Simple and Basic Skincare Routine for Beginners

Starting a skincare routine can be confusing, intimidating and overwhelming especially when you really don’t know anything about skincare. There are different skin types and all sorts of ingredients like retinols, AHAs, BHAs, niacinamide — and the list goes on and on.

I’ve had my own skincare routine since I was in my teens. When puberty hit, my skin was of course plagued with acne and my parents took pity on me and brought me to a dermatologist. I was given products and instructions on when and how to apply each product.

As I got older and with the rise of Youtube skincare gurus, my interest in skincare grew. Despite my experience with skincare, the plethora of products and ingredients to try just got overwhelming at times.

But what I’ve learned is to just keep it simple. When starting out, stick with cult favorites that a lot of people have already tried and tested. This way you know that there are already a lot of people who have tried these products — they’ve already done the testing for you. Also, these are more or less products that are gentle and suit a wide range of skincare types. But as with anything medical, immediately stop using any product that causes irritation on your skin. When in doubt, it’s always best to consult with a dermatologist.

cult favorite skin products — Image from usmagazine.com

Here’s a list of cult favorites and a step by step routine to start your skincare journey. As you gain more confidence, you’ll be able to try other products and ingredients and branch out on your own.

Skincare Routine Order or Steps

Before we get to the skincare products, one commonly asked question is — in which order do I apply the products? In general, we start with cleansing our face. Then for the treatments, we apply products from the thinnest consistency to the thickest.

Morning Routine

Foam Cleanser: COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser

Some skincare gurus recommend washing your face with just water first thing in the morning. For me, I still enjoy using a refreshing foam cleanser like the COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser. This smells amazing! Its citrus-y smell makes a great way to start your morning.

This low pH cleanser helps restore your skin’s optimal pH levels. According to Healthline, a healthy skin pH is more on the acidic side. With more acidity, your skin can combat harmful microbes and damaging free radicals that might increase the aging process. Why not help protect your skin first thing in the morning, right?

Toner: COSRX AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner

Don’t get intimidated with these acronyms. They’re just exfoliating acids that help you get glowing, radiant skin. If you’ll wear make up, it’s a great idea to gently exfoliate your skin first so you can start with a smooth and supple base.

To apply, I just spray the product around 3 to 5 times onto a cotton pad and gently swipe across my face.

Essence: Missha Time Revolution the First Treatment Essence

I’ve been into skincare since my teens but when I first heard about essences, I was absolutely clueless about what they were and what they could do for my skin. As it gained more and more popularity with the rise of Korean skincare products and routines, I gave it a try and have continued to use essences since then. I don’t even travel without packing a bottle! That’s how much I think essences are well…essential (LOL).

Though the importance of essences are still being debated up to this day, I personally cannot go without it after experiencing its effects on my skin. According to Cosmopolitan, depending on the ingredients in your specific product, a skin essence can be used to increase cell turnover, brighten, balance, prep, or hydrate the skin.

SK-II Facial Treatment Essence from amazon.com

The absolute cult favorite essence is the SK-II Facial Treatment Essence, used and trusted even by celebrities. However, I just cannot afford its hefty price tag. So I instead use its reliable and equally adored dupe, the Missha Time Revolution the First Treatment Essence.

To apply, just pour a couple of drops onto your hand, then gently pat onto your face until absorbed.

Serum: Freshly Juiced Vitamin C Drop

Vitamin C is a very important part of skincare. As Allure puts it, “Vitamin C serums are legendary for a reason: They really work. Uneven skin tone, rough texture, fine lines, acne scars, general dullness — you can name just about any common complexion concern and there’s a good chance that Vitamin C (and the skincare products it’s featured in) is a recommended treatment”.

I use the Klairs Freshly Juiced Vitamin C Drop serum which is an absolute crowd favorite. After applying my essence, I squeeze around 4 drops onto my fingers and gently massage the product on my face and neck. Some skincare experts also directly drop the serum on their face.

How to apply face serums — You can also opt to drop the serum directly on your face. Image from bustle.com.

Moisturizer: Belif The True Cream Aqua Bomb

Belif The True Cream Aqua Bomb from Ulta — Belif The True Cream Aqua Bomb from ulta.com

Now to lock in all the good stuff we already put on our skin, we seal everything off with a moisturizer. My choice and the choice of many is the Belif The True Cream Aqua Bomb. On ulta.com it’s described as a weightless gel-cream that instantly cools and refreshes the skin while providing an explosion of intense hydration. After years of using this product, I can definitely attest to this. After trying so many brands, I always come back to Belif.

Sunscreen: Anessa Perfect UV Sunscreen Mild Milk

Anessa Perfect UV Sunscreen Mild Milk from Amazon — Anessa Perfect UV Sunscreen Mild Milk from amazon.com

If there’s something that you should never, ever forget during your morning skincare routine, it’s sunscreen. The sun’s rays can be very harmful and damaging to our skin so we need to protect it.

According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, “wearing sunscreen is one of the best — and easiest — ways to protect your skin’s appearance and health at any age. Used regularly, sunscreen helps prevent sunburn, skin cancer and premature aging”.

When it comes to sunscreen, many people including me look for one with a formula that is light weight, non-greasy and won’t make us look like Casper the Friendly Ghost.

That’s why one of the best selling sunscreens out there is the Anessa Perfect UV Sunscreen Mild Milk from Shiseido. What I personally like about its formula is that it glides easily across my face and absorbs instantly too. I really don’t feel like I’m wearing any sunscreen.

Lip Care: Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask

Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask from Amazon — Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask from amazon.com

Last but not the least — lip care! This part is often forgotten or skipped. But we all know how annoying and sometimes painful chapped and dry lips are. So the next time you’re tempted to skip lip care, think about chapped lips!

I only use one product on my lips and that’s the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask. Whether it’s in the morning or at night, I just apply a bit of product on my lips for long lasting hydration and plumpness. I’m not a fan of strong fragrances on my skincare products, but for lip care, I love when it smells yummy and fruity and this lip mask definitely serves some lip smacking flavors.

Evening Routine

So far, we’ve talked about 7 products and steps and you might be thinking — there’s more? I thought this was a simple and basic skincare routine? Don’t worry, the steps are still similar and personally, I repeat some products to keep things simple and easy on the pocket.

To make things even simpler check out the chart below which you can download and save on your phone or even print!

Printable Skincare Routine for Beginners — Printable skincare routine for beginners. Click to download image.

Now let’s move on to the other products for our evening skincare routine.

Cleansing Balm: Heimish All Clean Balm

Heimish All Clean Balm from Amazon — Heimish All Clean Balm from amazon.com

At night, I double cleanse especially when I’ve worn make up during the day. If it’s your first time hearing the term “double cleanse” that just means using oils before using foam cleansers to remove dirt and especially make up.

I prefer using a balm such as the Heimish All Clean Balm. It comes in a solid form so it won’t get messy especially when you travel. I just scoop a bit of product and as I rub the balm between my fingers, it turns into a smooth oil which I gently rub on my face to melt away all the dirt and make up. Then I rinse with water before using a foam cleanser.

What I especially like about this balm is that it is very effective in removing make up, even those with the most stubborn waterproof formulas. It also rinses well with water leaving no residue and greasy feeling.

Serum: Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Serum

Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Serum from Ulta — Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Serum from ulta.com

After double cleansing, applying toner and essence, I then apply the Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair serum. This serum is definitely a classic and a crowd favorite. It’s really pricey but really effective.

According to some experts, our skin starts to age by the time we hit our 20s. So it would be great for us to start using anti-aging products around this time too.

Based on ulta.com, the Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair serum has a patented formula that reduces the look of multiple signs of aging: lines, wrinkles, firmness, pores and even tone. When I neglect to use this product, I definitely see a difference with how my skin looks so I really try to religiously apply this every night despite its hefty price tag.

Eye Cream: Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Eye Cream

Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Eye Cream from Ulta — Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Eye Cream from ulta.com

Another classic and cult favorite is the Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery eye cream which I apply after my serum. It really doesn’t help with dark circles but based on most research, nothing topical will really help with this. But I do love how it hydrates my under eyes and make them more plump and fresher looking.

After applying my eye cream, I finish off with some moisturizer and lip care.

And that’s it! I hope this article helps you in your journey to great looking and healthy skin. Don’t forget to download the printable cheat sheet to serve as your guide in your skincare journey. Good luck!