Skin

The skin care routine that actually works

Good skin care is simpler than the industry suggests. A reliable routine has just four steps: cleanse morning and night, treat a specific concern with a targeted serum, moisturise to support the skin barrier, and protect with broad-spectrum SPF every morning. Sunscreen is the single most effective anti-ageing and skin-health step there is; everything else is optimisation on top of it. Master these four before adding anything else.

Skin care by skin type

Your skin type decides your products. Oily skin does well with gel cleansers, lightweight fluids and niacinamide. Dry skin wants cream cleansers, richer moisturisers and hydrators like hyaluronic acid and ceramides. Combination skin can zone its products — lighter on the T-zone, richer on the cheeks. Sensitive skin should keep the routine short and fragrance-free, patch-testing anything new. Knowing your type stops you buying products designed for someone else's face.

Treating common concerns

Most concerns respond to a small number of proven ingredients. For dullness and fine lines, vitamin C in the morning and a retinoid at night are the gold standard. For breakouts, look to salicylic acid and niacinamide. For dryness, layer hyaluronic acid under a ceramide moisturiser. Introduce actives one at a time, a few nights a week, and give each six to eight weeks before you judge it — skin renews slowly, and consistency beats intensity.

What to skip

You can ignore most of what trends online. You don't need a ten-step routine, harsh scrubs (which damage the barrier), or a new product every month. Over-exfoliating and layering too many actives cause more problems than they solve. When in doubt, do less, more consistently — and see a dermatologist for persistent or worsening concerns, as this is general guidance rather than medical advice.

Frequently asked questions

What are the basic steps of a skin care routine?
Cleanse, treat with a targeted serum, moisturise, and apply broad-spectrum SPF every morning. Those four steps, done consistently, cover the essentials for most people.

What is the most important skin care step?
Daily broad-spectrum sunscreen — it's the most effective step for both skin health and preventing visible ageing.

How long before skin care products show results?
Give most products six to eight weeks of consistent use, since skin renews slowly and active ingredients need time to work.