Here, we outline the steps you can use in your skin care routine. You do not have to do all of these steps (and we’ll note where a product is a necessity versus a nice-to-have), but this will at least help you build your morning and nighttime routines: As for the type of wash, that’s entirely up to you. Just be mindful of the types of products you are using later in your routine. For example, if your toner contains acids, skip an acid-containing wash, as that will likely be too many exfoliators in one routine. For more guidance, check out our all-time favorite face washes. Toner ingredients tend to run the gamut, too. If you want something more purifying and exfoliating, look for AHAs, BHAs, or fruit enzymes. If you want something on the moisturizing end of the spectrum, “key hydrating ingredients include rose water, glycerin, and hyaluronic acid,” says board-certified dermatologist Hadley King, M.D. Feel free to check out our favorite toners for specific product recs. Of course, you can opt out of this step if you don’t favor a multipronged approach to skin care. “Toners were initially intended to help reset the skin’s pH after harsh cleansers. However, many cleansers are much gentler now and tend not to cause a large pH shift, and so toners are actually unnecessary for many routines if you don’t want to use them,” says Herrmann. “These active ingredients are usually formulated so that they can get through the skin’s barrier and should be as close to the skin as possible. Any other products put on before can limit their penetration,” says Herrmann. If you are looking for some good ingredients for your serums, “Active ingredients, depending on what skin issues you want to address, include alpha-hydroxy acids, salicylic acid, niacinamide, vitamin C, and retinoids,” says King. And as King notes, these ingredients all address different concerns, so our advice is to identify your top skin care goal(s), and then find a serum based on that. (Here are our favorites with an explanation of who they might be good for, given their ingredient structure.) However, you can switch up your serums from day-to-night. For example, use an antioxidant product in the morning (to protect your skin from free radical damage throughout the day), and then switch to a retinol, glycolic, or lactic acid at night (to help slough off skin cells and accelerate cell turnover). As for the type of moisturizer or oil (or both!) you might need, here’s a little breakdown to help you. In your cream or lotion, look for comforting, cushy ingredients, like aloe vera, colloidal oat, “ceramides, shea butter, or coconut oil,” says King. As for texture, just find a consistency that works for you. (Peek at our top moisturizers.) Natural facial oils are endlessly popular as they offer emollient properties (meaning they soften and ease irritated skin) as well as are occlusive. “Occlusives form a protective seal over the skin to lock in hydration and the products applied under them,” says Zeichner. Jojoba and argan tend to be favorite oils for skin. This, of course, is not to say that layering products that contain SPF is forbidden—in fact, many people don’t apply enough sunscreen or remember to reapply throughout the day, so layering SPFs might actually be needed—but you should know that your final SPF number is only as much as your highest number.
