Skincare 101: The Basics

Okay, skincare does not need to be this complicated. Somewhere along the way it turned into 12-step routines and a shelf full of products with ingredients you can't pronounce. But good skin really just comes down to a few foundational habits, done consistently. That's it.

Here's my version of skincare for dummies — the easy stuff, broken down like I'm explaining it to a friend.

1. DO NOT cleanse in the AM, Double Cleanse at Night

In the morning, you really don't need to deep clean your face. Your skin's been sleeping, not collecting dirt and SPF all day — so a quick rinse or wipe down with lukewarm, filtered water is plenty.

At night is a different story. Your skin's dealing with a full day of sunscreen, makeup, oil, pollution, whatever — one cleanse usually isn't cutting it. So double cleanse: start with an oil or balm cleanser to break all that down, then go in with your regular cleanser to actually get your skin clean underneath.  Cleanse for 60 seconds so you really get that deep clean.

2. Water Temp Actually Matters

Lukewarm, filtered water is what you want. Too hot and you're stripping your skin of its natural oils (irritation and broken capillaries). Too cold and your products don't absorb. ALWAYS FILTERED — tap water has minerals and chlorine in it that can dry your skin out and even cause build up and congestion.

3. SPF, Every Single Day — But Let's Talk About the Sun Too

SPF on your face is non-negotiable for me — every day. The face, neck, and chest get the most direct exposure throughout the day, so that's where SPF always goes if any of those areas are exposed to direct sun.

The body is a different story. I actually love getting sun on my bare skin (no SPF) — there are real benefits to it.  You don't need to avoid the sun. Just don't bake your skin. If I'm out during off-peak hours (10am, 11am, 4pm, 5pm), no SPF is needed since the sun isn't doing damage then. If I'm out during peak hours (12pm-3pm), I cap it at 20 minutes a side, depending on the UV index that day.

Rule of thumb: SPF always on your highest-exposure areas — face, neck, chest. Body SPF specifically during peak sun hours, and keep your exposure time minimal.

→ My recommended SPF for face, neck & chest
→ My recommended SPF for the body

4. Get the Order Right

Layering your products in the right order actually makes a difference. Keep it simple:

+ Cleanse

+ Treat (serums, actives)

+ Moisturize

+ SPF (mornings only)

Basically thinnest to thickest. If you put a heavy moisturizer on before your serum, that serum's not getting through — you basically wasted it.

→ Perfect starter routine: The Essentials Routine

5. Nail the Basics Before You Get Fancy

Before you buy the trendy serum everyone's talking about, make sure you've got these three down:

+ A gentle cleanser that actually works for your skin

+ A moisturizer that hydrates without clogging you up

+ An SPF you'll actually wear every day

Everything else builds on top of this. If you skip straight to actives without this foundation, you're way more likely to end up irritated than glowing. A simple routine you actually stick to beats a complicated one you give up on in two weeks.

6. Know What Your Skin Actually Is

Not every product works for every face. Quick breakdown:

• Oily — shiny by midday, more prone to congestion
• Dry — tight, flaky, rough
• Combination — oily in the T-zone, normal or dry everywhere else
• Sensitive — reacts to pretty much anything new, gets red easily

Knowing this before you shop saves you a lot of wasted money and irritated skin.

→ If you are not sure what your skin type is or where to start, begin with a skincare consultation.

7. One New Product at a Time

I get the urge to overhaul your whole routine at once, but if your skin freaks out, you'll have zero idea what caused it. Add one new thing every week or two so you can actually tell what's working and what's not.

8. Exfoliate, But Don't Go Overboard

Exfoliating gets rid of built-up dead skin and helps everything look fresher, but more is not better here — not even close. One to two times a month is the actual limit. Any more than that and you're wrecking your skin's microbiome and natural oil balance. That's not glowing skin, that's stripped skin.

9. Don't Sleep in Your Makeup or SPF

This should be obvious, I would hope.  ALWAYS cleanse your skin at night.  Yes, even if you did not wear any makeup or SPF, still wash your face before bed. Please and thank you.

10. It's Not Just What You Put On Your Face

Hydration, sleep, what you're eating — all of it shows up in your skin eventually. No product, no matter how expensive, is going to fully cancel out being sleep deprived, dehydrated or eating like garbage.

Bottom Line

You don't need to chase every new product or trend to have good skin. Cleanse properly, protect the areas that need it, add things slowly, and actually stay consistent. Nail the basics first — everything else is just extra.

xo,

Jamie