Just Getting into Skincare? Start with this Easy 3-step Routine
Cut the noise and stick to the basics. Your skin will thank you.
The internet is full of buzzwords and catchy headlines;
How to Get Glass Skin in 5 Easy Steps
Say Goodbye to Acne Forever: Make Chemical Exfoliation Your BFF
Start Retinol Tonight to Stop All Signs of Aging
And that’s only the tip of the iceberg.
Ten years ago, I found myself on a similar boat as I was starting my skincare journey.
(Although the internet was a lot calmer back then and the hashtags were mostly limited to Facebook posts)
After all these years of trial and error, I’ve realized that in a world full of viral trends and 10-step routines, it’s best to start with just the basics.
Just stick to these 3 steps:
Cleansing
Moisturizing
SPF
Pick a face wash of your choice
Go for something formulated without any harsh chemicals.
Look for words like ‘soap-free’ on the label.
Avoid any actives such as glycolic acid or vitamin C derivatives. Or essential oils such as tea tree.
A gentle cleanser from brands like Cetaphil, Simple, or Cerave should do the trick.
If you have dry skin, choose something where the label says creamy or hydrating.
Foaming cleansers work best for oily skin.
If you have acne-prone or congested skin, use a face wash with salicylic acid as the hero ingredient. Use it 3–4 times a week and stick to a gentle cleanser for all other washes.
Your skin needs hydration. Yes, even oily skin!
The rule of thumb for moisturizers to keep in mind:
Anything lightweight, gel-like, and water-based is great for oily skin.
Dry skin requires more hydration so go for thicker, creamier products.
Again, pick a product without any actives.
A simple, clean formulation that focuses on moisturizing and repairing the skin barrier works wonders.
Look for ingredients like squalene and ceramides mentioned on the label for extra hydration.
For acne-prone skin, it’s best to avoid complicated formulations with too many hero products. The focus should be on skin barrier health so that further breakouts can be prevented as far as possible.
Protect yourself from the sun
Sunscreen is your best friend in this skincare journey.
The faster this message gets through, the quicker will be your results.
Get a sunblock with SPF 50, preferably PA+++ and beyond (Aim for ++++ at all times).
PA index stands for Protection Grade of UVA and the higher the number of stars on your bottle, the better protection it’ll provide.
Alternately, better bang for your buck!
Look for formulations that are lightweight and leave no white cast.
Remember James Charles from 2017? You seriously don’t want a Flashback Mary situation on your hands.
Apply two fingers’ worth of product (No, it’s not too much) at least 20 minutes before stepping out.
And on days you’re not, you should still apply sunscreen.
Maybe you can adjust the quantity as you deem fit, but please don’t skip the step.
Not only does this help build your habit and stick to it in the long run, but sunlight coming in through windows also counts.
So do rainy and cloudy days.
Or days when there’s a snowstorm outside.
Just, try not to skip sunscreen.
Your SPF determines the health of your skin barrier to a great extent.
A damaged barrier equals hyperpigmentation, dark spots, redness, itching, and breakouts.
So you get why staying consistent can be extremely beneficial for you in the long run.
I have oily, acne-prone skin (blessed with the worst, truly) and sunblock has singlehandedly carried the load of preventing micro-flareups on my face in the last few years.
I can shout out my love for sunblock from rooftops into the void. My blog is named after it, as you can see.
Alright, you get the gist. I won’t weird you out any further.
And oh, stay as far as possible from fragrance in your skincare. You will thank me later.
Once you have these 3 essentials pat down, anything else you add to this routine is a bonus that would work to target specific concerns.
Rest assured, even if you don’t, you are pretty much sorted for life.
Thank you for reading.
Hope this article was of help to you. Let me know in the comments what essentials you swear by!
You might also be interested in reading this piece I wrote below:
