. I know a thick balm can feel greasy and heavy on the face in warm weather, but sometimes it’s necessary to help skin heal. Broad spectrum sunscreen (AM) - minimum SPF 30, applied generously to all skin exposed to sunlight (eyelids, hairline, ears, behind ears, nape of neck if exposed, etc.) and reapplied every couple hours, all year long, regardless of weather or season. After applying, wait about 10 minutes for the sunscreen to set up its protective barrier before you apply anything else (primer, makeup, etc.).Which sunscreen’s best for you depends a lot on personal preference. It can be mineral/physical (zinc oxide, titanium dioxide), chemical, or a hybrid sunscreen (both mineral & chemical): one type’s not generally safer or better than the others, and they all work largely the same way, despite what some people and skincare brands claim. Some sunscreens contain at least one good moisturizing ingredient (squalane, shea butter, argan oil, etc.) and can double as a moisturizer, so you might even be able to skip the moisturizer step above. That depends on how dry your skin is.