Your Daily Skincare Routine

Sure, we all know a quick and balanced daily skincare routine is a good idea. But with so many lotions, creams and tips out there, it’s hard to know where to start! Plus, time is of the essence—nobody wants to spend hours in the bathroom. Well, we've got you covered! From why we should use a toner to tips on how to streamline your routine. (Three minutes? Yes, please!) Here’s everything you need to know on the skincare basics so your skin will be cleansed, feel refreshed and prepared for each morning, and cared for each night.

Step 1: Cleanse

Make cleansing step one of a simple skincare routine

Make cleansing step one of a simple skincare routine Should you wash your face in the morning and evening? Yes. Even if a few, short minutes is all you have, freshly cleansed skin twice a day is a good place to start your routine. A great cleanser, like Simple® Water Boost Micellar Cleansing Water, will rid your skin of dirt and impurities (and make-up too!) without leaving your skin feeling taut and dry. It’ll prep your skin for your next skincare steps, meaning products like your moisturizer will work better.

Missed your alarm? Skip your regular morning skincare routine and speed things up by trying a facial cleansing wipe as your morning cleanser while you brew your morning joe. Rocked a bold red lip today? A facial cleansing oil will melt away make-up remains without drying out your skin.

“Whether you've got 3 minutes or 15, cleansing should always be step one of a basic skincare routine.”

A woman washing her face in a clear bowl

Step 2: Tone

Try a toner to prep skin for moisturizer

To tone or not to tone? It’s a personal preference but we like to sweep a soaked cotton pad across skin to help remove excess oils and dead skin cells (and to keep our skin feeling happy!). It’s great to help pep up and refresh skin, especially if yours includes ingredients like Witch Hazel (to help tighten pores) and calming Chamomile. Running short on time? Save this step for the evening to remove any last traces of make-up at the end of the day.

Bottle of Simple toner on a magazine page alongside cotton pads

Step 3: Serum & Booster

Add serum or booster when you've more minutes to spare

Does your skin need a little something extra? We’re talking boosters and serums! These little skincare saviors are targeted products that contain active ingredients to boost your skin and give it more of what it needs. When to apply a booster? We say after cleansing (and toning) but before moisturizing.

If your skin’s feeling dehydrated and lacking in radiance (hello, glow, where are you?), try a product like Simple® Water Boost Hydrating Booster, which includes *PENTAVITIN®, a plant extract, which instantly quenches thirsty skin for up to 48 hours. Need to get out the door like, now? Add a dash to your moisturizer and apply in one step to save those precious minutes.

A tube of Simple Hydrating Booster on a white table with pencils, a keyboard and spectacles alongside it

Step 4: Moisturize

Moisturising is the super-important finisher in any daily skincare routine

A moisturizer—you guessed it—will help protect your skin from losing moisture (keeping it feeling supple and plump!). A not-so-great moisturizer? Will probably leave skin still feeling tight and dry, and breakouts can happen as your skin tries to adjust. Look out for ingredients like Vitamin E, Glycerin, Pro-Vitamin B5 and Borage Seed Oil, which are all great moisturizers for your skin. We like to warm up our moisturizer between our palms before applying—it smooths on like a charm!

Three Simple moisturisers on a marble board alongside a pot plant and face cloth

Step 5: Mask & Exfoliate

The extras: tips to try in a spare moment

OK, we know, not quite part of a daily skincare routine, but these few steps are great if you have more time—your skin will love you for it! A deep cleansing clay mask is ideal if your skin is a bit oily—plus it’ll help shrink the look of pores and absorb impurities and dead skin cells. An exfoliator? A scrub that uses tiny particles (like rice powder) to help gently buff away dead skin cells from your skin, revealing brighter skin underneath (just remember to do a patch test before you start!).

When exfoliating, we like to give our hairline some attention—especially around our neck and ears—as sometimes, skincare products and make-up can build up here. The trick? Keep these skincare steps to once or twice a week and start slowly at first so you don't irritate your skin. It’ll help keep skin feeling calm (and soft and smooth too!).

The best way to start a daily skincare routine? Now you know! It won’t take hours and one thing’s for sure—it’ll be easy as pie when you have these basics figured out.

*PENTAVITIN® is a Trademark of DSM