Start here: how to build a routine that works

New skincare is exciting, and the temptation is to start everything at once. Please don’t. Here’s how I build a routine with clients, and how to move it on as your skin gets stronger.

One new product at a time

When you buy a brand-new routine, introduce one product at a time and wait three to four weeks before adding the next.

Why it works: if you switch your cleanser, serum and cream on the same night and your skin breaks out in hives or spots, you’ll have no idea which one caused it, or even if it was a topical product. Waiting a month matches your skin’s natural renewal cycle, so you can see exactly how your skin handles each bottle before you add another.

Upgrading your routine, based on where you are

Starting out

If you have nothing, start with the foundations: a gentle, non-stripping cleanser, a barrier-strengthening serum and a daily SPF. Healthy skin should never feel tight after washing. Try GFYS Warm Up or Esse Sensitive Cleanser, Synergie Vitamin B or GFYS B-Hit, and Esse Mineral Sunscreen, Synergie Skin ÜberZinc or GFYS Workout every morning.

Building on the basics

Once those are second nature, add a stable vitamin C or antioxidant serum in the morning to strengthen skin’s defences and brighten. Try Synergie Effica C or GFYS C-Hit.

Ready for more

If you use the core steps every day, and it’s right for your skin, now is the time to add a retinoid for fine lines, texture and pigmentation, and an exfoliating acid once or twice a week. Use retinoids and AHAs at night only, because they make skin more sensitive to the sun, and keep up your SPF every morning. Try Synergie Ultimate A or GFYS Rest, with Synergie Reveal or GFYS Reboot. If your skin is sensitive, Esse Bakuchiol is a gentler place to start.

Not sure where you are? Ask Helen and I’ll tell you what to add next.