The 8 Essential Skincare Products You Need

8 skincare products may sound like a lot to you, but when broken down, it may make more sense. One won’t work as well with the other. And the other won’t help prevent wrinkles like you want to. I’m a little obsessed with skincare these days. But when you have all the right products, you can maximize your results.

I also have a confession. I really didn’t care much about my skincare essentials until my late 20s. I would come home from being out on the town and not even wash my makeup off my face. I know, terrible. And for many years, I struggled with clogged pores on my forehead and developed small flesh-colored bumps in the summer from an increase in oil production.

And in the winter, my pores on my nose would be black and full of dead skin. Not pretty, I promise. I just didn’t have the education or know even what skincare products I should use, let alone when to use them to combat my issues. Even having basic skincare products wasn’t something I really learned about until my late 20s, and now I can’t imagine a life without a comprehensive skincare routine.

I’ve been learning so much about skincare from understanding my own skin type, how to treat issues, and even trying all sorts of facials and treatments. For a few years now, I’ve been learning so much more about skincare and ingredients, I feel like I’ve found my other passion. Skincare!  I’ve been saying lately that if I ever left the blogging world, I think I’d become an aesthetician. I just love talking about skincare, I love seeing the transformation and I love learning about it.

The 8 Essential Skincare Products You Need

A few things I learned over the years are that you definitely need a few essential skincare products. Products for morning routines to nighttime, to even your weekly routine.  Today we’ll cover not only the list of the type of products you should own, but also the products I personally use as someone who has very oily skin. Everyone should truly have a good skin care routine that they can stick to and that works for their skin tone and type.

This essential skincare list includes products your routine should have no matter what, and no matter what your skin type is.  Like cleaners, moisturizers, SPF and so on. I’ve provided suggestions on the products I use, but this list is really a list of the skincare products and the steps you should have in your routine, regardless of if you’re dry or oily. If you’ve ever wondered what skin care products do I need while browsing a beauty aisle, this guide is for you.

From cleansing to exfoliating, to using toners, different types of serums, and moisturizers, we’re covering it all! These are the types of skincare products your routine should have and I’m providing my favorite products within that routine. You can obviously swap out the product for one that works for your skin type concern, but I want you to learn about the step itself and why it’s important.

If you’re oily, this is my ultimate list as someone who has oily and acne prone skin. If you have more dry skin, you’ll want to ease up on any acids, and add in more hydrating ingredients for each of these types of skincare products in this list. Let’s dive in.

Start With The Minimum

Not everyone needs a 15-step skincare routine. You could easily find a skin care products list that has every possible item under the sun. And while yes, if you love products, go for it.

If you’re new to skincare, I’m going to recommend starting with a few essential skin care products. Cleanser, exfoliator and moisturizer (one with SPF is key). If you’re doing at least that, you’re probably way ahead of the game.

If you want to go a little farther and make your moisturizer work harder for you and really see your skin tone and concerns improve, invest in a great serum. We’ll chat more about how these products work and when to use them in your routine.

And to prevent wrinkles, a daily night cream, or a 2-3 times a week stronger retinol, is an essential item to have for anti-aging. More on each of these types of products, what they mean and how to use them below.

The 8 Skincare Products Every Woman Should Own

1. Cleanser

This is the no-brainer. If you aren’t cleansing your face, we’ve got some problems, friend! I typically cleanse my face in the morning in the shower. But you will also use your cleanser at night for your nighttime routine.

What do cleansers do? Cleansers work to remove dirt, oil and makeup. They help to unclog pores and remove dead skin. I rotate between two cleansers based on my skin type and concerns seasonally. I like this more exfoliating lactic acid cleanser for summer, and this more gentle cleanser for winter.

You should also be doing a DOUBLE cleanse. Either cleanse your skin for two whole minutes OR one minute with your gentle cleanser, and one with a more exfoliating type. I usually do a double cleanse at night to remove my makeup and then wash with a cleanser that targets any skin issues. Personally, I keep my morning cleanse really simple.

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2. Exfoliator

An exfoliator is designed to improve the texture of your skin by removing the surface layer. This sounds harsher than it actually is. But don’t worry, there are levels of exfoliation, some more gentle for everyday use versus ones that are more for weekly use.

But removing a layer of dead skin will not only reveal younger, more beautiful skin, but it also allows your products in your next step (serums and moisturizers) to be better absorbed. It will also allow your makeup to be applied more evenly and smoothly.

Exfoliating shouldn’t be done every single day, but maybe 1-2 times per week. Always work your way up to more frequency so you don’t irritate your skin.

You can also find more gentle exfoliating face washes that may be used daily. Just check the labels! When you do find a good daily one, this can be your second cleanse.

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3. Toner

A toner should be used right after cleansing and before any serums or moisturizers get applied. I like using a toner that has ingredients like BHA’s, Lactic Acid or salicylic acid. Since I’m quite oily and have acne prone skin, this helps to balance my skin out. It also helps to remove another layer of skin that the exfoliator didn’t. My choice is the Paula’s Choice BHA exfoliant.

Keeping skin type in mind, if you’re more on the dry side, you may want to try a toner for dry skin. Try a calming toner or a hydrating one. This CALM Nourishing Milky toner from Paula’s Choice would be a great option if you have skin type is more dry or combination.

I put a few drops on a cotton pad and swipe it over my face. You’ll see dead skin and any left over makeup you missed on the pad after you run it over your face and neck (I never forget my neck!). What you’re seeing on the pad is dead skin that your cleanser and exfoliator may have missed. And yes, it is ALWAYS shocking.

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4. Serum

Before your moisturizer, you’ll want to use a serum. The best way to understand the serum and moisturizer combination is that the serum are your vitamins, and the moisturizer is your drink of water to wash them down.

A serum is packed with nutrients, vitamins and high-potency ingredients that will help to transform your skin. If you’re not using a serum yet, I would say this is the thing you need to add to your skincare routine immediately. The price tag can often be a little high as they are typically highly concentrated with high quality ingredients like vitamin c, hyaluronic acid, and more. However, because you use such a small amount, it will last you a very long time.

PS check out my BIG post on the different types of serums to find the right one for your skin type and skincare concerns. If you’re overwhelmed, it’s usually a safe bet to start with a Vitamin C serum! It’s great for all skin types. I think a serum is one of those really important skincare products that actually improves the look, tone and texture of your skin. If there’s one thing you want to add to your routine after a simple cleanser and moisturizer, my vote is to add a serum to your skin care list.

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5. Moisturizer + SPF

Finally, moisturizer! I know it seems like it took forever to get to what you thought was ALL you needed in a skin care routine. But trust me. Once you have your toner and serum in place, your moisturizer will not only work better, but you’ll probably need one less pump of it.

You’ll probably want to have a couple of moisturizer options. For the morning I like to have one that has a built in SPF so it’s one less step. But for night time, I like to use a moizsutirzer that focuses on my skin barrier and microbiome. Basically, I have a few moisturizers that I rotate through depending on what my skin feels like or what the day has in store for me.

You may have one for the am with SPF in it, and one for the pm that’s more hydrating to sleep in. For those of you like me, with more oily skin, opt for an oil free moisturizer. If you’re on the drier side, you can get away with ones that are not oil free.

My tried and true, and the one item I’d want with me on a deserted island is my Peptide Rich Defense moisturizer with SPF 50. I have been using this for YEARS and I can not recommend it enough. There are plenty of options in all price points that you can find.

Whatever you choose, just be sure that this step ALSO includes an SPF for the day. This is a crucial step and I think one that easily goes hand in hand with your moisturizer so you never forget it. A minimum of SPF 30 is what we want to see in our products, SPF 50 is even better. And no, having SPF in your makeup isn’t good enough. Make it a habit that your daily morning moisturizer, every single day of the year, has SPF in it. This is truly the best anti-aging product you can add to your skinare must haves.

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6. Anti-Aging Night Cream

Now, onto our evening routine and the best nighttime skincare products before you head to bed. At night, you should also be cleansing your face and using a toner. Exfoliate occasionally when you can. But you can skip your moisturizer and let your night creams do the work here.

For anti-aging benefits, retinol is essential. Period. Retinol helps to stimulate new skin cell growth. It’s a form of Vitamin A and truly is the fountain of youth if you ask me.

For night, I use Cosmedix Define.  This product has a 2% AGP complex, which basically means it’s a retinol that’s microencapsulated for a more even application and a controlled release. At night, you can also use a face oil, or hydrating heavy cream for extra moisture if you’re on the dryer side.

Learn more about what retinol does for your skin.

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7. Eye Cream

We can’t forget the skin under our eyes, can we? This is something I struggle with the most, as I suffer from very dark circles. I also want to plump up the skin and renew it so that I do not get wrinkles.

You can use an eye cream both morning and night. I use a different one for am/pm. In the morning I like a more hydrating lighter one like this from Follain. And for pm, I go for more anti-aging ingredients that may be a little heavier and I like the Eye Genius or Opti Crystal from Cosmedix for that.

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8. Weekly Mask

Everyone should be doing a face mask once a week to address their specific skincare concerns. Hydrating, anti-aging, rejuvenating, whatever it might be. A mask is a skincare must have and one that should target whatever skin issue you may have.

Choose one, or have a few on hand, to use on a weekly basis. You want to do these only weekly as they’re usually more potent. Too frequent use can cause irritation and stir up new skin issues.

I rotate between two masks for my skin. The Pure Enzyme mask which you can actually FEEL working and see a difference in your skin immediately. It tingles while you’re doing it and your skin looks like it’s been regenerated (it’ll be a little red, don’t freak out, it’s normal and goes away in about 30 minutes!). With hydration-boosting Gluconic Acid your skin is left more plump, exfoliated and overall more beautiful.

And the other, a charcoal detox mask. I’m super oily so I really benefit from this type of mask to clean out my large pores. A charcoal mask is really meant for oily people so while you may want to try this black mask on your dry skin, I’d avoid it!

Featured Image by Anna Sullivan

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