The Most Important Skincare Products to Include in Your Routine

With so many skincare products lining store shelves, it can be a bit overwhelming to figure out which ones you actually need. While there are loads of options, many of them you can skip. Unless you have specific skin problems, chances are you can simplify your beauty bag and focus on the skincare products that are important for healthy and beautiful skin. Keep reading to find out what to toss into your shopping cart and what you can leave behind.

Facial Cleanser

Perhaps the most important of all is a good facial cleanser designed for your skin type. The right cleanser removes your makeup at the end of the day and clears your pores of dirt and debris that can lead to acne. Choose a gentle cleanser - if your skin feels squeaky, you likely have one that’s too strong as that feeling means all the natural oils have been stripped from your skin. If you have normal skin, most cleansers will do the trick, but if your skin is oily or prone to acne, look for a cleanser designed for those issues.

Moisturizer

A moisturizer is an important part of any skincare routine but is especially important if you have dry skin. Moisturizer works to hydrate skin, keeping it looking young and fresh. You can find many moisturizers that contain additional ingredients that help smooth and prevent fine lines and wrinkles, improve skin tone and blur blemishes. A light moisturizer is the best choice for normal skin, but a heavier one is vital if you have dry skin. If you have oily skin, choose a gel moisturizer that will hydrate without adding additional oil to your face. Use an eye-specific moisturizer for your eye area where the skin is very thin.

Sunscreen

It can’t be said enough - you should be wearing sunscreen on your face every single day. This is especially true if you go bare-faced and don’t have any makeup creating a barrier between your face and the rays of the sun. Not only can the sun lead to wrinkles and spots on your skin, but too much exposure raises your risk of developing skin cancer, which can be deadly. Choose a facial sunscreen designed for your skin type and apply it after your moisturizer. For extra protection, choose a foundation and moisturizer that also contains SPF.

Serum

The reason why a facial serum is so important is because it infuses your skin with a more concentrated dose of active ingredients, leading to better results. Serum should be used after washing your face, but before you apply your moisturizer. There are many serums to choose from so decide what your goal is so that you can choose the right one for your needs. That might be to lighten age spots or reduce the appearance of wrinkles. Whatever the reason, adding a serum to your skincare routine will produce faster results and help keep your skin looking and feeling its best.

Of course, there are plenty of other skincare products out there for you to choose from, but chances are that you don’t need them all. The above four are the most important and the most common dermatologist-recommended skincare products to add to your routine. If you have specific skin issues, make an appointment with your dermatologist to discuss what additional products are worth using.