A good skincare routine does not need to consist of many products or complicated steps. For most people, cleansing, moisturizing, and sun protection are a good foundation. The routine can then be adapted to your skin type and what your skin needs with, for example, toner, essence, serum, or exfoliation.
The most important thing is therefore not how many steps you use, but that the products serve a purpose, are used in the right order, and suit your skin. Here, we go through how to build a skincare routine from the ground up, which steps are the most important, and how the routine can differ between morning and evening.
What is a skincare routine?
A skincare routine is the products you regularly use to cleanse, moisturize, protect, and, when needed, treat the skin. The routine can consist of anything from a few basic products to several steps with products that have different functions.
A good skincare routine is based on your skin rather than on a fixed number of steps. Dry skin may, for example, need more moisture, while sensitive skin often does well with a simpler routine using gentle products.
The routine can also change over time. Season, climate, age, and which products you use can affect what your skin needs.
What do you need in a skincare routine?
A basic skincare routine does not need to be particularly advanced. Cleansing, moisturizing, and sun protection during the day provide a good foundation that can then be expanded as needed.
1. Cleansing
Cleansing removes, among other things, dirt, sebum, sweat, makeup, and residue from sunscreen from the skin. In the evening, cleansing is especially important because anything that has built up on the skin during the day needs to be removed.
Which cleanser is best suited depends on the skin. Dry and sensitive skin may, for example, prefer a mild and moisturizing cleanser, while a light cleansing gel may work well for oilier skin.
If you use makeup or water-resistant sunscreen, double cleansing may be an option. In that case, an oil- or balm-based cleanser is used first, followed by a water-based cleanser.
2. Moisturizing
A face cream helps the skin retain moisture and supports the skin barrier. Moisturizing is not only relevant for dry skin. Oily and greasy skin also needs moisture, but can often do better with a lighter gel or lotion than a rich cream.
Face cream is usually used near the end of the routine because it helps lock in moisture and the products applied earlier.
3. Sun protection
In the morning, the skincare routine ends with sun protection. Sun protection is applied after the rest of your skincare and before makeup.
SPF is especially important if the routine contains ingredients or treatments that make the skin more sensitive to the sun, but sun protection is a relevant part of the daily routine regardless of which other products you use.
Products you can add as needed
Once the foundation is in place, the skincare routine can be supplemented with more products. They do not need to be included in every routine, but are chosen based on what you want to get out of your skincare.
- Toner is used after cleansing and can, among other things, provide a first layer of hydration.
- Essence is common in Korean skincare and is usually used after toner but before serum. It often has a light consistency and can provide additional hydration and nourishing ingredients.
- Serum often contains more concentrated ingredients and is chosen based on the skin's needs, for example for extra hydration, radiance, or to even out the skin's appearance.
- Eye cream is an optional step for the skin around the eyes and does not need to be included in every routine.
- Exfoliation is used to remove dead skin cells from the skin's surface. Unlike cleansing and moisturizing, exfoliation normally does not need to be done in every skincare routine.
- Face masks are used as a complementary step when you want to give the skin, for example, extra moisture or care.
Skincare routine step by step
A common starting point is to apply products from thinner to thicker consistency, but the product's function is more important than a strict rule. For example, sunscreen should be applied last in the morning routine regardless of consistency.
A more complete skincare routine may look like this:
| Step | Product | When is it used? | Necessary? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cleansing | Morning and/or evening | Basic step |
| 2 | Toner | Morning and/or evening | Optional |
| 3 | Essence | Morning and/or evening | Optional |
| 4 | Serum | Morning and/or evening | As needed |
| 5 | Eye cream | Morning and/or evening | Optional |
| 6 | Face cream | Morning and evening | Basic step |
| 7 | Sunscreen | Morning/daytime | The last step of the day |
Exfoliation and face masks fall outside the daily order because they are usually used on selected occasions.
If you have many products, the order can become more complicated. Read our post about a skincare routine in the right order for a more detailed review of when different products should be applied.
Skincare routine in the morning and evening
The skin's needs are not exactly the same in the morning and evening. The morning routine prepares and protects the skin for the day, while the evening routine, among other things, removes makeup, sunscreen, and dirt and provides an opportunity to use products that are better suited for the evening.
A simple breakdown may look like this:
| Morning | Evening |
|---|---|
| Cleansing as needed | Cleansing |
| Serum as needed | Serum or treatment as needed |
| Face cream | Face cream |
| Sunscreen | – |
Morning skincare routine
In the morning, the routine can be kept relatively simple. If the skin needs cleansing, start with a gentle cleanser. After that, you can use toner, essence, or serum depending on your routine, followed by face cream.
The final step is sunscreen. If you use makeup, it is applied after skincare and sunscreen.
There is no reason to add products just to make the morning routine longer. Instead, base it on what your skin needs and which products you actually use regularly.
Read more about morning skincare routine.
Evening skincare routine
In the evening, there is a greater focus on cleansing. Makeup, sunscreen, dirt, and excess sebum on the skin need to be removed before the rest of the skincare is applied.
After cleansing, you can use toner, essence, serum, or other products as needed and finish with face cream. Evening is also a common time for certain active ingredients and treatments that do not need to be used every day.
If you use many different active products, it is not necessary to use all of them on the same evening. A well-thought-out and consistent routine is often easier to follow than a routine with many steps.
Read more about evening skincare routine.
Adapt your skincare routine to your skin type
The basic steps can be the same regardless of skin type, but which products and ingredients are suitable can vary greatly. Therefore, it is better to adapt the products than to try to follow exactly the same routine as someone else.
Skincare routine for dry skin
Dry skin produces less sebum and may feel tight or develop dry patches. A routine for dry skin can therefore focus on gentle cleansing and several layers of hydration.
Hydrating toner, serum, and a richer face cream can be used to complement the basic routine. Ingredients such as ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and squalane are examples of things often used in products for dry skin.
Read more about skincare routine for dry skin.
Skincare routine for oily skin
Oily skin is characterized by higher sebum production, but that does not mean the skin should be cleansed as harshly as possible or that hydration should be skipped.
A routine with gentle cleansing and lighter moisturizing products may be more suitable. Serums, gel creams, and other products with a light texture make it possible to hydrate without the routine needing to feel heavy.
Read more about skincare routine for oily skin.
Skincare routine for combination skin
Combination skin usually means that the skin is oilier in certain areas, often the T-zone, while other parts of the face are normal or drier.
This means the routine needs to find a balance. A gentle cleanser and light hydration can work as a foundation, while specific products can be used where the skin needs them.
Read our guide to a skincare routine for combination skin.
Skincare routine for sensitive skin
For sensitive skin, a simple routine is often a good starting point. Introduce products gradually and preferably choose gentle products with a focus on hydration and the skin barrier.
More products are not automatically better. If the skin reacts easily, it can instead be an advantage to keep the number of products down and first build a stable foundation with cleansing, hydration, and sun protection.
Read more about a skincare routine for sensitive skin.
Skincare routine for mature skin
As the skin changes with age, the skincare routine may also need to be adjusted. The skin can, for example, become drier, making hydration and products that support the skin barrier especially relevant.
Sun protection continues to be an important part of the morning routine, while serums and other products can be chosen based on the needs you want to focus on.
Read more about a skincare routine for mature skin.
How simple can a skincare routine be?
A skincare routine can be as simple as three basic steps. So you do not need to use toner, essence, multiple serums, Eye cream, and a face mask to have a complete routine.
A simple morning routine can be:
Cleansing as needed → face cream → sun protection
In the evening:
Cleansing → face cream
From there, you can add, for example, a serum if your skin has a need that you want to focus on.
The advantage of starting simple is that you get to know the products and can more easily determine what your skin needs. It also becomes easier to follow the routine regularly.
If you want to keep your skincare as simple as possible, you can read more about a simple 3-step skincare routine here.
If you instead want to expand the routine, there are several ways to do it. In Korean skincare, for example, 6-step routines and the classic Korean 10-step routine are common starting points, but not all steps need to be used by everyone.
How do I know if my skincare routine suits me?
A skincare routine should work together with your skin and be realistic to follow over time. If, for example, your skin feels very tight after cleansing, the cleanser may be too drying. If a rich face cream feels heavy on oily skin, a lighter moisturizer may be a better fit.
When you start a new skincare routine, it is also wise not to replace everything at the same time. If you introduce several new products at once, it becomes harder to determine which product your skin likes or reacts to.
Also, give the routine time. Some products quickly provide a hydrating or softening feel, while other changes take longer to evaluate.
The skin's needs are not static either. A routine that works well during the summer may need more hydration during the winter, and the products may need to be adjusted when the skin or surroundings change.
Common mistakes when building a skincare routine
You start with too many new products at once
A completely new routine with many products makes it difficult to know what works for your skin. Start with the basics and introduce new products gradually.
You use more active ingredients than your skin needs
More active ingredients do not automatically mean better results. It is more important to understand what the products do and how they work together.
You skip moisturizing because your skin is oily
Oil and moisture are not the same thing. Even oily skin may need hydration. Choose a lighter product instead if a rich cream feels too heavy.
You forget sunscreen
Sunscreen should be the last step in your morning skincare routine and is especially relevant when you use certain active ingredients.
Your routine is too complicated
A routine you actually use is more useful than an advanced routine that rarely happens. Start simply and only add products that serve a clear purpose.
Ready-made skincare routine based on your skin's needs
It can be difficult to know which products work well together, especially if you are building a completely new skincare routine. An alternative is therefore to start with a ready-made Skincare kit where the products have already been selected for a specific skin need.
At Koreanbeauty, there are Skincare kit adapted to different skin types and needs. This allows you to choose a complete basic routine and then supplement it if your skin's needs change.
Frequently asked questions about skincare routines
How many steps does a skincare routine need?
There is no fixed number of steps that everyone needs. A simple routine with cleansing, moisturizing, and sunscreen during the day may be enough. More products can be added based on skin type and needs.
How often should you do your skincare routine?
Skincare is usually done in the morning and evening, but not all products need to be used twice a day. Sunscreen, for example, belongs in the daytime, while exfoliation is normally used less often.
Do you need to have the same skincare routine morning and evening?
No. In the morning, the focus is, among other things, on hydration and sunscreen, while the evening routine also needs to remove makeup, sunscreen, and dirt from the day. In addition, certain treatment products are mainly used in the evening.
How long should you test a new skincare routine?
It depends on which products you use and what you want to evaluate. Moisturizing products can feel different on the skin relatively quickly, while other changes may take longer. Feel free to introduce new products gradually so that you can evaluate them individually.
Can you use products from different skincare brands in the same routine?
Yes. The products do not need to come from the same brand. The most important thing is that they suit your skin and that the ingredients and products work well together.
Do you need to use toner and serum?
No. Neither toner nor serum is mandatory to have a good skincare routine. However, they can be useful when you want to complement the basic routine with extra hydration or ingredients for a specific need.
