A Beginner Skincare Checklist: The 3 Essential Products to Get Started 

What products do I need for a beginner skincare routine? is one of the most common questions I receive on my Instagram page.

Based on what the gurus say on Instagram a beginner skincare routine needs at least 10 products. But who has the time for all that! Most women are concerned about keeping their skin healthy with a reasonable budget. But a lot of the information online is overwhelming and unrealistic for daily life.

There is another way to do it without having to do a 10-step routine each morning. Keep reading to discover how simple it is you will be kicking yourself for not starting sooner.

I will let you in on a secret, you already do 2 of the 3 steps but there is a missing piece. This guide will explain the basic concepts for a simple beginner skincare routine.

Although the target is beginners, the tips provided will work for everyone. Because it contains science-backed research that any skincare lover will appreciate.

So, if you have skin, it is for you.

Here is what we will learn

• The foundation for every skincare routine
• The 3 essential products for every routine
• Why each product is important for your skin

Sounds good?

The Foundation for a Beginner Skincare Routine

When you are building a house the foundation must be stable or everything else falls apart.  It is the same with your skin. The foundation is identifying your skin type, so you understand what it needs.

Once you identify your skin type it reduces your frustration because you know what to expect. You will understand which products will work for your skin & which won’t. Once this is clear most of your trial and error will become a thing of the past

Skin Types

There are 5 basic skin types normal, oily, dry, combination, and sensitive. As you can guess each of the skin types behaves exactly as described.

The goal for your skincare products if your skin isn’t ‘normal ‘’ is to bring it as close to normal as possible. You can learn more about the different skin types with this post and get a free PDF by signing up below.

Non-Negotiable Beginner Skincare Products

We’ve all seen the elaborate skincare routines but they aren’t necessary for everyone.

Some products are non-negotiable in a skincare routine and those are the core items. You build the rest of your routine around them. Most people use some of the core skincare products but use the wrong one for their skin type.

What are the non-negotiable products you need in your routine?

Cleanser- Moisturizer- Sunscreen

That’s it.

Those are three basic products that everyone needs to maintain healthy skin. The only catch is you have to choose the right one for your skin type. Because what works for dry skin may wreak havoc on oily skin.

If you are wondering why these products are so important, we will get into each of them

Why These Products are Non-negotiable

If you are wondering why these products are so important, we will get into each of them

Cleanser aka face wash

Washing your face properly is one of the most important steps in your skincare routine. Using the right cleanser balances your and improves the absorption of skincare products

For the best results, you need to wash your face twice a day. In the morning remove dead skin cells and excess oils & in the evening remove dirt & debris from exposure

Moisturizer

One-word TEWL which means transepidermal water loss or in layman’s terms your skin will dry out. All skin types need a moisturizer, yes, all skin types including oily skin. Your skin cannot remain healthy and deal with environmental attacks without a moisturizer.

Choose the right one for your skin type. Moisturizers contain a humectant(water-attracting ) and are occlusive which prevents moisture loss.

Sunscreen

This is the big kahuna. Anyone who does not wear sunscreen is saying they want to age like a banana. If that is your goal carry on. But if you want to look presentable at any age then sunscreen is non-negotiable. You can read more about why using sun protection is so important.

Why Each Product is important

Cleanser

• Clean skin regenerates faster meaning slower ageing and recovery from skincare issues.
• Remove build-up: Over the day your skin is covered with dirt & pollutants from the outside world. Using the right cleanser removes this without drying out or irritating your skin.
• Better absorption of Skincare products: Clean skin means better skincare absorption. This results in fewer congestion breakouts and faster results.

Moisturizer

• Keeps your skin healthy: the right moisturizer keeps your skin balanced. If your skin is too dry or too oily common skin problems like acne start to pop up.
• Slows down ageing & wrinkles: Leaving moisturizer out of your routine could lead to deeper wrinkles later. A damaged skin barrier from chronic inflammation leads to collagen and accelerated ageing.
• Worse skincare issues: Acne, Eczema? any current skincare issue you have will get worse. Improper hydration results in your skin not working at its peak. Think of an engine with no engine oil which makes everything worse.

Sunscreen

• Sunscreen is the most effective anti-ageing product in your routine. It protects and prevents your skin from UV damage.
• Reduces premature ageing from the breakdown of collagen preventing fine lines and wrinkles.
• It keeps your skin clear and free of hyperpigmentation and dark spots.
• Reduces your skin of skin cancer especially

What Do You Need in Your Routine

The foundation for your routine is 3 products Cleanser, Moisturizer, and Sunscreen. Chose each of these based on your skin type and use them consistently to keep your skin healthy.

But there is a caveat. This will only work for 2 types of people. People with healthy skin and young people.

If you have skincare issues like dark spots, breakouts, acne or you are over 35 then you need additional products. Hence the reason some people have up to 10 steps in their routine.

I have broken this down in my eBook LOOK YOUNGER LONGER. There I go into detail on how to build a routine targeted to your skin type and your skincare goals.

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