Skincare routine for beginners: Your easiest step-by-step guide

Caring for your skin is essential, regardless of gender, age, or skin type. A proper skincare routine helps maintain healthy and clear skin, preventing issues like acne, dullness, and signs of ageing. While the variety of products and steps may initially seem intimidating, getting started with skincare can be simple.

With some basic knowledge about your skin type and essential products suited for it, even beginners can shape an effective daily skincare regimen. Read on as we break down how to build an easy, fuss-free skin care routine for beginners for those of you just getting started.

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What should a basic skincare routine for beginners include?

A basic skincare routine for beginners should cover these basics:

• Cleansing/Face wash:

The first and most crucial step is thoroughly cleaning your face of dirt, excess oil, and impurities twice daily. For this, choose a mild cleanser or face wash suited to your skin type—oily, dry, or sensitive. Clearing & Calming Acne Face Wash is a good option for acne-prone skin. Do not over scrub.

Also read: 7 must-follow proper face cleansing steps

• Exfoliator (Optional):

Gentle exfoliation once or twice weekly removes dead skin and evens skin texture. Physical/DIY scrubs made from ingredients like sugar, oats, etc. or chemical exfoliants with AHAs/BHAs may be used. Limit this step if you have sensitive skin.

• Face masks/packs (Optional):

Customised masks and packs deliver intense nourishment, soothe irritated skin or deep clean to extract impurities from pores. Use suitable varieties once or twice weekly to substitute your usual cleanse and exfoliant step.

• Moisturiser:

Hydrating and nourishing products like moisturisers/creams restore moisture and reinforce the skin’s protective barrier. Apply moisturiser while the skin is damp after cleansing, particularly for dehydrated skin types. Waterlight Gel Moisturiser 72-Hour Hydration works well for those with oily skin who prefer lightweight textures.

• Sunscreen:

Sun protection is vital to guard against skin damage and early signs of ageing. Apply sunscreen liberally before sun exposure and reapply every few hours if staying outdoors for long. The Dewy Hydrating Hybrid Sunscreen SPF 50+ offers broad-spectrum protection and a hydration boost.

• Serum (Optional):

Serums with active ingredients tailored to your skin goals—reducing acne or pigmentation, boosting glow, and so on—can supplement your routine 1-2 times daily pre-moisturiser. They help age, dull, or problem-prone skin.

Also read: Morning Skincare Routine - Five Simple Steps You Must Follow

Skincare Steps for Beginners

Now that you know the essential items your starter skincare kit should contain, what’s the best way to apply them? Here is a step-by-step daily routine for skin care steps for beginners to follow at home for essential skin nourishment:

AM routine

1. Rinse face with cool/lukewarm water: Splashing skin with water or using a water-based/micellar cleanser opens pores and prepares skin for the following products. It wakes your skin up nicely.
2. Apply vitamin or other antioxidant serum (Optional): Brightening, anti-ageing antioxidants are best used in the mornings when light exposure activates them to neutralise skin-damaging free radicals. Let it absorb somewhat before the next step.
3. Moisturiser: Apply your AM (daytime) moisturiser, ideally with SPF 30 or above sunscreen. Allow it to absorb fully before applying makeup or stepping out. If outdoors, reapply sunscreen every 2-3 hours.
4. Eye cream (Optional): This rich, nourishing formula is designed for delicate eye area skin that lacks oil glands. Use sparingly on clean, under eye skin, working from the inner to outer corners.

PM Routine

1. Makeup/SPF Remover: Use a cleansing balm, wipe or micellar water to dissolve makeup, sunscreen and impurities without over-drying. Rinse after if a product is required.
2. Cleanser: Choose a cream or foaming cleanser suited to your skin type. Massage it evenly across your face and neck using circular motions. Rinse thoroughly and pat dry gently without rubbing.
3. Exfoliant (Optional): 1-3 times weekly, apply your preferred chemical/physical exfoliant evenly after cleansing to buff off dead skin. Limit this step if you have sensitivity or irritation. Rinse and pat dry skin afterwards.
4. Serum/Treatment (Optional): Add booster serums tailored to your problem areas before moisturising. Let them absorb somewhat before sealing in with the next step.
5. Night Moisturiser: Finish with a rich PM moisturiser that nourishes and rejuvenates your skin while you sleep. Use light taps to apply a little extra product around the delicate eye region.

Also read: AM PM Skincare Routine for Clear & Fresh Skin

Additionally

A good skin care routine for beginners will also include maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

• Drink 2-3 litres of water daily for hydration and detoxification from inside out
• Change bedsheets/pillow covers frequently to avoid transferring grime back to the skin overnight
• Avoid touching, picking or popping zits and rashes, which can worsen breakouts
• Check ingredient labels before purchase to avoid potential skin irritants
• Introduce one new product at a time, allowing 1-2 weeks to gauge suitability for your skin

Selecting the right skincare products for beginners

With myriad skincare products enticing you on shelves, identifying effective and safe ones for your skin type can get overwhelming as a newbie. Keep these critical aspects in mind while purchasing skin care products for beginners:

• Check the label claims: Does it offer solutions tailored to your skin type, area of concern, and severity, such as oily skin maintenance, reducing fine lines, lightening acne marks, etc.? Avoid vague claims like ‘anti-ageing’.

• List vital active ingredients: Well-known ingredients with proven benefits, like salicylic acid and niacinamide for acne-prone skin, alpha hydroxy acids to refine skin texture, hyaluronic acid and ceramides to hydrate dry, mature skin, zinc oxide/titanium dioxide mineral filters for broad-spectrum sun protection, and such.

• Understand formulation: Cream or gel–textured moisturisers, foaming or gel face washes, and serums/exfoliants with a leave-on or rinse-off condition, keeping your preferences and needs in mind.

• Consider safety rating: Dermatologically tested, non-comedogenic, or allergy-tested formulation suitable for sensitive skin types. Also, check your past reactions to certain ingredients.

• Check concentration: Effective percentages include 2-5% salicylic acid acne treatments, 8-15% AHA exfoliants, at least 10% vitamin C serums, and minimum SPF 30 broad-spectrum sunscreens.

• See reviews: Feedback from genuine consumers describing real usage experiences usually available on e-commerce sites and brand websites.

• Research well: Information is widely available online to educate yourself about skin health, ingredient functions, product suggestions as per concern, brand background, etc. Leverage this before spending.

• Set realistic budgets: Skincare does involve recurring repurchases and some trial and error. Start small with a few core products in your budget, like cleanser, moisturiser, and sunscreen.

Conclusion

Putting consistent effort into a simple skincare routine with just the core steps of cleansing, moisturising and sun protection yields tangible benefits for all skin types. Be patient through initial adjustment periods as the skin adapts to new products. Over time, you will discover what works best for your unique skin’s needs. Do not attempt advanced treatments or aggressive ingredients too soon. Focus on the skincare fundamentals using properly chosen gentle starter products to cultivate healthy skin.