Simple Skincare Routine for Beginners: The 3 Steps That Matter

You don't need ten products for healthy-looking skin. Dermatologists keep coming back to the same basics. Start here.

Step 1: Cleanse

Wash your face when you wake up, before bed and after sweating, using a gentle cleanser and your fingertips. Don't scrub — the American Academy of Dermatology notes that scrubbing irritates skin and can make conditions like acne worse.

• Oily skin: a gentle foaming wash, e.g. Garnier Light Complete Face Wash.
• Wear makeup? Remove it first with micellar water.

Step 2: Moisturise

Apply a moisturiser after cleansing. Choose a texture for your skin type:

• Oily or acne-prone: an oil-free, non-comedogenic moisturiser such as Jenpharm Dermive Oil Free Moisturizer.
• Normal to dry: a lightweight cream such as One Skin Dewy Glow Moisturizer.

Step 3: Sunscreen, every day

The AAD calls daily sunscreen “the closest thing we have to a fountain of youth”. Choose broad spectrum, SPF 30 or higher, apply it before going outdoors, and reapply at least every 2 hours when outside. Read our guide to choosing a sunscreen, or shop sun protection such as Rivaj SPF 90 Sunblock.

Optional extras

Once the basics are a habit, you can add one targeted product at a time — for example a niacinamide serum or a hyaluronic acid serum. Give each new product several weeks before judging it.

Common beginner mistakes

• Too many new products at once — hard to tell what helps or irritates.
• Scrubbing or washing too often.
• Skipping sunscreen on cloudy days or indoors near windows.
• Picking at spots, which the AAD advises against.

Your 3-step routine at a glance