For my first real post, I wanted to talk about one of my favorite things: skincare! My skincare routine has evolved quite a bit over the past two years, and sometimes it’s the only thing that makes me feel like a grown-up.

When I turned 26, my life was all over the place. I was in the midst of my first year of law school, and I was back living with my dad for the first time in eight years. I had also just gotten engaged. Like I said, I was all over the place. I felt like I needed to do something to feel like I was getting my shit together. So I did what any self-respecting millennial would do in the midst of an existential crisis: I took to the Internet.

I found that a wise Twitter user once said “sometimes u just gotta clean your room and apply an elaborate skincare routine and pretend that’s equivalent to getting ur life in order” and, let me tell you, that spoke to me on a personal level.

At least the skincare routine part, anyway.

From that day on, I set out on a mission to get my life in order one sheet mask at a time. I dove even further into my Internet quest, only to discover that there is an overwhelming amount of information out there. After buying and trying one too many chemical exfoliants, I decided I had to step back. I realized I had to start from the bottom and build from there.

After a little more research and a lot of trial and error, I got started on a basic routine. Once I got used to that, I was able to add in more products and start to experiment. My routine is now the most relaxing part of my day, and, dare I say, makes me feel like a real adult.

If you are looking to build your own routine but don’t know where to start, look no further. I outlined a simple, straightforward (maybe even boring) starter routine below. First, though, a few general tips:

• Expensive =/= better. A $100 luxury moisturizer won’t necessarily work better than a $10 drugstore moisturizer. Find something that works for your skin and your budget! I personally use a mix of drugstore and higher end products with great results. Which brings me to…
• Everyone’s skin is different! What works for me (or your friend, or your weird neighbor) may not work for you. Make sure you are patch testing any new products you’re thinking of adding.
• Do your own research before you experiment. Keep track of the things that do and don’t work. You may find that you don’t jive with certain ingredients, and that’s ok!
• Finally, and most importantly, BE PATIENT! Skincare is a marathon, not a sprint. Take the time to really understand what works for you. The last thing you want to do is ruin your skin by trying a million new products at once!

Now, onto the good stuff.

The Basic Routine

Step 1: Cleanse

The foundation of any skincare routine is cleansing. If you only have time to do one thing for your skin, this should be it. Cleansing removes the dirt, oil, makeup, and other residues that accumulate on your skin throughout the day, and can help your other products to absorb better.

You should cleanse once or twice a day depending on your skin. If you have skin on the dryer side, washing once at night is usually recommended. On the other hand, if you’re skin tends to get oily, you may want to cleanse in the morning as well.

When looking for a cleanser, find one that doesn’t leave your skin feeling overly dry or tight. If you’re just starting out, CeraVe, Cetaphil, and Neutrogena make some great reasonably-priced cleansers that suit a variety of skin types.

For my current routine, I actually do a double cleanse at night. First, I use a cleansing oil (Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Botanical Cleansing Oil, above) to remove my makeup. I then use a foaming cleanser (CeraVe, also above) for a more thorough cleanse. I’m a huge fan of the oil cleansing method (OCM), and I can go into more detail about it later. In the morning, I will either wash with the foaming cleanser or just splash my face with water, depending on how dry my skin has been.

Step 2: Moisturize

After you wash your face, it’s best to follow up with a good moisturizer. Even the most gentle cleansers can strip your skin of its natural oils, so moisturizing can help to make sure that your skin doesn’t become dry or dehydrated.

Make sure you are patch testing your moisturizers before you fully incorporate them, especially if you are acne-prone. If you have sensitive skin, try to steer clear of anything heavily fragranced. A good moisturizer will leave your skin feeling smooth, but not too greasy or oily. If your skin seems to drink up your moisturizer as soon as you put it on, you may want to look for something a bit heavier.

I tend to use a lighter moisturizer in the morning (Aveeno Positively Radiant w/SPF 15, above), and something a bit more substantial before bed (currently loving Belif True Cream Moisturizing Bomb, also above). When it gets really dry (looking at you, January), I’ll probably start using the Belif in the morning and switch to Drunk Elephant’s Lala Retro at night. I got it as a gift last Christmas and I love it, but I’ve been holding out on dropping the $60 on a new jar for as long as possible (#brokestudentproblems).

Step 3: Slap on some SPF

The last step in even the most basic routine is SPF. I can’t stress this enough- WEAR. YOUR. SUNSCREEN. Not only does SPF protect you from sunburns and skin cancer (UVB rays), but it can help to prevent premature wrinkles and other signs of aging (UVA rays). Most derms recommend wearing SPF30+ on a day-to-day basis. SPF should be applied as the last step in your AM routine.

There are a ton of SPF options out there. They are generally divided into two categories: physical blockers (think zinc oxide) and chemical blockers (like oxybenzone and octinoxate). Lab Muffin wrote a really great, in-depth article about the difference between the two. There will always be a debate about which is better. The bottom line, though, is that you should find what works best for YOU and what you will actually wear.

I will make a confession, though: the only SPF I get right now is in my daily moisturizer, and it’s only SPF15 (I know, SHAME). I had previously been using an SPF45 BB cream, but now that I switched up my makeup routine I’m still trying to troubleshoot one that works for me. Brands that I have used in the past and really liked are EltaMD and Supergoop!. I’m going to start with them and go from there. Keep an eye out for an SPF post in the future!

Final Thoughts

With all the information out there, starting a skincare routine can be daunting. Try sticking to this basic routine for a few weeks before you start to think about adding on the fun stuff. If you go slow, and focus on finding products that actually work for your skin, you’ll be off to a great start. I promise it will be worth it!

Disclaimer: I’m not a medical professional or licensed esthetician. If you have serious skin concerns, please consult a professional!