How to Build a Skincare Routine for Beginners

Following 3 essential skincare steps form the backbone of healthy skin

Creams, lotions, serums and oils. With the vast array of skincare products available, setting foot into the beauty aisle can feel overwhelming.

With so many products claiming jaw-dropping results, how do you know which is right for you? What do you actually need and do they work?

“A good skincare routine includes 3 essentials tailored to your skin type and treatment goals,” says Eduardo Ortiz, MD, a surgical and cosmetic dermatologist at Geisinger. “It doesn’t need to be overwhelming or complicated — or expensive, either.”

But it’s not just about appearance. It’s also about health. “The skin is our largest organ, and it serves as our primary barrier against the outside world,” he continues. “Taking care of your skin preserves its function, protects from environmental damage and helps prevent skin cancer.”

A simple, consistent routine is usually enough to maintain a strong skin barrier, balance oil and hydration, and reduce issues like breakouts, irritation and signs of aging for most people. And many times, less is more.

Here’s how to build a skincare routine to help your skin look and feel ahh-mazing — inside and out.

Understanding your skin type

The first step in building a skincare regimen is knowing your skin type. From there, you can choose products that best fit your needs — and reduce the risk of irritation.

Common skin types include:

Normal: Skin is neither dry or oily, infrequent acne and little sensitivity to products
Oily: Shiny a few hours after cleansing, with larger-looking pores and frequent blackheads or pimples
Dry: Feels tight or rough, may flake and often looks dull
Combination: Oily in the T-zone (forehead, nose, chin) and normal to dry on cheeks
Sensitive: Skin stings, itches or reddens easily and may react to fragrance or certain active ingredients

If you’re unsure of your skin type, gently cleanse your face and don’t add any products. Wait 30 minutes and assess how your skin looks and feels.

Essential skincare steps

There are 3 essential skincare steps that form the backbone of any skincare routine — from beginner to advanced — that you can maintain daily.

“Start with these essentials and you can build from there as your skin needs change with age and seasons,” says Dr. Ortiz.

Cleanse

A gentle cleanse is the cornerstone of any skincare routine to remove sweat, oil, dead skin cells, makeup and sunscreen that can clog pores and dull skin. Wash your face every morning and night with lukewarm water, using gentle massage and a cleanser to match your skin type. Then, pat dry — don’t rub — with a towel.

“Consider a gel or foaming cleanser for oily or acne-prone skin, or a lotion or cream cleanser for dry or sensitive skin,” says Dr. Ortiz. “Don’t use hot water or scrub harshly. Being aggressive can strip the skin barrier and irritate it.”

Applying a toner after cleansing is optional. Based on the ingredients, they can help remove excess oil or boost hydration.

Moisturize

After every wash, it’s important to add moisture back in — even if you have oily skin. Apply a moisturizer to slightly damp skin to lock in hydration.

“Every skin type needs moisture to support the barrier and minimize water loss,” says Dr. Ortiz. “Moisturizer hydrates and softens the skin, while protecting it against environmental stressors.”

Just be sure to choose a moisturizer that matches your skin type to avoid complications:

Oily or combination: Lightweight gel or lotion with humectants, such as glycerin and hyaluronic acid
Dry or mature: Cream with barrier-supporting ingredients like ceramides
Sensitive: Fragrance-free, minimal-ingredient formulas

Protect

Protecting your skin with sunscreen is a crucial step to prevent sun damage, dark spots and fine lines as we age, and skin cancer. Reach for a broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher every morning, even on cloudy days and during the winter.

Apply about a nickel-sized amount to your face and more for your neck. Reapply every 2 hours when outdoors or after sweating. Which sunscreen is right for you? Mineral sunscreens are often well tolerated by dry or sensitive skin, while chemical ones tend to feel lighter and may be better for oily skin.

“In the morning, your focus should be on hydration and protection,” says Dr. Ortiz. “While nighttime, the focus should be on cleansing away the day, moisturizing and applying targeted treatments to support overnight renewal and repair.”

Customizing your skincare steps

Once you’ve mastered your base regimen, you can tailor your skincare steps with targeted treatments to address top concerns:

Acne: Consider cleansers with salicylic acid to clear pores or niacinamide (vitamin B3) to reduce excess oil and calm redness. For active pimples, try applying benzoyl peroxide spot treatments to target acne-causing bacteria.
Wrinkles, dark spots and uneven tone: Try a cleanser with ceramides to support the skin barrier and layer in an anti-aging serum. Retinoids at night can improve texture and promote cell turnover to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, while vitamin C in the morning can brighten and defend against environmental stressors. Peptides encourage more collagen and elastin production to tighten skin.
Dryness: Reach for gentle cleansers and thick, creamy moisturizers with ingredients like ceramides to reinforce the barrier and humectants (hyaluronic acid and glycerin) to draw water into the skin.

“Just be careful. More is not always better,” says Dr. Ortiz. “Too many products can lead to redness, irritation and breakouts.”

He advises expensive doesn’t always mean “better” and natural doesn’t always mean “safer.” If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Start with 1 active ingredient a few times per week for several weeks and increase as tolerated. For stubborn concerns, talk to your dermatologist before adding to your skincare routine.

Does order of skincare products matter?

Yes, the order of skincare products does make a difference.

“Applying products in the right order helps them absorb and perform as intended,” says Dr. Ortiz. “Lighter products absorb first and creams and moisturizers help seal everything in.”

Think “thinnest to thickest,” applying water-based and fluid products first before oil-based or creamy ones.

Dr. Ortiz offers a general layering guide in order:

Cleanser
Toner (optional)
Water-based serums (niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, vitamin C)
Spot treatments (for acne or dark spots at night)
Retinol (nighttime only)
Moisturizer
Sunscreen (morning only)

If you’re applying a prescription medication, talk to your dermatologist about how to properly apply it.

“I typically recommend prescription medications be applied first on freshly cleansed skin to avoid any potential dilution that could decrease its effectiveness,” says Dr. Ortiz. “However, if irritation is a concern, the opposite may be recommended.”

When to talk to your doctor

Remember, consistency matters. Many products take 6 to 12 weeks of regular use to show visible results, especially for acne and anti-aging goals. Stick with your routine long enough to evaluate results and see how your skin responds.

If over-the-counter options aren’t doing the job, schedule an appointment with your dermatologist. For persistent skin issues like acne or cystic acne, rosacea, hyperpigmentation, itching, scaling or painful lesions, prescription medications may be recommended.

The skin is an organ and like any organ system, it’s susceptible to disease. And while many people building a skincare routine approach it from a cosmetic perspective, many times what they’re really doing is attempting to manage a medical condition.

“In many cases, what appears to be a ‘skincare issue’ is an underlying dermatologic condition that requires targeted treatment, not a multi-step routine from an online influencer,” says Dr. Ortiz. “Over-the-counter treatments can help minor irritations, but chronic issues require professional guidance.”