What is the best skin routine for a beginner?

Author: Danika Beahan  |  Last update: Friday, June 27, 2025

Skin 101: how to build a basic skincare routine
  • step 1: cleanse. No matter what your skin needs are, cleansing should be your first priority. ...
  • step 2: exfoliate. Now that we've got those dead skin cells out of the way, it's time to exfoliate. ...
  • step 3: tone. ...
  • step 4: treat. ...
  • step 5: moisturize.

What is a good beginner skincare routine?

A basic skincare routine for a beginner includes cleansing, moisturizing, and applying sunscreen in the morning. At night, cleanse, apply a treatment product (like a serum), and follow up with a moisturizer. This simple routine helps maintain healthy skin without overwhelming the user.

What is the 4 2 4 rule in skincare?

The 4-2-4 rule is a detailed cleansing routine that involves a four-minute oil massage, a two-minute cleanse with a water-based cleanser and a four-minute rinse with warm and cold water. Read ahead to know about the Japanese double cleanse routine, and what experts have to say about it.

What is the first skin care routine?

Cleansing: Cleansing is the fundamental first step in any skincare routine. It helps to remove dirt, makeup, excess oil, and impurities, preparing the skin for subsequent product absorption. Choose a gentle, sulfate-free cleanser that matches your skin type.

What are the 5 basics of skin care?

Skin care: 5 tips for healthy skin
  • Protect yourself from the sun. One of the most important ways to take care of your skin is to protect it from the sun. ...
  • Don't smoke. Smoking makes skin look older and plays a part in wrinkles forming. ...
  • Treat your skin gently. ...
  • Eat a healthy diet. ...
  • Manage stress.

How to Build a Skin Care Routine Like a Dermatologist | Step by Step

What is the correct order of skin care?

Table of contents
  1. 1 Step 1: Cleansing.
  2. 2 Step 2: Exfoliation.
  3. 3 Step 3: Mask.
  4. 4 Step 4: Toner.
  5. 5 Step 5: Serum or concentrate.
  6. 6 Step 6: Eye contour.
  7. 7 Step 7: Moisturising cream.
  8. 8 Step 8: Sun protection!

What should I apply to my face every morning?

A simple morning skin care routine consists of a cleanser, vitamin C serum, moisturizer, and sunscreen. From there, you can weave in additional hydrators or active ingredients via toners, serums, and treatments depending on your skin needs.

Do I need toner or serum?

The decision to use toner vs serum or both depends on what you are looking for in terms of skin care. If you have time to spare in your skin care routine, especially at nighttime, then it is a good idea to use a toner after cleansing your face and then apply the serum to deal with any skin issue that you may have.

Do you put retinol or hyaluronic acid first?

HA provides hydration, which can counteract the potential drying effects of retinoids. Since Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 is a water-based serum, it would be applied first and then after, you would apply retinoids, such as Retinol 1% in Squalane, as it's an anhydrous formulation.

How do I figure out my skin care routine?

Here are the essential steps everyone should include:
  1. Cleanser: Helps eliminate dirt, oil, and impurities from your skin. Choose one based on your skin type. ...
  2. Moisturizer: Hydrates your skin and locks in moisture. ...
  3. Sunscreen: The most crucial step for preventing premature aging, sun damage, and even skin cancer.

What is the finger rule in skincare?

✌️☀️ The 2 Finger Tip Rule: Your secret to flawless sun protection! Here's a pro-tip for applying sunscreen right: take two fingers, draw that sunscreen line on each, and massage it into your face and neck until it's seamlessly absorbed.

What is the 60 second rule cleanser?

"Cleansing your face (with your fingers) for 60 seconds allows the ingredients in the cleanser to actually work," she wrote. "Most people wash their face for like 15 seconds max. It softens the skin and dissolves sebum blockages better.

Can you layer too much skincare?

Chances are, if your skin is becoming oilier, drier, sensitive, red, flaky, or even painful, you might be overdoing it. The products you use may include extremely effective active ingredients, but mixing and matching them incorrectly can cause negative results like irritation and inflammation.

What serum should a beginner use?

You can use face serums of mild concentration and less active ingredients, such as hyaluronic acid as early as 16+ of age. However, you need to be cautious about using face serums with higher concentrations. Also, choose the serums for face according to the ingredients and your skin concerns.

Is CeraVe a good brand?

Yes, dermatologists recommend CeraVe — here are their top picks from the brand. Finally! Something dermatologists and editors can agree on: our love for CeraVe. While it's fun to make a big splurge on a new high-tech beauty gadget or a trendy formula, the truth is that good skin care doesn't have to be expensive.

What is a perfect daily skin care routine?

  • Cleanse. Twice per day, morning and night. ...
  • Tone: Essence, Facial Mist or Toner. Twice per day, morning and night. ...
  • Exfoliate. Once or twice per week. ...
  • Mask. Once or twice per week. ...
  • Treat: Serum, Concentrate or Facial Oil. Twice per day, morning and night. ...
  • Moisturize. Twice per day, morning and night. ...
  • Eye Care. ...
  • Protect/SPF.

Should I use vitamin C or retinol?

They both provide similar benefits which is why dermatologists have even given a go-ahead to use the two together. If you have dull and dry skin then you should try Vitamin C first. If your problem is fine lines and wrinkles then you should start incorporating Retinol into your daily skincare routine.

Can I use hyaluronic acid every day?

Don't worry. Hyaluronic acid is acidic by name, but not by nature and won't exfoliate the skin or supercharge its turnover. For this reason, it's perfectly fine to use hyaluronic acid every day. “I would recommend using it once or twice a day,” says Dr Hextall.

How long to let retinol sit before moisturizer?

After applying your retinol product, it's best to wait roughly 10 minutes before moving on to the next step in your routine.

What is the right order for skincare?

The order in which you apply products affects how well they work on your skin. In general—for both morning and evening routines—you'll want to apply products from lightest to heaviest after cleansing. And no matter the product, always read and follow the instructions for use.

What is the best face serum?

The top-rated face serums of 2025:
  • Best Face Serum for Breakouts. Sofie Pavitt Face Mandelic Acid Exfoliating & Clearing Serum. Read more.
  • Best Retinol Face Serum. La Roche Posay Retinol Face Serum with Vitamin B3. Read more.
  • Best Firming Face Serum. Caudalie Resveratrol-Lift Instant Firming Serum. Read more.

Is it okay to use serum every day?

In most cases, it's not only okay to use your serum every day—it's recommended to do so in order to reap the full benefits of the product. However, usage can vary depending on the type of serum, the ingredients they contain, and how concentrated it is.

What is the best face moisturizer?

Some of the best brands include:
  • CeraVe: Known for their gentle, dermatologist recommended moisturizers.
  • La Roche-Posay: Offers a wide range of affordable skincare products, including non-comedogenic moisturizers.
  • Kiehl's: Known for their effective, high end skincare products.

What is the perfect morning skincare routine?

What You Need to Build Your Morning Skincare Routine
  • Steps in An Effective Morning Skincare Routine.
  • Step 1: Wash Your Face. ...
  • Step 2: Tone The Skin. ...
  • Step 3: Apply a Face Serum or a Complex Serum. ...
  • Step 4: Apply a Face Moisturizer with SPF Protection. ...
  • Step 5: Apply Eye Cream. ...
  • How do these products work together?

What to drink on an empty stomach for glowing skin?

6 morning drinks for glowing skin
  • Warm lemon water. Drinking warm lemon water is one of the easiest and best morning drinks for glowing skin. ...
  • Green tea. Yes, all that it takes is a cup of green tea to make your skin shine. ...
  • Aloe vera juice. ...
  • Turmeric latte. ...
  • Cucumber water. ...
  • Fresh vegetable juice.

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