How to build a skincare routine: a beginner’s guide

The routine at a glance

Step	Morning	Evening
Cleanse	Cleanse or rinse with water	Cleanse
Moisturise	If your skin needs it	Moisturise
Sunscreen	Before sun exposure	–

Serums, exfoliants, toners, and eye creams are optional. You don’t need to buy them before you have the basics sorted.

Step 1: Take stock of your skin and what you own

Before shopping, look at how your skin behaves during an ordinary week. Does it feel tight after washing? Get shiny by midday? Feel comfortable until you apply a particular product? These observations are more useful than trying to fit your skin into a perfect label.

Skin type can help you choose a texture, but it isn’t a fixed rule.

• Oily skin may prefer a lighter moisturiser, while dry skin may feel more comfortable with a cream.
• Combination skin can have oily and dry areas at the same time.
• Sensitivity can happen alongside any of these, and your skin’s needs may change with the weather or the products you use.

Start by checking the cleanser, moisturiser, and sunscreen already on your shelf. If they feel comfortable and do their jobs, there’s no need to replace them for the sake of starting fresh.

Step 2: Choose your three basic skincare products

A gentle cleanser

Your cleanser should remove the day’s sunscreen, makeup, and excess oil without leaving your face tight or uncomfortable. A rich lather isn’t proof that it cleans better. If your skin feels dry or stings after washing, try using less product, washing with lukewarm water, or choosing a gentler cleanser.

Cleanse in the evening. In the morning, you can cleanse again or simply rinse with water if that feels better for your skin. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends a gentle cleanser and washing without scrubbing.

If you wear heavy makeup or water-resistant sunscreen, check whether your usual cleanse removes it comfortably. You may find a cleansing balm or another first cleanse useful, but double cleansing isn’t a requirement for everyone.

A moisturiser you’ll actually use

Moisturiser helps your skin retain water and feel comfortable. Oily skin can benefit from one too. Choose the texture by how it feels on your face: a light lotion or gel may suit you, or you may prefer a cream, particularly when your skin feels dry.

You don’t need a separate day cream, night cream, and eye cream to begin. One moisturiser that suits your skin can cover both morning and evening. The American Academy of Dermatology’s budget skincare guidance also recommends moisturising oily skin.

Sunscreen for the days you need sun protection

In Australia, check the UV forecast rather than judging by the temperature or whether it looks sunny. Cancer Council Australia recommends sun protection when the UV Index is 3 or above, including broad-spectrum, water-resistant SPF 50 or SPF 50+ sunscreen. UV can reach that level outside summer.

Apply sunscreen generously before going outdoors and reapply at least every two hours while you’re outside, or sooner after swimming, sweating, or towel-drying. Sunscreen works alongside shade, clothing, a hat, and sunglasses.

If you’re indoors all day with little UV exposure, sunscreen may not be necessary; check the UV and your plans.

Pick a sunscreen you can apply in the recommended amount and are willing to wear. A comfortable, affordable formula used properly is a better starting point than an expensive one you avoid.

Step 3: Put the products in an order that works

For a simple morning routine, cleanse or rinse, use moisturiser if your skin needs it, and apply sunscreen before sun exposure. Some sunscreens feel moisturising enough to cover both steps. Follow the sunscreen’s label for how much to use and when to apply it.

At night, cleanse and moisturise. That is a complete beginner routine.

If you already use a prescribed skin treatment, keep following the directions given by your clinician or pharmacist. Its placement and frequency may differ from a general skincare routine.

Step 4: See how your skin responds

You don’t need to wait an exact number of weeks before deciding that a cleanser makes your skin feel tight or a moisturiser stings. If something is uncomfortable, deal with that first.

When your basic products feel comfortable, use them consistently for a while before adding something new. This gives you a clearer sense of what your routine does and what, if anything, is missing. You might find that nothing is missing.

Try one new product at a time so it’s easier to identify the cause if your skin reacts. If you tend to react to products, the American Academy of Dermatology explains how to test a new product on a small area over seven to ten days before using it more widely. A home product test cannot rule out every reaction or replace medical allergy testing.

Do you need a serum or exfoliant?

Only if you have a specific reason to add one. A serum isn’t a required skincare step, and adding an active ingredient won’t make an uncomfortable basic routine work better.

First check the simpler explanations. Is your cleanser leaving your skin tight? Are you using an exfoliant too often? Does your moisturiser feel comfortable through the day? Adjusting how you use an existing product may be more useful than buying another.

If there’s still a concern you want to address, choose a product for that concern and introduce it on its own. Avoid starting several exfoliants or strong treatments together. Using too many products can irritate the skin and make it harder to tell what helps.

When skincare isn’t enough

A basic routine can help you care for your skin, but it cannot identify or treat every skin condition. Speak with a GP or pharmacist if you have persistent irritation, painful breakouts, or a reaction that keeps returning. A GP can assess whether you need treatment or a dermatologist referral. Healthdirect notes that severe acne can scar and may need medical care.

Have a new or changing spot or mole assessed by a qualified health professional rather than trying to address it with skincare.

Frequently asked questions