Building a Simple Skincare Routine: Cleanser, Serum, Moisturiser, SPF
Skincare advice online has become a twelve-step ritual. The truth: four steps, done consistently, deliver most of the results. Here is the routine dermatology keeps coming back to.
Step 1: Cleanser (morning and night)
A gentle, non-stripping cleanser removes sunscreen, oil and the day. If your skin feels “squeaky” after washing, it is too harsh. Gel cleansers suit oily skin; cream and lotion textures suit dry or sensitive skin. At night, if you wear makeup or SPF (you should), a quick double cleanse — oil or balm first, then your regular cleanser — clears everything without scrubbing.
Step 2: Serum (the results step)
This is where actives live. Pick one to start:
- Vitamin C in the morning — brightening and antioxidant protection
- Niacinamide — pores, oil control, an easy all-rounder
- Hyaluronic acid — hydration for tight, dehydrated skin
- Retinol at night — the gold standard for lines and texture; start two nights a week and build up
Introduce one new active at a time, two weeks apart. Most “my skin hates everything” stories are three new actives started in the same week.
Step 3: Moisturiser
Seals everything in and repairs the skin barrier. Gel-cream for oily skin, richer creams for dry skin. Look for ceramides — they are the closest thing to a universal recommendation.
Step 4: SPF (morning, every day)
The single most effective anti-ageing product ever made, and it costs the least. SPF 30 minimum, SPF 50 ideally, reapplied if you are outdoors. Yes, in Britain. Yes, in winter — UVA passes through cloud.
Shop skin care, serums, face moisturisers and sunscreens — free UK delivery and free 30-day returns.
One product for each step
If you want a starting point, here is one product we stock for each of the four steps. Patch-test anything new and introduce one product at a time.
- Cleanser: ROUND LAB 1025 Dokdo Cleanser: 300 ml low-pH foaming cleanser.
- Serum: Naturium Vitamin C Complex Serum: 30 ml with hyaluronic acid and vitamin E.
- Moisturiser: CeraVe Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid Water Gel: 50 ml, oil-free and fragrance-free.
- Moisturiser: Naturium Multi-Peptide Moisturiser: 50 ml with panthenol.
- SPF: Sun Bum Mineral Tinted Face Sunscreen SPF 30: 48 g zinc oxide formula.
See more in our face moisturisers. Every order ships free across the UK, with free 30-day returns.
