Skincare

A skincare routine doesn’t need ten steps or a big budget to be a good one. This category covers non-prescription care for your face and body, including daily routines, Korean skincare, sunscreen, lotions and product choices at every price. The aim is to help you work out what your skin needs and skip what it doesn’t.

Building a routine you can keep up

Most routines come down to three basics, which are cleansing, moisturizing and wearing sunscreen during the day. Once those feel automatic, you can decide whether a serum or another extra step earns a place on your shelf. Add one new product at a time so you can tell what’s helping and what isn’t. Try each new product on a small area first, and follow the directions on the package.

Working out your skin type

Dry, oily, combination and sensitive skin can respond very differently to the same product. Notice how your face feels a little while after washing it, and pay attention to how that changes with the seasons. An upstate New York winter and a humid Southern summer can call for two quite different moisturizers.

Reading a label without a chemistry degree

The front of the package sells the product, while the back tells you what’s in it. Words like clean and natural don’t have one fixed meaning on a cosmetic label, so the ingredient list is a more useful guide. Compare the size with the price, too, because a small bottle of serum can cost more per ounce than it first appears.

Exploring Korean skincare on a budget

Korean skincare is known for layering, hydration and lightweight textures, but you don’t need every step to enjoy it. Many people simply borrow one or two ideas, such as a gentle cleanser or a light moisturizer, and add them to the routine they already have. Imported products can vary in price and labeling, so check where you’re buying from and read the listing carefully.

The main sub-topics in skincare

This category is organized around nine main sub-topics, which follow the products and questions that come up most often.

Top 10 Face Serum

Top 10 Face Serum looks at concentrated treatments, along with how to tell one serum from another. It covers common ingredients such as retinol, vitamin C and hyaluronic acid, and it compares options by skin type and price. A serum is optional, so it’s worth asking what you want it to do before you buy one.

Skincare Routine

Skincare Routine sets out morning and evening steps for different skin types and stages of life. It also covers the body, because the skin below your chin deserves a little care as well. The focus is on routines that fit into a real day and a real budget.

Aging Skin

Aging Skin explains the non-prescription options for skin that’s changing with time. It looks at ingredients such as retinol, along with sensible expectations for what a store-bought product can do. Retinol is best introduced slowly, and it pairs with daily sunscreen. If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, ask your doctor before you use it.

Face Sunscreen

Face Sunscreen covers everyday protection, from tinted and mineral formulas to lightweight options for oily skin. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher. The best one for you is the one you’ll happily wear every day, so texture and finish matter a great deal.

Face Washes

Face Washes compares gentle cleansers, foaming washes and gels for different skin types. A cleanser should leave your skin feeling clean and comfortable, not tight and squeaky. This sub-topic includes options for dry and oily skin, from everyday drugstore bottles to pricier formulas.

Products and Brands

Products and Brands takes a wider view of what’s on the shelf. It looks at affordable brands, skincare sets, and simple choices for sensitive skin, oily skin and younger skin. You can use it when you want to compare your options before settling on a specific step.

Face Moisturizers

Face Moisturizers helps you match a cream, gel or lotion to your skin and the season. Oily skin often prefers a light formula, while drier or mature skin may welcome something richer. A good moisturizer doesn’t have to be an expensive one, so this sub-topic pays close attention to value.

Body Lotions

Body Lotions covers everyday moisture from the shoulders down. Cream, lotion and heavier butters feel different on the skin, and they suit different seasons and skin types. Because you use so much more on your body than on your face, price per ounce matters here more than almost anywhere else.

Eye Creams

Eye Creams looks at products made for the delicate skin around the eyes. This sub-topic gives an honest view of what a cream can and can’t do for puffiness, dryness and dark circles. It also compares simple drugstore options, Korean formulas and choices for sensitive skin.

When skincare isn’t the answer

This category covers cosmetic care only, and it isn’t medical advice. Prescription treatments, injectables, cosmetic surgery and medical skin conditions are all outside its scope, and so is fragrance. If your skin is painful, keeps reacting, or changes in a way that worries you, please see a doctor or dermatologist. For what goes on top of your skincare, you can visit Makeup.