How should I start a skin care routine? (step by step) and what products would you recommend?

[itstrixiebae]

for rookies

[Brutalitops]

@itstrixiebae  the basic steps are cleanse, exfoliate, toner, moisturizer. Serums are generally after toner and before moisturizer once you decide to add those to your lineup.

Personally my philosophy is that your cleanser and moisturizer should be as gentle as possible so that in case your skin freaks out you can still use them. You should also start out as cheap as possible so you don't spend a ton of money on a routine you like but may not actually stick with over time and upgrade as you see what works for you. The Inkey List and The Ordinary are great starter brands. Like  said- do not compromise on sunscreen and like @RGbrown said- you can absolutely mix actives. DO take adding new actives slowly though (at least 2 weeks in between adding each new product) to make sure you don't overwhelm your skin

These are my routine(s) In the order I apply them

Day:

- Biossance Squalane + Tea Tree Cleansing Gel 5.07 oz/ 150 mL

- Youth To The People Adaptogen Soothe + Hydrate Activated Mist with Peptides 4 oz/ 118 mL

- Youth To The People Superfood Air-Whip Lightweight Face Moisturizer with Hyaluronic Acid 2 oz / 59 mL

-BIOSSANCE - Squalane + Vitamin C Rose Oil (this serum goes last because it's an oil so it also helps seal in the hydration from my moisturizer, a water based serum would go before the moisturizer)

-Sunscreen/ Sunscreen containing tinted moisturizer and makeup

Night:

- Biossance Squalane + Tea Tree Cleansing Gel 5.07 oz/ 150 mL

- Youth To The People Adaptogen Soothe + Hydrate Activated Mist with Peptides 4 oz/ 118 mL

-FARMACY - HONEYMOON GLOW AHA Resurfacing Night Serum with Hydrating Honey + Gentle Flower Acids

- Sunday Riley A+ High-Dose Retinol Serum 1 oz/ 30 mL

- Youth To The People Adaptogen Deep Moisturizing Cream with Ashwagandha + Reishi Mushroom 2 / 59

- Biossance Squalane + Tea Tree Balancing Oil 1.01 oz/ 30 mL

The cheaper version of this lineup would be

First Aid Beauty Pure Skin Face Cleanser – Gentle Hydrating Cleanser 5 oz/ 150 mL

-I'd actually stick with that toner or Clarins Extra-Comfort Toning Lotion 6.8 oz/ 200 mL

- The INKEY List 15% Vitamin C & EGF Brightening Serum 1 oz/ 30 mL

The Ordinary Lactic Acid 5% + HA 1 oz/ 30 mL

The INKEY List Retinol Fine Lines and Wrinkles Serum 1 oz/ 30 mL

The INKEY List Vitamin B, C, and E Moisturizer 1.7 oz/ 50 mL

The Ordinary 100% Plant-Derived Squalane 1 oz/ 30 mL

Again- retinol, latic acid, and retinol should be added one at a time 2 weeks apart

[Anonymous]

1. Cleanser; I recommend setting up a double cleanse system. Step One: use an oil-based cleanser (I recommend the iUnik Calendula Cleansing Oil) and massage your skin with it gently for up to 40 seconds to remove the makeup and dirt from your face. Step Two: Follow up with a water-based or gel cleanser (I recommend Youth to The People’s Superfood Antioxidant Cleanser Youth To The People Superfood Gentle Antioxidant Refillable Cleanser 8 oz / 237 ml  and for a less expensive option, the Simple Micellar Gel Wash) and cleanse gently for up to 30 seconds to unclog and cleanse your pores. Step Three: Pat your face dry with a clean towel. 

2. Exfoliator. Always use a chemical acid exfoliant and never a scrub or physical exfoliant. For blackheads and whiteheads: salicylic acid. I recommend Paula’s Choice 2% BHA Liquid. For sensitive skin / those using acids for the first time: The Ordinary’s Lactic Acid serum. The Ordinary Lactic Acid 10% + HA 2% Exfoliating Serum 1 oz/ 30 mL  For those with non-sensitive skin: Glycolic acid. For those with non-sensitive skin trying acids for the first time: The Ordinary’s Glycolic Acid Toning absolution. The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Exfoliating Toner 8 oz/ 240 mL Step One: Squeeze a few drops onto your hands and gently massage into your skin. VERY IMPORTANT TIPS: 1. Only exfoliate at night. 2. Always use sunscreen the day after you exfoliate. 3. Only exfoliate twice a week at most. If you have sensitive skin, only one a week. 4. Do not use acid exfoliants (particularly glycolic) with a vitamin C treatment or retinol. They will harm your skin and be ineffective when used in combination. 

3. Treatment / serum / essence. For oil control, brightness, and fighting hyperpigmentation, I recommend The Ordinary’s Niacinamide + Zinc serum. The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Oil Control Serum 1 oz/ 30 mL  serum is good for combo to oily skin types. An excellent hydrating serum/essence for dry skin is the iUnik Black Snail Restore Serum. 

4. Moisturizer. Step One: Figure out your skin type. Step Two: Find the right moisturizer for your skin type. Avoid fragrances, essential oils, and filler ingredients in your skincare products. A good rule of thumb: If it smells AMAZING, don’t use it, especially if you have sensitive skin. Some rich moisturizers I recommend for dry skin types is the e.l.f happy hydration cream or the CeraVe Moisturizing CREAM. Some light moisturizers I recommend for oily skin are the Neutrogena Oil-Free Combination skin moisturizer, iUnik Centella Calming Gel Cream, and Versed Dew Point Moisturizing Gel Cream. For combination skin I recommend using two different moisturizers for each part of your face- light moisturizers for your t-zone, and rich moisturizers for your cheeks and neck. But if you don’t have time for that, I recommend the CeraVe Moisturizing lotion, the Olay Hungarian Water Essence, or the SheaMoisture Skin Rescue Moisturizer (for drier combination skin).  Step One: Add a pump of the moisturizer to your hands, rub it a little in your hands, and apply it evenly to your skin. Make sure you soak up all the moisture. Step Two: Add a little bit more moisturizer to your neck, too. Don’t rub your skin too hard, just massage and pat it in gently.
5. Sunscreen. No excuses, every single day, especially if you used a chemical exfoliant the night before and if you’re going to be outside in the sun. Pick a good sunscreen with a hefty SPF. I’d say about SPF 30 if you love to slather on your sunscreen and if your other products and makeup contain SPF, but if you prefer to apply very little amounts of sunscreen, then use SPF 50. Don’t use the beachy SPF 70 ones, they look shiny and disgusting, feel disgusting, and smell disgusting (remember fragrances can irritate your skin and cause breakouts). I also recommend you use a mineral sunscreen instead of a chemical one. My HOLY GRAIL sunscreen is the Purito Centella Unscented SPF 50 Sunscreen, and Purito Water Gel SPF 50 sunscreen. A good sunscreen that doesn’t leave a white cast is Biossance Sheer Mineral SPF 30 sunscreen. Especially great for those with darker skin tones who struggle with sunscreens that leave white casts.

disclaimer: most of these products can not be found at Sephora, but the ones that you CAN find on Sephora, I tagged. The rest of them can be found in Target, Ulta, and for some of them (The Korean skincare brands iUnik and Purito) you will have to look on more exotic sites like StyleVana and YesStyle. (I found a 15% off code for StyleVana, it’s INF10HYRAM. Enjoy!)

Phew! That was a lot. Hope this helps, because I spent an hour writing this, haha. Let me know if any of this works out for you. Happy skincare!

[RGbrown]

@mideshi wrote:

The basic steps to a perfect skincare routine, according to a specialist...[snip]...Do not use acid exfoliants (particularly glycolic) with a vitamin C treatment or retinol. They will harm your skin and be ineffective when used in combination... 

---

This is 100% incorrect. You can mix acids, vitamin C, and retinol according to your skin's tolerance. They do not neutralize each other, nor do they harm the skin when used in tandem. In fact, they can amplify each other in a good way.

[Anonymous]

I suggest you do your research before contradicting someone because it is well known by dermatologists that mixing AHAs and BHAs and retinol at the same time is a recipe for irritated and dry skin. 

[RGbrown]

@mideshi**

That's not what your first post said; there's a big difference between "irritated and dry" and "harm your skin and be ineffective". 

Yes, I absolutely agree there is a potential for dry, flaky, irritated skin if folks don't build up to it properly, which is exactly why I said "following your skin's tolerance". Heck, just retinol alone can cause dryness and irritation, but that's no reason to steer someone away from just the one, nor is it a reason to steer someone away from the combo. I use acids, retinol, and vitamin C nightly. Sure, it took me some time to get to this point, but I'm happy with my skin and happy with the results, and I have zero irritation, zero dryness. 

[itstrixiebae]

omg, you’re perfect ❤️ thank you

[quspork]

For specific recommendations it would help if you shared your skin type and what issues you want to address, @itstrixiebae. Generally speaking, you want a cleanser, a moisturizer, and sunscreen to start.

[itstrixiebae]

My skin is a normal type