I used to think skincare meant like… washing your face and hoping for the best.
That’s literally what I did for years. Splash water on face. Maybe use soap sometimes. Call it done.
My skin looked fine I guess but also kind of… blah? Like it wasn’t bad but it wasn’t good either.
Then I got to my late twenties and my skin started looking tired. Like actually tired. Dark circles. Dullness. Just… not glowing or whatever.
I was like okay I probably need an actual skincare routine.
So I went down this rabbit hole of skincare information and it was overwhelming. Like there are serums and essences and toners and retinoids and acids and I’m reading about all this stuff and I’m completely confused.
That’s when I realized most skincare advice is way too complicated for beginners.
You don’t need 10 products. You don’t need fancy ingredients. You need like… four things. That’s it.
Beginner skincare routine = cleanser, moisturizer, sunscreen, and one treatment product (vitamin C or retinol). That’s the actual foundation. Everything else is optional.
The skincare industry makes you think you need a million products.
You don’t.
The basics are: clean face, moisturize, protect from sun, and optionally treat specific issues.
That’s literally all you need to start.
Everything else (serums, essences, masks, toners) is nice but not necessary.
I wasted so much money on extra products when I was starting out. Serums I didn’t need. Sheet masks. Fancy toners. None of it mattered.
What mattered was the basics done consistently.
Consistency matters more than having the perfect product. Using the same cleanser and moisturizer every day for six months will give you better results than trying five different products.
So don’t overthink it. Get a cleanser. Get a moisturizer. Get sunscreen. Do that every day. Then add one treatment if you want.
That’s the routine.
A cleanser’s job is literally just to clean your face.
It’s not supposed to dry your skin out. It’s not supposed to burn. It’s just supposed to remove dirt and oil.
For beginners, a gentle cleanser is the move. Something that doesn’t strip your skin.
CeraVe Foaming Cleanser (€10-15) is the most recommended beginner cleanser because it’s gentle, affordable, and it actually works.
I’ve used it. It’s fine. It cleans your face without making it feel tight.
First Aid Beauty Cleanser (€30-40) is slightly nicer and more gentle but also more expensive. Worth it if you have sensitive skin.
Drunk Elephant Jelly Cleanser (€45) is expensive and honestly it’s just a nice cleanser. You don’t need it.
For beginners: CeraVe. It works. It’s cheap. That’s all you need.
The downside of cleansing is you have to do it twice a day. Morning and night. That’s non-negotiable for a routine to work.
If you’re not willing to wash your face twice a day, don’t bother with a skincare routine. It won’t work.
After you cleanse, your skin is clean but it’s also slightly stripped.
You need to moisturize to replenish moisture and protect your skin barrier.
For beginners, a basic lightweight moisturizer is fine.
CeraVe Moisturizing Lotion (€12-18) is the other most recommended product because it’s gentle, works for most skin types, and it’s affordable.
I use it. It’s fine. Does the job.
First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream (€35-45) is richer and better if you have dry skin. But also more expensive.
Cetaphil Moisturizer (€8-12) is cheaper and similar quality.
For beginners: CeraVe lotion or Cetaphil. Both work. Both are fine.
You apply moisturizer while your skin is still slightly damp from cleansing. That helps it absorb better.
Morning and night. Same as cleanser.
This is the most important step that people skip.
Sunscreen prevents sun damage which prevents aging and prevents skin cancer.
If you do nothing else, wear sunscreen.
But people skip it because “it feels greasy” or “it’s annoying” or “I’m inside.”
You don’t skip sunscreen. That’s the whole point.
For beginners, a basic daily sunscreen is fine.
EltaMD UV Clear (€30-40) is the most recommended because it doesn’t feel greasy.
CeraVe Face Lotion SPF 50 (€15-20) is cheaper and fine.
La Roche Posay Anthelios (€25-35) is popular and works well.
For beginners: CeraVe SPF lotion. It’s affordable. You can use it as your moisturizer and sunscreen combined.
The key is SPF 30 minimum. Anything higher is marketing. SPF 30 blocks 97% of UV rays. SPF 50 blocks 98%. Not that different.
Apply every morning if you go outside. Reapply if you’re outside for hours.
After you have cleanser, moisturizer, and sunscreen down, add ONE treatment.
Not five treatments. One.
Vitamin C serum is the beginner treatment because it brightens skin and it’s non-irritating.
Tinh chất Vitamin C từ Timeless Skincare (€12-18) is cheap and works.
Drunk Elephant Vitamin C Serum (€80-100) is expensive and nicer but honestly Timeless works almost as well.
Or use a basic retinol if you want anti-aging benefits.
The Ordinary Retinol 0.2% (€6-10) is super cheap and works.
Tretinoin (prescription) is stronger but requires a dermatologist.
For beginners, just add either Vitamin C or basic retinol once you’ve done the basic routine for like a month.
Don’t start everything at once. Your skin needs time to adjust.
Okay so I’m going to talk about First Aid Beauty specifically because they’re actually really good for beginners.
Most skincare brands are either super fancy and expensive (Drunk Elephant, Charlotte Tilbury) or super medical and intimidating (The Ordinary, CeraVe is more medical).
First Aid Beauty is in the middle. They’re not trying to be luxury. They’re not trying to be medical. They’re just… a brand that makes good skincare products that actually work.
Their cleanser is gentle. Their moisturizer is rich without being greasy. Their sunscreen is actually nice.
They don’t have a million products. They have a focused range of like… fifteen products. That’s it.
So if you’re a beginner and you’re overwhelmed, you could literally just buy First Aid Beauty and use their stuff and you’d be fine.
The downside is they’re more expensive than CeraVe (€30-40 for products vs €10-15).
But honestly the quality is noticeably better. The ingredients are better. The products feel nicer.
If you have the budget, First Aid Beauty is actually my recommendation for beginners because the products are genuinely good and the brand doesn’t try to sell you unnecessary stuff.
They’re also super transparent about ingredients and what they do.
Total time: like 5 minutes morning, 5 minutes night.
That’s it. That’s the routine.
Do this consistently for like two months before you judge if it’s working.
Your skin doesn’t change overnight. It takes time.
Don’t buy: sheet masks, essence, toner, face mists, expensive serums, jade rollers, LED masks, or any other trendy skincare thing.
You don’t need them. They’re nice if you have money but they’re not necessary.
Don’t buy: multiple serums. Pick one treatment and stick with it.
Don’t buy: prescription skincare without seeing a dermatologist first.
Don’t buy: super expensive luxury brands thinking price = quality. CeraVe works almost as well as brands that cost 5x more.
Total: €53
This routine is genuinely good and costs nothing.
Total: €125
This routine is higher quality and feels fancier but honestly the results are similar to the budget version.
Usually 4-6 weeks of consistent use before you notice improvements. Your skin cell cycle is about 28 days so give it at least a month.
Yes. Unless you have very oily skin, the same moisturizer works for both morning and night.
Not really. Maybe slightly richer moisturizer in winter but the same basic routine works year-round.
Not always. CeraVe is cheaper than most brands but works as well or better. Quality ingredients matter more than price.
Yes but start with a low strength like 0.2% and use it only 2-3 times a week initially. Retinol can irritate skin if you start too strong.
Start with: cleanser, moisturizer, sunscreen.
Do that for a month before adding anything.
Then add ONE treatment (vitamin C or retinol).
Stick with it for at least two months before deciding if it’s working.
Don’t buy a million products. Don’t fall for skincare marketing. Just do the basics consistently.
Your skin will improve. I promise.
Have you tried any of these products? What’s your beginner skincare routine? Tell me in the comments!