Building a Simple, Consistent Routine

The most useful routine is often the one you will actually keep doing. Three or four steps done regularly tend to serve skin better than a long list used now and then.

Start with the essentials

In the morning, a gentle cleanse, a moisturizer, and a broad-spectrum sunscreen cover most needs. In the evening, cleanse away the day and moisturize again. Everything else can be added later, if you need it.

Add one thing at a time

When you introduce a new product, give it a few weeks before adding another. If your skin reacts, you will know where to look. This also makes it easier to tell what is really helping.

Make it easy to repeat

Keep your products where you will use them, and choose textures you enjoy. A routine that feels pleasant is much easier to return to on a busy day.