Looking for a basic skincare routine

[tori5314]

Hi -

I’m really bad at taking care of my skin and I’d like to start off with a basic routine to help me get into the habit of getting my skin looking and feeling as best as it can. If anyone could provide some recommendations and steps, it would be much appreciated! For context, I’m 30, with generally clear skin. I have combo skin, and my top priorities would be moisturizing, reducing dullness and signs of aging. Thanks in advance!

[WinglessOne]

Hi @tori5314 ! Here's a very basic and effective skincare routine: 

PM: 

1. Cleanser (nightly) - preferably one that won't leave your skin feeling stripped, dry, tight, or "squeaky clean." Both my personal favorites for my mostly-dry combo skin are cleansing bars that Sephora doesn't sell: CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser Bar and Abib Calming Facial Soap Heartleaf Stone. Neither of those are true soaps (they contain no lye); both are gentle on my skin. I actually prefer Abib's bar. There are plenty of other cleansers out there to consider though. 
   
   If you wear makeup or a thick sunscreen during the day, consider double-cleansing: use a cleansing balm or oil before your regular cleanser. My skin's faves are The INKEY List Oat Makeup Removing Cleansing Balm 5 oz/ 150 mL and Paula's Choice Omega + Complex Cleansing Balm 3.5 oz/ 104 mL . 
   
   
2. Moisturizer (nightly) - there are some great "drugstore" moisturizers by CeraVe, Cetaphil, and Vanicream. I alternate between Vanicream Moisturizing Lotion and Paula's Choice CLEAR Oil-Free Moisturizer 2 oz/ 60 mL because they both play nice with some of my PM products that contain oils. 

AM: 

1. Cleanser (optional) - some folks don't always need to wash their face in the morning; you'll have to learn what frequency makes your skin happiest. Most mornings, I just wipe my face down with a wet plush microfiber cloth (like a Makeup Eraser). If I do need a morning cleanse, I just use one of the 2 cleansing balms I mentioned—and I apply them only to the parts of my face that need washing, like around my eyes. 
   
   
2. Moisturizer (daily) - can be the same one you use at night. I usually use a different one though: Vanicream Daily Facial Moisturizer. 
   
   
3. Broad spectrum sunscreen, minimum SPF 30 (each day your skin's exposed to sunlight) - this is the best preventative anti-aging skincare product on the market available over the counter. Many "signs of aging" are caused by UV damage, including some wrinkles. Apply sunscreen generously to ALL exposed skin (eyelids, ears, behind ears, nape of neck if exposed, wrists, ankles, etc.) and reapply every couple hours, all year long, regardless of weather or season. Which sunscreen's right for you is highly subjective and depends a lot on your personal preferences. It can be chemical, physical/mineral (zinc oxide), or hybrid (combo of chemical and mineral): one type's not automatically better or safer than the others, since they all work largely the same way. A popular chemical sunscreen I'm a fan of is Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen Invisible Broad Spectrum SPF 40 PA +++ . My current favorite mineral sunscreen is Native Unscented Facial Sunscreen, available at Target if you're in the US. 

Once you've gotten into the habit of following that basic routine, you can consider adding a new product to target specific concerns. Since you mentioned dullness, you might wanna consider adding a product that contains niacinamide, vitamin C (ascorbic acid or a derivative), or licorice root to your AM routine; and/or perhaps adding a retinol product to your PM routine. In fact, at night you could swap your normal moisturizer with one that contains retinol, perhaps Paula's Choice RESIST Barrier Repair Moisturizer with Retinol 1.7 oz/ 50 mL or Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Cream. With retinol, you'll want to start low and slow: a low strength product used just 1-2 times a week for a few weeks, then increase usage to 2-3 times a week for a while, and keep increasing usage til you're at a comfy-for-you frequency. That could be nightly, every other night, or even every 3rd night. 

There are other steps you can add to your routine, depending on how much time and effort you wanna put into it. Some things aren't necessary for everyone, like toners (most of which don't actually tone skin, since most facial cleansers are no longer alkaline; toners these days are more like very watery serums that mostly hydrate and/or boost antioxidants), essences (to me, they're the same as today's "toners"), various serums, sheet masks... not saying you shouldn't add any of those products, just that you don't have to. Heck, my own routine includes additional products that soothe my very reactive/inflammation-prone skin and treat my hyperpigmentation. A skincare product can be as complex as you wanna make it, but I try to keep mine simpler so I'll actually consistently follow it. 

[tori5314]

Wow, thanks so much @WinglessOne !! I will be sure to look into these and try them out! I’m totally lost when it comes to skincare, so this is a great basis to start!