The 6 Essential Steps in Every Skincare Routine

Words by Jennifer George

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when figuring out the right skincare routine for you and your skin. How many times a week are people using masks? Is a daily acid necessary? Do you really need to make time for eight, ten, TWELVE steps, like some people suggest you should? Sadly, we don’t have all the answers here as everyone’s skin is different (except for the last question: no, you do not need 12 steps), however, allow us to suggest the six quite simple steps that, followed daily, should result in happy, healthy skin, without taking too much time out of your mornings and evenings.

Cleanse

If you speak to any dermatologist or skincare expert, we’d bet that cleansing would be at the top of the ‘must do’ list when it comes to skincare steps (or at least tied top with SPF, which we’ll get to later). A gentle cleanse in the morning with a gel or foam cleanser, like Dr Barbara Sturm’s, will sweep away any grime that’s settled on the skin overnight, and add some radiance (Sisley’s option is especially formulated to boost brightness). Cleansing in the evening is paramount - an unmissable step even when all you want to do is get straight into bed! Throughout the day your skin sits under make-up, gathers dirt and will produce sebum, so you want to slough all of that away to prevent congestion (that can cause blemishes) and irritation. A cleansing balm like Elemis’ iconic formula or La Prairie’s luxurious option will make light work of removing everything, leaving a clean yet hydrated canvas ready for your next skincare step.

Dr. Barbara Sturm

Cleanser (150ml)

£55.00

Sisley

Phyto-Blanc Brightening Cleansing Foam-In-Cream (125ml)

£126.00

Elemis

Pro-Collagen Black Cherry Cleansing Balm (100g)

£49.00

La Prairie

Supreme Balm Cleanser (100ml)

£150.00

Tone

Of the five key steps outlined here, this could seem like the least vital. Perhaps because there’s still an outdated idea that toners are astringent and drying. But that’s not the point of them at all. A good toner should in fact rehydrate and rebalance the skin, prepping it for any ingredients and products that will follow. Fresh’s is great for sensitive skin, soothing with rosewater and nourishing with rose oil, as is Lancôme’s milky formula that feels super fresh on application. For something a little more active, try Chanel’s brightening cleanser which has niacinamide to help refine pores or Dermalogica’s which you simply spritz on after cleansing – so easy there’s no excuse to skip it!

Fresh

Rose Deep Hydration Facial Toner (400ml)

£56.00

Lancôme

Tonique Confort Comforting Facial Toner (200ml)

£33.00

Dermalogica

Multi-Active Toner (250ml)

£45.00

Treat

Next comes your serums, packed with skin-bettering actives. This is where you want to choose something that’s going to treat specific needs or conditions. The general rule is in the morning you want to protect and prevent, in the evening repair. So Revive’s Vitamin C packed serum is a great AM option, for example, as vitamin C will help prevent pigmentation from forming, as will Omorovicza’s, which has diamond peptides guarding against environmental aggressors. For your evening routine switch to something like Cle de Peau’s serum which includes Retinol ACE, a sensitive-skin-safe retinal that strengthens the skin and helps to boost cell regeneration. Or, go with a tried and tested classic: Estee Lauder’s Advanced Night Repair, which has been nourishing, plumping and smoothing complexions overnight since 1982.

RéVive

Vitamin C Brightening Serum (30ml)

£225.00

Estée Lauder

Advanced Night Repair Serum (115ml)

£160.00

Clé de Peau Beauté

Precious Gold Vitality Serum (40ml)

£245.00

Omorovicza

Blue Diamond Super Serum

£350.00

Eye Cream

There are arguments by some that we don’t need eye cream. However, if you want great results when it comes to the eye area, an eye cream is essential as it will be specifically formulated to treat the more delicate skin there. And today’s formulas are powerhouses at doing just that. Take La Mer’s, for example, which targets signs of ageing with its magic Miracle Broth (that’s in the legendary Creme de La Mer moisturiser), plus it comes with a cooling, de-puffing applicator. Element Eight’s is boosted with caffeine to improve blood flow (helping to reduce dark circles), and Lancaster’s nourishes deeply to help minimise fine lines and soothe dryness. Augustinus Bader’s lightweight cream is a brilliant all-rounder, helping to firm and freshen with its cell-regenerating powers.

La Mer

The Eye Balm (15ml)

£215.00

Element Eight

O2 Caffeine Eight Active Eye Cream (15ml)

£165.00

AUGUSTINUS BADER

The Eye Cream (15ml)

£175.00

Moisturiser

Your moisturiser’s main job is obvious: hydration. And a bog-standard face cream might do that, to an extent, but it’s worth looking for something that promises to deliver hydrating properties deep into the skin, to really nourish properly and help to prevent future signs of ageing. Evidens de Beauté’s is rich without being greasy, making it a great option to wear under your make-up in the morning. In the evening try Shiseido’s for some seriously scientific regeneration, or Dior’s which harnesses the power of Rose de Granville, famed for its repairing properties. Guerlain also turns to nature for the delightfully decadent Abeille Royale Honey Treatment Night Cream, which is formulated with the healing powers of a specific, skin-boosting honey.

Shiseido

Vital Perfection Uplifting and Firming Advanced Cream Enriched (50ml)

£109.00

EviDenS de Beauté

The Rich Cream

£280.00

DIOR

Dior Prestige Le Baume de Minuit (50ml)

£530.00

Guerlain

Abeille Royale Honey Treatment Night Cream (80ml)

£195.00

SPF (morning only)

As mentioned at the beginning of this routine, SPF (protection from UV rays) is something that any expert worth their salt will suggest, nay demand, that we need to be wearing daily. Yes, even in the winter, yes even on rainy days. That’s because the sun is enemy number one of the skin: it causes inflammation, reduces collagen and elastin levels, induces pigmentation, and can, of course, lead to skin cancer. Wearing an SPF - preferably 50 – daily, helps to prevent all this potential damage. Formulas used to be chalky, greasy and make your eyes stream, but there’s no excuses now; take Ultra Violette’s, for example, which is lightweight and mattifying, or 111 Skin’s, which has a serum-like texture and looks beautiful on all skin tones. They now do more than protect too, with renowned skincare brands like Sisley and MZ Skin offering suncare/skincare hybrids, which boost the complexion whilst protecting it. It’s a win-win situation and leaves you no excuse not to apply it (daily!).