A five-step routine that actually survives a week
Ten steps look beautiful on a shelf and get abandoned by Wednesday. This is the version our team still follows after two years.
The best routine is the one you can do at 11pm when you are tired. Five steps, two of which are optional on a bad night.
Morning
- Rinse or gentle cleanse.
- Hydrating serum while skin is damp.
- Moisturiser.
- Sunscreen — a full teaspoon.
Evening
- Cleanse properly, twice if you wore sunscreen or makeup.
- One active, alternating nights if it is strong.
- Moisturiser.
Consistency beats ingredients. A dull routine done nightly outperforms a brilliant one done twice a week.
Why the order matters
Thinnest to thickest is the rule of thumb: watery serums first, then lotions and creams, then sunscreen in the morning. Each layer should be able to reach the skin before something heavier sits on top of it.
Reader notes