Skincare Routine Finder: Routine for Your Skin Type

The right routine for your skin — not someone else’s

Walk down any beauty aisle and you will find a hundred products promising miracles — but the routine that transforms your friend’s skin can wreck yours. Skincare is not one-size-fits-all: dry skin needs barrier support, oily skin needs balance without stripping, sensitive skin needs calm, and mature skin needs all of the above plus targeted help with firmness and radiance.

The good news is that an effective routine is simpler than the industry wants you to believe. Most dermatologists agree on the same skeleton: cleanse, treat, moisturise, protect — morning and night, with small adjustments for your skin type. Ten steps are marketing; four to six well-chosen ones are skincare.

Answer a few questions about how your skin looks and feels, and the finder will build your personalised morning and evening routine — the right steps, in the right order, matched to your skin type.

What is your skin type?
What is your main skin concern?
What is your age range?
How much of a routine do you have now?

Routine steps by skin type

The core framework every routine follows. Your finder result personalises this — which steps to emphasise, which to skip, and what to look for on labels.

Step Dry / mature Oily Combination Sensitive
Cleanser (AM + PM) Cream or milky — never foaming Gel or light foam Gel; cream in dry zones Fragrance-free cream
Exfoliant (2–3×/week) Gentle lactic acid Salicylic acid (BHA) BHA on T-zone Skip or enzyme-only
Serum Hyaluronic acid + peptides Niacinamide Niacinamide Centella / azelaic acid
Moisturiser Rich cream with ceramides Lightweight gel-cream Medium lotion Barrier-repair cream
SPF (AM only) SPF 30+ moisturising SPF 30+ oil-free SPF 30+ SPF 30+ mineral
Night extra Facial oil / retinol Retinol 2–3×/week Retinol on T-zone Skip actives

The non-negotiables

Whatever your skin type, three things are not optional. Sunscreen every morning — SPF 30 or higher, rain or shine — because UV causes the vast majority of visible ageing, and no serum outruns unprotected sun. Gentle cleansing, because a stripped, squeaky-clean face is a damaged barrier, not a clean one. And consistency: most products need six to eight weeks to show results, so judge a routine by the two-month mark, not the two-day one.

Introducing actives without the drama

Retinoids, vitamin C, and exfoliating acids earn their reputation — but they punish impatience. Introduce one active at a time, start at the lowest frequency (twice a week), and build up only when your skin stays calm. Never start two strong actives in the same week, and if your skin stings, flakes, or flushes, back off: irritation is not “purging,” it is damage.

After 50, skin thins and barrier function weakens, so the “more is more” approach of your thirties stops working. Buffer retinoids over moisturiser, choose lactic over glycolic acid, and remember that the best anti-ageing product is still the sunscreen you actually wear every day.

This finder is for general information only and is not medical advice. For persistent acne, rosacea, eczema, or any worrying skin change, please see a dermatologist.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know my real skin type?
Wash your face, wait an hour without applying anything, then observe: tight and flaky means dry; shiny all over means oily; shiny T-zone with normal cheeks means combination; redness, stinging, or reactivity means sensitive. Skin type can shift with seasons, hormones, and age — re-check yearly.
What order do products go in?
Thinnest to thickest: cleanser, toner/essence if you use one, serums, moisturiser, then SPF in the morning. Sunscreen always goes last in the daytime routine (before makeup). At night, oils and retinoids go after moisturiser or mixed into it, depending on your skin’s tolerance.
Do I really need a separate eye cream?
Usually not — a good moisturiser does the same job around the eyes for most people. The exceptions: if your eye area is notably drier or more sensitive than the rest of your face, or if you want targeted ingredients like caffeine for puffiness. Otherwise, save the money.
At what age should I start retinol?
There is no magic birthday, but the 30s are when most dermatologists suggest considering it for prevention, and the 40s–50s when it earns its keep for visible concerns. Start low (0.25–0.3%), twice a week, always with nightly moisturiser and daily SPF — retinol without sunscreen is self-sabotage.
Can I use vitamin C and retinol together?
Yes — just not at the same time of day when you are starting out. The classic pairing is vitamin C in the morning (where it boosts sunscreen’s protection) and retinol at night. Once your skin is accustomed to both, some people layer them, but separating them remains the gentlest effective approach.
My skin changed after menopause — is that normal?
Completely. Declining oestrogen thins skin, reduces oil production, and weakens the barrier — many women who were oily for decades become dry or sensitive almost overnight. The fix is to re-assess rather than fight it: richer moisturisers, gentler cleansing, barrier-supporting ingredients like ceramides, and patience while your routine catches up with your skin.