Most people think that skincare is a lot of extra work that they need to put into their daily lives to get beautiful skin. With the beauty aisles overflowing with supposed “must-haves,” creating a skincare routine is harder than ever.

But honestly, a derm ritual (skincare routine) does not need to be complicated.

Skincare is a necessity, not a luxury. Just like it is important to take care of your bodily health by doing lots of exercises, eating good food, etc. It is important to take care of your skin health too. Especially after the age of 18. You can start at the age of 15 too. The earlier the better..!!

If you are giving your time to cover your skin up with makeup, then you definitely have the time to follow a minimum skincare routine.

“What people really want and what they need is a simple yet effective routine that they can follow on a consistent basis, that won’t break the bank, and that will still give them the desired results without the irritation,” says Dr. Massick

Doing very simple things can improve the texture and health of your skin. An effective skincare routine does not need to be expensive. Just follow these steps regularly with the products you already have on hand. consistency is the key…!

In this post, I am sharing the very simple and minimum amount of steps for your skincare routine, you can add your own steps to it according to your skin type, but do not skip any of the steps I am sharing.

Let’s make you a simple, effective skincare routine with minimum steps…

Skincare Routine Step#1: Cleansing

Cleansing your skin is a must daily. No matter if you wear makeup or not. Cleansing must be done twice a day to remove dirt and excess sebum on the skin. Throughout the day the skin on your face is continually covered with bacteria, pollutants, viruses, dirt, and old (dead) skin cells.

Daily facial washing removes these impurities to give the skin a fresh look. If we skip cleansing our skin daily then the dirt build-up can lead to more skin problems like acne, blackheads, and other breakouts.

Use a mild cleanser that does not contain alcohol. I prefer cleansers that have ingredients like glycolic acid, aloe vera, tea tree, and natural extracts. Alcohol-based cleansers will give you a squeaky-clean feeling. It is because they strip away our skin’s natural oils.

How to Apply:

• The proper way to use a cleanser is to foam it up in your hands before applying it to your face. This way you are not rubbing your face and get the most out of the cleanser.
• Use gentle circular motions on your face and around the eyes.
• Then wash it off.
• Do not towel dry as it tugs our skin and can cause early wrinkles. Only pat your face dry and continue with the next step.

Skincare Routine Step#2: Toning

Toner removes any last traces of dirt, grime, and impurities stuck in your pores after you wash your face. When added to your daily skincare routine and used regularly, it can have a major positive impact on the appearance and tightness of your pores.

Toners are effective at balancing the skin’s pH level, which can help your skin to be less prone to oiliness and infection, and create a more vibrant and smoother appearance.

The whole point of a facial toner is to give your skin a hydration boost and sweep away skin cells, dirt, and any impurities that your face wash and cleanser didn’t quite catch. Toners bring your skin back to its natural acidic state, which helps your skin to absorb the next round of products.

Use toners that are alcohol-free. effective toners don’t have to be expensive. My favorite natural toners are green tea and rose water. They have anti-oxidant properties that help to improve skin barrier health.

How to Apply:

• Take a cotton ball.
• Soak it with the toner of your choice.
• After cleansing, gently swipe it on your skin, focusing on your T-zone.
• Do not apply a toner after applying any other skincare product.
• If your toner is in a spray bottle, spray it directly on your face and pat it.

Skincare Routine Step#3: Moisturizing

The basic job of a moisturizer is to hydrate the skin and keep it plump and fresh. It looks like an extra step but it is very important if you want younger looking skin. That plump, firm feeling you get after giving your face a dose of hydration is actually helping to slow down the aging process.

Moisturizers these days can tackle many other skin problems as they have special ingredients for each skin problem. like tea tree oil for acne-prone skin, hyaluronic acid for dehydrated and dry skin, etc. Choose a moisturizer based on your skin type to get the most benefit out of this step.

If you have oily skin then check this👇 post before choosing a moisturizer.

Top 5 Best Moisturizers For Oily Skin

How to Apply:

• Apply your moisturizer on a cleansed and toned face.
• Make sure you apply moisturizer gently, using upward strokes. Never press or pull on your skin.
• If you’re going to put on makeup, apply moisturizer before foundation or any other makeup.

Skincare Routine Step#4: Exfoliating (once a week)

Our skin naturally sheds itself every week or two. Our skin renews itself, revealing fresher, brighter skin in a process we call skin cell turnover. However, as we age, this process slows down dramatically and the dead skin cells sit on top of our skin barrier. This dead skin needs to be removed by exfoliation.

Exfoliation helps you remove the dead skin cells and other debris sitting on your skin, revealing newer skin underneath. It improves the appearance of skin tone and radiance, creating a fresh, revitalized glow.

Exfoliation has 2 main types. Physical and chemical. Physical exfoliation can be done once in a week. Chemical exfoliation can be done daily depending on your skin situation and chemical exfoliator type.

get to know more about exfoliators that are suitable for you here: Read This Before Buying Exfoliants

How to Apply:

• If using a chemical exfoliator: Just apply it after cleansing and toning the skin.
• If using a physical exfoliator: Apply it on the wet face and use circular motions to scrub gently for around 2 minutes. Then wash off and pat dry.
• Do Not Apply A Lot Of Pressure.

Skincare Routine Step#5: Facial Sunscreen

Last but the MOST important step is to protect your skin from free radicals and UV damage. Free radicals are responsible for breaking down our skin’s collagen, resulting in wrinkling, dark spots, fine lines, and loose, saggy skin.

Sunscreen / Sunblock will protect our skin from this kind of damage. If you don’t wear sunscreen, then no matter how effective your products are, you will not get the benefits out of them.

Not wearing sunscreen is like wasting all your skincare efforts.

Check this post out for the importance of sunscreen: You Will Never Skip Sunscreen After Reading This

How to Apply:

• Take a pea-sized amount of your sunscreen/sunblock.
• Apply after cleansing, toning, and moisturizing your face.
• If you wear makeup, wear it after sunscreen application.
• Reapply sunscreen after every 5 hours for the best protection.

Skincare Routine Step#6: Serum To Tackle A Skin Concern (optional but encouraged)

Now you are done with your simple and minimum skincare routine. This skincare routine works for all types of skin.

But, if you want to tackle your skin problem then use a dedicated serum for this purpose.

For example: If you want to treat hyper-pigmentation, then use a Vitamin C serum. If you want more radiant and glowing skin, then use Vitamin B (Niacinamide) Serum.

This extra step will complete your skincare routine and you really won’t need any other steps after this minimum yet effective skincare routine.

To Conclude:

• Skincare does not have to be expensive or complicated.
• Do these minimum and easy-to-follow steps and start your skincare journey
• Following a skincare routine will give you the confidence of wearing your skin (without makeup) on its own.