How to Build a Skincare Routine

Almost every effective routine comes down to three things: cleanse, moisturise, and protect. A gentle cleanser removes the day without stripping your skin, a moisturiser keeps the barrier healthy, and a broad-spectrum SPF in the morning prevents the vast majority of visible ageing. Everything else is optional.

If you only ever do one thing, wear sunscreen daily. No serum or cream on the market does more for how your skin looks in five years than consistent sun protection.

When you do add treatments, apply them from lightest to heaviest texture: watery toners or essences first, then serums, then creams, then oils or SPF last. This lets each layer absorb instead of being blocked by a richer product on top.

Introduce one new active at a time and give it a couple of weeks before judging it. Piling on retinol, vitamin C and acids all at once is the fastest route to an irritated barrier — which looks worse, not better.

Oily skin usually prefers gel textures and lightweight, non-comedogenic moisturisers; dry skin likes richer creams and ingredients like ceramides and hyaluronic acid. Sensitive skin does best with short, fragrance-free routines.

Ignore what's viral and pay attention to how your skin actually responds. Tightness, flaking or stinging means a product is too harsh; comfortable, calm skin means you've got it right.