What to keep
Most routines need three things: a gentle cleanser, a moisturiser and a broad-spectrum sunscreen, SPF 30 or higher. After that, one product for your main concern is plenty for most people. A short list you use every day usually does more than a long one you use on and off.
What most people can skip
- Several serums at once. Pick one for your main concern. Using several active products together can irritate your skin, and you won’t know which one is helping.
- Face scrubs. Scrubbing can irritate skin. If you want to exfoliate, a gentle leave-on acid a few times a week is usually kinder.
- Pore strips. They remove the top of a blackhead for a few days, but don’t stop new ones forming.
- Toner, in most routines. A toner is optional. If your skin feels fine after cleansing, you can leave it out.
- Separate day and night creams. One moisturiser can do both. Sunscreen is the morning step that matters.
- A product for every concern. Treat your main concern first. Adding one product at a time shows you what’s working.
- Whatever is trending. A viral product isn’t automatically right for your skin. Ask what job it does in your routine.
These are general suggestions, not rules. If a product is working for you and your skin is comfortable, there’s no need to stop using it. If a doctor prescribed something, keep following their advice.
Signs you’re using too much
- Your skin stings, feels tight or looks red after your routine.
- New irritation appeared after you added more products.
- You can’t explain what each product is for.
- You changed several things at once, so you can’t tell what helped.
The American Academy of Dermatology warns that using too many products can irritate the skin. See a GP or dermatologist if irritation is painful, spreading or doesn’t settle.
How to cut back
- Go back to cleanser, moisturiser and sunscreen for a couple of weeks.
- Choose the one concern you most want to work on.
- Bring back one product for it, then give it at least six weeks.
- Stop using anything that causes irritation.
For a full plan, see our budget skincare routine.
Not sure where to start?
Not sure which of your products are worth keeping? 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. If you’d like the exact product for each step, within your budget, that’s optional paid Pro.
More guides
- A budget skincare routine: what to buy and what to skip
- Which skincare products should I use?
- 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 skin care products and getting the most from them (aad.org). General information only, not medical advice.