The DM:
Dear derm,
How many steps should my skincare routine have?
Hannah J
The Derm:
Dr Aamna Adel, Consultant Dermatologist at 152 Harley Street.
The Diagnosis:
Dear Hannah
That's a really interesting question because there's been so much change. At one point, everyone wanted a 10-step skincare routine, and then it was a three-step skincare routine. What I would say is that for everybody on a basic level, three steps is probably a great place to start, but you can personalise it from there.
Here's what you need to know on “how many steps should my skincare routine have?”
Getting started
The best place to start when building a skincare routine is with a cleanser, moisturiser, and sunscreen. You could even combine the moisturiser and sunscreen step together because a lot of sunscreens are also moisturisers as well, so if you really wanted to strip it back, you could just go for a two-step skincare routine.
It really depends on what your skincare goals are. If you've got other things that you're trying to tackle and target at the same time, for instance acne, dryness, pigmentation, dullness etc, you might benefit from adding other serums into your skincare routine, specifically those that have got actives in them designed to target those factors. If you're someone that's just looking for more hydration, you might add a toner or an essence – so it can vary quite a lot. For most people though, I don't think you need to go above five steps in your skincare routine. At a very basic level, three steps is more than enough.
Murad Restorative Hydro-Hyaluronic Cream
Murad Restorative Hydro-Hyaluronic Cream
- Consistency: Lightweight cream.
- Skin type: All skin types, especially dry and combination.
- Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, shea butter, sunflower extract, coconut extract.
- Pros: Hydrates skin for up to 24 hours, restores the skin barrier, smooths, plumps, brightens.
- Cons: Nothing of note.
Why we love it: Searching for a hit of hydration? You've found it with this multi-functional staple from Murad. It's powered by Advanced Hydro-Hyaluronic Technology, which is hyaluronic acid at low, medium and high molecular weights to deliver deep hydration to the different layers of the skin, revealing a soft, smooth and supple complexion. Lessening the look of fine lines and wrinkles and uneven texture and tone, this powerhouse works hard to strengthen the skin barrier, reduce water loss and increase your natural radiance.
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La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo+M Anti-Breakout Corrective Gel Moisturiser
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo+M Anti-Breakout Corrective Gel Moisturiser
- Consistency: Lightweight gel-cream.
- Skin type: Acne-prone and oily skin types.
- Key ingredients: Salicylic acid, niacinamide, zinc PCA, glycerin.
- Pros: Non-comedogenic, delivers 24-hour hydration, can also be used on the chest and back.
- Cons: Some reviews mention that you have to use it for a while to see a difference.
Why we love it: Bid a cheery farewell to pesky breakouts and post-acne pigmentation with this soothing gel-cream formula, brimming with kind-to-skin ingredients. Salicylic acid gently exfoliates to unblock congested pores and boost skin cell turnover, while zinc PCA works to control excess oil levels. But it's certainly not stripping, thanks to the addition of glycerin, which keeps your complexion hydrated for up to 24 hours.
Save when shopping for best moisturisers using these Amazon discount codes.
Working out your skin type
To tailor your skincare to your complexion, you need to know what you're working with and it's important to personalise the products to your skin type. A really easy way to do work out what your skin type is, is to start off by cleansing your skin with lukewarm water (you don't want to use extra hot water). Leave your skin for at least 30 minutes and then see what it feels like. If you're oily in your T-zone and dry everywhere else, you've got combination skin. If you're oily all over, you've got oily skin. If it feels quite dry and tight, then you've probably got dry, sensitive skin. And, if your skin feels quite comfortable even after all of that time, then you've probably just got normal skin.
Adding extras
I would say deciding what you want to use as an add-on should be really focused on what your skin type is (whether you are oily, acne-prone or dry), and also what your skincare concerns are.
For somebody with acne-prone skin, something like salicylic acid can be super helpful in their routine. It's going to reduce oil production and unplug your pores.
If you're somebody that has a dry skin type, most people can do with having hyaluronic acid in their routine because it's so hydrating. Even if you have acne-prone skin, if you're using a lot of drying ingredients, hyaluronic acid can just be a good add-on to balance how much your skin is getting dried out.
CeraVe Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid Serum
CeraVe Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid Serum
- Best for: Long-lasting hydration.
- Skin type suitable for: All.
- Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, vitamin B5 and ceramides.
- Cruelty-free? No.
- Fragranced? No.
Why we love it: A favourite option among many experts, like dermatologist Teresa Song, this budget-friendly pick checks all the boxes for a sensitive-skin-friendly serum. Fragrance-free? Check. Packed with skin-soothing ingredients? Check, thanks to a healthy dose of vitamin B5 and three different ceramides, which are naturally occurring lipids (or fat) in the skin. Dermatologist-formulated? Check. The smooth gel-cream texture feels light on the skin and absorbs within seconds for instantaneous nourishment and moisture. The ultra-gentle formula even includes some niacinamide to help calm and soothe irritated skin.
The INKEY List Hyaluronic Acid Serum
The INKEY List Hyaluronic Acid Serum
- Best for: Intense hydration at a modest price.
- Skin type suitable for: All.
- Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid and glycerin.
- Cruelty-free? Yes.
- Fragranced? No.
- Tester: Katie Leirey, Senior SEO Manager.
Why we love it: I used this consistently for a month and, while it didn’t completely transform my skin, it did exactly what I wanted it to do: tame dry patches and put some much-needed moisture back into my complexion. It has quite a watery, runny texture, so it comes out fast, and I do think a dropper would make the application a bit easier and less messy. I found it absorbed much better when my skin was slightly damp, so I tended to use it alongside a hydrating face mist, which helped it sink in nicely.
The bottle is definitely on the smaller side, but for the price, I still think it’s a great option if you want hydration without spending a fortune. It gave my skin a lovely subtle glow, helped it feel more comfortable and, importantly, I didn’t break out once while using it. It may not work wonders, but if your skin is feeling dry or dehydrated, it’s a reliable, affordable staple.
L'Oréal Paris 1.5% Hyaluronic Acid Revitalift Filler Serum
L'Oréal Paris 1.5% Hyaluronic Acid Revitalift Filler Serum
- Best for: Smoothing and plumping.
- Skin type suitable for: All.
- Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid and glycerin.
- Cruelty-free? No.
- Fragranced? No.
- Tester: Katie Leirey, Senior SEO Manager.
Glamour-editor review: I’ve used L’Oréal products for years - in fact, it was one of the first skincare brands I ever got into, so there’s a real sense of familiarity there for me. I’d also heard loads about this serum over the years, so I was keen to see if it lived up to the hype. I used it consistently for about a month, basically through the worst of winter, and kept reaching for it whenever my skin was looking a bit tired, flat and in need of extra hydration.
I also really liked the packaging - the purple glass bottle looks chic on my shelf, and the dropper made it easy to get the right amount out. The texture is light and silky, and it gave my skin that nice plump, fresh look straight away. After using it, my complexion definitely looked smoother, bouncier and a little more glowy. The only downside for me was that it did pill a bit under makeup, so I ended up liking it much more as an evening serum.
Save big when shopping for the best hyaluronic acid serums with these Amazon discount codes.
Glossier Super Bounce Serum
- Best for: Non-sticky hydration.
- Skin type suitable for: All.
- Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid and vitamin B5.
- Cruelty-free? Yes.
- Fragranced? No.
Why we love it: Refreshing feel, smooth application, nearly instant results… What's not to love? This lightweight serum features a 2% hyaluronic acid complex in combination with pro-vitamin B5, offering concentrated hydration without causing breakouts or inflammation. Together, the two ingredients work to rejuvenate the skin while promoting long-term hydration that’s ideal for acne-prone skin types, Dr. Lolis says. In fact, some reviewers note a decrease in acne, likely due to the serum’s ability to strengthen the skin barrier and improve overall skin texture.
If you are thinking about anti-ageing, vitamin C is a good ingredient to incorporate into your routine.
Tropic Glow Berry Brightening Serum
Tropic Glow Berry Brightening Serum
- Best for: Dull or uneven skin that needs a pick-me-up.
- Skin type: All.
- Key ingredients: Vitamin C, antioxidant-rich superberries, kangaroo paw flower extract.
Why we love it: This is your glow booster in a bottle. Vitamin C helps brighten and even tone, while antioxidant-packed superberries protect skin from daily stressors. Kangaroo paw flower extract adds a smoothing touch, softening the look of fine lines for skin that feels refreshed and more radiant.
The lightweight formula is designed for everyday use, making it easy to slot into your routine. With regular use, it helps fade dark spots and leaves skin looking clearer, brighter and more balanced.
Introduce new products one at a time
When you are adding new products into your routine, always go with one at a time and give yourself a couple of days or at least a week or so to see how you adjust and react to it. Often what I'll find in clinic, is that people will start lots of things at the same time. Something will break them out and then they've got no idea what the culprit was and what's not working for their skin. So that's a really easy way to 1) work out what might be irritating your skin but also 2) see what’s benefitting your skin the most. If you've been using something for a couple of weeks and you've noticed a difference, then you'll know it's working really well for you. So, go slow and do it one step at a time, then adjust according to that.
When you're starting off with salicylic acid, I would use it two or three times a week and see how your skin gets on. It is quite a drying ingredient. There's a lot of formulations available now that have been made to be less drying and irritating, but you won't know until you actually try it out on your skin. So start slowly, then just gradually build that up to once a day.
With any exfoliants or with retinoids, people often tend to experience dryness and irritation alongside purging. You might notice that you’re getting more spots when you first start using it – that's just the ingredient working. Because it's increasing cell turnover, it's bringing all that gunk to the surface, so you don't want to go too strong with it straight away. You'll find that you tolerate it a lot better if you let your skin adjust to it a little bit before you increase the frequency.
Got a skin question for our derms? Drop us a DM at @glamouruk.
