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Beauty & Cosmetics

Skin Care Essentials

Skincare only works if it suits your skin, so start with your type and concern, whether that is dry, oily or breakout-prone, before the marketing. A big pot of moisturiser used morning and night can still be great value per use. We rank by genuine customer ratings, and for brands like CeraVe or The Ordinary we add ratings from beyond Amazon. Introduce active ingredients slowly, patch test new products, and use a daily SPF, since sun protection does the most for skin over time.

Common questions

What order should I apply skincare in?

Go thinnest to thickest: cleanse, then any watery serum, then moisturiser, and sunscreen last in the morning. Let actives like The Ordinary settle for a minute before the next step. At night you can skip SPF. Keep it simple, since more steps do not mean better skin.

Do I need an expensive moisturiser?

Not really. Affordable options like CeraVe do the core job of hydrating and protecting the skin barrier as well as many luxury creams. Look at the ingredients and how your skin responds, not the price. A moisturiser you use twice daily is good value even in a big tub.

How much sunscreen should I use, and how often?

For the face, about two fingers' worth, applied every morning and reapplied through the day if you are outside a lot. SPF fades with sweat and time. A daily facial SPF like Nivea Sun protects against ageing and skin damage, so it is the one step worth never skipping.