Start with three basics
- A gentle cleanser, morning and night.
- A moisturiser, even if your skin is oily.
- Sunscreen every morning: broad-spectrum, SPF 30 or higher, as the American Academy of Dermatology recommends. It protects your skin and stops marks getting darker.
That’s a complete routine. Everything else is optional and should earn its place.
Match them to your skin type
- Oily: gel or foaming cleanser, light gel moisturiser, oil-free sunscreen. Look for “non-comedogenic”.
- Dry: creamy cleanser, a richer cream with ceramides or glycerin.
- Combination: a light moisturiser everywhere, a little extra on dry patches.
- Sensitive: fragrance-free, short ingredient lists, and new products one at a time.
Add one active for your main concern
Pick the thing that bothers you most and add one ingredient for it — not one for everything at once.
- Blackheads, clogged pores: Salicylic acid (BHA), or a retinoid such as adapalene
- Spots (pimples): Benzoyl peroxide, or adapalene
- Dark marks after spots: Daily sunscreen first; then azelaic acid, niacinamide or vitamin C
- Oily skin, large-looking pores: Niacinamide or salicylic acid, with an oil-free moisturiser
- Dry, flaky or tight skin: A richer moisturiser with ceramides, glycerin or hyaluronic acid
- Redness, easily irritated skin: Fewer products, fragrance-free; skip strong exfoliants
Strong actives like retinoids, benzoyl peroxide and acids can dry or irritate skin at first. Start two or three nights a week, and don’t layer two strong ones on the same night.
Reading labels
- “Fragrance-free”, not “unscented”. Unscented products can still contain a masking fragrance.
- “Non-comedogenic” means made not to clog pores — useful if you get blackheads or spots.
- Price isn’t results. Many effective products are inexpensive; the ingredient matters more than the brand.
Adding products safely
Patch test a new product on a small area for a few days. Add one new product every two to three weeks, so you can tell what helps and what irritates. Give a routine six to eight weeks before judging it. If you have painful, deep or scarring breakouts, or something you’re unsure about, see a GP or dermatologist.
Not sure where to start?
FacialStack’s free report shows what’s visible in your photos and the routine steps for it; Pro names the exact product for each step. FacialStack looks at three photos of your face (front, left and right), describes what’s visible and suggests a simple morning and night routine, with what each step is for. The report is free with a free sign-in, for adults 18+. It’s cosmetic guidance from what a photo shows, not a diagnosis. You can see an example report first.
More guides
- Large pores: why they look bigger and what actually helps
- Dark circles under your eyes: why you get them and what helps
- Skincare routine order, morning and night
- A simple skincare routine for oily skin
- Blackheads on your nose: what actually helps
- Dark marks after spots: why they stay and what fades them
- A simple skincare routine for men (beard included)
- AI skin analysis from a photo: what it can and can’t tell you
Source: American Academy of Dermatology, guidance on sunscreen, acne treatment and choosing skin care products (aad.org). General information only, not medical advice.