How to Build a Skincare Routine from Scratch
Step 1: Know Your Skin Type and Concerns
Before we talk products, pause for a moment and reflect:
Is my skin oily, dry, combination, or sensitive?
Am I looking to treat breakouts? Dark spots? Uneven texture? Fine lines?
You don’t need to have a perfect answer. But tuning in to your skin’s patterns will help you build a routine with intention — not imitation.
Your skin deserves something built for it, not borrowed from someone else’s “favorites” list.
Step 2: Build Your Bare-Minimum Routine (3 Simple Steps)
At the heart of every effective routine are just three steps: cleanse, moisturize, protect.
🧴 Cleanser [→ Click here for examples]
Purpose: To gently remove dirt, oil, and buildup — without stripping your skin.
Try gel or foaming cleansers for oily/acne-prone skin
Choose creamy or hydrating cleansers for dry/sensitive skin
Avoid harsh scrubs and bar soaps
Use morning and night. It should leave your skin feeling clean, but never tight.
🧴 Moisturizer [→ Click here for examples]
Purpose: To hydrate and support your skin barrier.
Opt for lightweight gel creams if you’re oily
Go for richer creams if your skin leans dry or mature
Look for ingredients like ceramides, glycerin, or hyaluronic acid
Use right after cleansing, AM and PM.
🧴 Sunscreen [→ Click here for examples]
Purpose: To protect your skin from UV and visible light — the top drivers of dark spots, aging, and skin cancer.
Choose a broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher
Mineral or chemical is up to your preference
For deeper skin tones, consider a tinted SPF with iron oxides for pigment protection
Apply every morning — even on cloudy days or while working indoors.
📌 This is your foundation. If you only do these three steps daily, you’re already doing a lot.
Step 3: Add Treatments (Only If You Need To)
Once your basic routine feels solid and your skin is calm, you can slowly layer in actives — one at a time, based on your goals.
💡 Vitamin C (AM) [→ Click here for examples]
Helps brighten, even skin tone, and boost sun protection
Apply after cleansing and before moisturizer/SPF
Start 2–3 mornings a week
💡 Retinoids (PM) [→ Click here for examples]
Great for acne, texture, and signs of aging
Start 1–2 nights a week and increase gradually
Moisturize before or after to reduce dryness
💡 Exfoliants (1–2x/week) [→ Click here for examples]
Use glycolic or salicylic acid to help with texture or congestion
Never layer on retinoid nights
Overuse can weaken the skin barrier — less is more
💡 Hydrating Serums [→ Click here for examples]
Optional step if your skin feels tight or dehydrated
Look for hyaluronic acid or other humectants
Layer before your moisturizer
🌿 Reminder: Actives are tools, not shortcuts. Give your skin space — usually 2–3 weeks — before adding something new.
Step 4: Keep It Simple — Here’s Your Product Order
Morning
Cleanser
Optional: Vitamin C or hydrating serum
Moisturizer
Sunscreen
Evening
Cleanser
Optional: Retinoid or treatment
Moisturizer (or barrier repair cream)
✨ That’s it. Let your skin exhale.
Step 5: Common Mistakes to Avoid
As you ease into your new routine, here are a few things to gently steer away from:
Starting too many new products at once
Skipping moisturizer because of oiliness
Only using SPF in summer or on sunny days
Giving up on products too quickly
Believing that “more” always means “better”
Skincare isn’t a race. Your skin prefers rhythm over reinvention.
Final Thoughts
There’s beauty in starting small. When it comes to skincare, clarity is powerful. A few well-chosen steps, practiced consistently, often bring the most meaningful results.
To recap your soft-reset skincare routine:
A gentle, non-stripping cleanser
A barrier-supporting moisturizer
Daily sunscreen
Optional treatments (like vitamin C or retinoids) introduced slowly and intentionally
If you're unsure where to begin or want guidance tailored to your skin type, I offer virtual consults through my teledermatology practice. Together, we’ll build a routine that works with your life — not against it.
[→ Book a virtual appointment here.]
[→ Book a Skin Product Consultation here.]
Your Routine, Your Rhythm
Skincare is a practice, not a performance.
There’s no perfect product or magic routine — just a gentle, ongoing relationship with your skin.
If this guide helped you pause, rethink, or reset — feel free to share it with someone who’s starting their own skincare journey.
With calm and care,
Dr. Tara
Board-Certified Dermatologist | Founder, TaraMD