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These Are The Only Steps You Really Need In Your Skincare Routine, According To A Dermatologist

Sometimes, the best things in life are simple. And despite the endless shelfies, routines and new product hauls you might see on your Instagram feed – it’s the same when it comes to skincare too. According to our expert Dermatology team at Skin + Me, an effective skincare routine only needs three steps. And while these three steps might mean slightly different things (depending on your skin type and skin concerns), ultimately, three is the magic number for our skin.

Step One: Cleanse

Let’s face it, life can be pretty dirty. Whether we’re spending our days outside or inside, a lot of what surrounds us ends up on our faces. As a rule, we should all be washing our faces at least once a day, preferably in the evening, to remove the daily build up of sweat, dirt and dead skin cells. 

If you’re a fan of using a cleanser in the morning, what works best for you will depend on your skin type. If you’ve got dry or sensitive skin, try a gentle hydrating cleanser – and try to avoid an exfoliant cleanser. If you’ve got oily skin, a two-step exfoliant cleansing routine can work well for your skin, but it’s important not to overdo things – especially if you’re first starting out with active ingredients.

It’s your evening cleanse that’s more important. Double cleansing, meaning cleansing twice, often with two different cleansers, is a recent skincare trend, but it does have a purpose. If you’ve been wearing makeup or SPF, it’s especially important to cleanse twice. The first cleanse is the one that removes your makeup and SPF, and the second cleanse is the one actually cleans your face. And when using active ingredients or treatments, cleansing is essential in making sure that these work on your skin with maximum effectiveness. 

Step Two: Treat

Once your skin’s all clean, this is the step in your routine where you actually tackle your skin concerns. Whether you’re treating fine lines, wrinkles, uneven texture, dark spots, visible pores or clearing up unwanted spots, the treatment you use should be tailored to your skin and its needs – to make sure it actually works effectively. And this is where a custom-made Skin + Me treatment comes in.

Using a custom-made, personalised solution with your ideal combination of active ingredients means that you can streamline your products into just one small (but mighty) tube of cream. Packed into a Daily Doser that dispenses your dermatologist-recommended dose every evening, one twist and click will give your skin what it needs to tackle your skin goals. Apply your cream to your face, leave it to sink in for a few minutes and then head to bed – it’ll get to work while you’re asleep.

Step Three: Protect 

We all need a little looking after sometimes, and our skin’s no different. When you’re first using active ingredients, it can take a little while for your skin to adjust to their effective properties – which can sometimes cause dryness. Using a moisturiser around 10 minutes after your personalised solution will help to minimise these side effects.

If your skin’s still feeling a little dry in the morning, apply your moisturiser before your SPF (more on this in a few lines). In colder months, when there’s less humidity and more chance of dry skin, you might want a thicker moisturiser. And in the summer, you might want something lighter.

The other protection your skin needs every day is SPF. No matter what your skin type, you should wear SPF every single day, as the last step in your morning routine. If you’re using a moisturiser as well as your SPF in the morning, make sure your SPF goes on last, though if you have oily skin, you might not need moisturiser, as most SPF products contain enough moisturising properties for your skin’s needs.

Your SPF should block both UVA and UVB rays, and should be at least SPF30, or SPF50 if you’re out in the sun all day. When using your Skin + Me personalised solution, a higher SPF is important – as many active ingredients can increase photosensitivity.  You’ll find the five of our best dermatologist-approved SPFs for everyday wear here.

Ever wished a dermatologist could tell you exactly which products to use? Us too. Sign in to your Skin + Me account, and visit My Routine to find our expert Dermatology Team’s recommendations for your skin type.

New to Skin + Me? Get your first month of personalised skincare for £4.99 with promo code DOSE – complete our quick consultation here.

Looking for a routine refresh? Add the Dream Routine to your Skin + Me subscription.

In need of a restock? Head to The Skincare Shop for one-off purchases of your Routine Essentials.

New to Skin + Me? Get your first month of personalised skincare for £4.99 with promo code DOSE – complete our quick consultation here.

Looking for a routine refresh? Add the Dream Routine to your Skin + Me subscription.

In need of a restock? Head to The Skincare Shop for one-off purchases of your Routine Essentials.