Build a routine that holds up
A good routine is smaller than the industry would like you to believe. Cleanse without stripping, moisturize to support the skin barrier, and wear sunscreen every day. Those three do most of the work. Everything else is a targeted addition for a problem you actually have, not a step you are obliged to add because it exists.
The most common mistake is using too many actives at once. Retinol, vitamin C and exfoliating acids all do useful things individually, but stacked together on unprepared skin they damage the barrier, and irritated skin looks worse rather than better. Introduce one product at a time, give it several weeks, and pay attention to how your skin responds. The guides and reviews below are organized around that approach.
