We Built Your *Best* Skincare Routine—Now You Pick Your Effort Level
Relax mode is for the skincare newbie (or skincare disinterested) who just wants a simple routine that "gets the job done.” Max mode, on the other hand, is for the skincare enthusiast who wants to maximize their skincare goals with at-home gadgets and facial treatments. Note that both routines “work” if you stick with them—they’ll both hydrate, protect, and soften fine lines—but the more effort you put in each day, the more rewards you’ll typically see over time.
Regardless of which path you choose, keep in mind that skincare cannot—no matter what the packaging may promise—transform your skin overnight. "The earliest results may be seen by six weeks, but most people don't notice results for at least 12 weeks," says Lauren Ploch, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Augusta, GA, and Aiken, SC, adding that "some results, such as collagen building, may take up to a year to appreciate." (In other words, if "have more patience" is not yet on your to-do list for 2025, it may be worthwhile to add it now. Your skin, and probably everyone in your life, will thank you.)
Now, if you're ready to update your routine and make a resolution you can (actually) follow through with, read on and pick the path that's right for you. Let's start with the absolute basics, a.k.a. Relax Mode.
Relax mode routine
Consider this your intro to skincare basics. Whether you're just starting your skincare journey or looking to pare down your existing routine, we've got guidance on what to use to keep your skin clean, hydrated, and glowing in the simplest possible way. Dr. Ploch's biggest advice to beginners is to start slow. "It's not necessary to use ten products daily," she explains. "Start with a gentle cleanser and one to two products in the morning and one to two in the evening." Have sensitive skin? Dr. Ploch recommends introducing one product at a time and waiting one to two weeks between new additions.
With that in mind, please meet your new low-maintenance skincare routine for 2025:
1. Face wash
Frequency: Morning and night
You have to wash your face. Sorry, but this one is non-negotiable in your already-simple routine. Failing to wash makeup, dirt, dead skin cells, and grime off your face every night—and ideally every morning— can lead to irritation, damage, and clogged pores. Not ideal.
Dr. Ploch recommends starting with a sensitive skin-friendly cleanser, like Vanicream's Gentle Facial Cleanser, which is a super hydrating, no-frills formula (also recognized by the National Eczema Association) that'll get your face clean without drying it out. Other options I personally love include:
Our Recommendations
2. Moisturizer
Frequency: Morning and night
If keeping your routine as simple as humanly possible is your goal then you should definitely be intentional about your moisturizer. Now, before you eye roll: intentional doesn’t mean complicated in this case. You absolutely can use one single moisturizer in the morning and at night, the key is making sure the formula is pretty basic (nothing wrong with that), formulated without harsh acids or SPF, which can end up causing irritation.
However, if your skin can handle a different moisturizer in the morning and night, you can look for two-in-one formulas that pack an extra punch to treat specific concerns, like something retinol-spiked at night (like Olay Fragrance Free Retinol 24-Night Cream or No. 7 Pure Retinol Night Repair Cream). Notice how we didn't suggest a moisturizer with SPF? That's because they're not as effective as using SPF on its own (more on that in a few).
Ultimately, Dr. Ploch recommends following up your gentle cleansing routine with a simple moisturizer, like CeraVe's Daily Moisturizer Lotion, which rings in at a budget-friendly 17 bucks, plus we have a few favorites:
Our Recommendations
3. Sunscreen
Frequency: Morning
Regardless of how minimalist you try to be, you should never pull a Marie Kondo on your sunscreen. Incorporating SPF of 30 or more into your daily routine can be hugely beneficial down the road—not only for the sake of your skin's texture and elasticity but, more importantly, for the sake of your health (more than two people die of skin cancer every hour in America, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation).
So, yes, you need to apply sunscreen even if you’re barely outside on most days. If you absolutely cannot fathom adding a third product to your routine every morning, try choosing a moisturizer with at least SPF 30. It's not as effective as SPF alone—and it won't protect you against wrinkles or damage as well—but it's better than nothing. You can try the First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Moisturizer with Sunscreen or L'Oreal Paris Age Perfect Collagen Expert Anti-Aging Day Moisturizer. Or, even better, try one of these cult-favorite sunscreens:
Our Recommendations
Max mode routine
If you're here in max mode, then this isn't your first skincare rodeo. You know your hyaluronic acid from your niacinamide, and your chemical sunscreens from your mineral ones. If you're primed, amped, and ready to revamp your lineup for 2025, this rundown is for you.
1. Cleansing oils and balms
Frequency: Night
Freshly cleansed skin: a feeling so nice, you'll try it twice. You've mastered the science of the simple, basic face wash—now it's time to get more serious and add another cleanser to the action. "The first cleansing removes makeup; the second [removes] the dead cells and debris from the day," board-certified plastic surgeon Michele Koo, MD, previously told Well+Good.
Play around with different formulas to see whether you prefer an oily one or a solid balm, which typically emulsifies at the introduction to water. While these all perform the same general duties (break down and dissolve makeup and grime), they can have drastically different textures, so pick the one that works and feels best to you.
Our Recommendations
2. Face wash
Frequency: Morning and night
On the cleanser front, you can keep things on the gentler side, both in formulas and in usage; with multiple cleansers comes a higher potential for irritation and dryness, so as tempting as it may be to get that "ultra-clean" feeling, avoid aggressively scrubbing your face as you wash it.
Although, if your skin can handle some extra punch, you can also look for ingredients like exfoliating acids (see: CeraVe Renewing Salicylic Acid Cleanser, or Dermalogica Daily Glycolic Cleanser,) especially if your concerns are brightness or acne.
Our Recommendations
3. Serum
Frequency: Morning and/or night
Inviting a serum to the party can be overwhelming, so remember that serums are not necessary, especially if you have sensitive or reactive skin. But if you've got the face of a tank and not afraid to experiment, try adding a vitamin C serum every other morning (not every day to start; it can be sensitizing), and/or a gentle, moisturizing, barrier-repairing serum at night (a formula with humectants, peptides, and ceramides, for example).
It's hard to go wrong with a simple hyaluronic acid serum, which Dr. Ploch especially recommends turning to in the winter when your skin is typically at its driest, but here are some our favorites:
Our Recommendations:
4. Moisturizer
Frequency: Morning and night
Regardless of your knowledge and skill in the skincare game, you'll still need a reliable moisturizer to keep that face of yours feeling plump, hydrated, and healthy. Looking to level up beyond basic, hydrating formulas? Consider a targeted formula, like one that tackles dull skin (like the vitamin C-spiked Paula's Choice C5 Super Boost Moisturizer or the Biossance Squalane + Vitamin C Rose Brightening Moisturizer) or one that helps repair your skin barrier while you sleep (like the Versed Sweet Relief Night Mask + Face Balm or Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Omega-Rich Cloud Cream).
Our Recommendations:
5. Eye cream
Frequency: Morning and/or night
The skin around your eyes is more delicate than a water sign at a super-sad movie. Though eye cream is not necessary or likely to change the look of your bags or dark circles (sorry, but most dermatologists agree), they can still help plump and illuminate your under-eyes—and hey, we’ll take it. When choosing an eye cream, look for formulas with hydrating ingredients, such as hyaluronic acid and ceramides, to keep this sensitive zone looking and feeling its very best. Apply eye cream with your ring finger, patting it very gently to avoid irritating or pulling.
Our Recommendations:
6. Sunscreen
Frequency: Morning
As mentioned before, any self-respecting skincare routine will include a great sunscreen (with at least an SPF 30). However, before you frolick into fancy formulas ask any dermatologist and they’ll tell you—the best one is the one you’ll wear everyday, and every day after that. In the same breath, we know that sunscreen hasn’t been the most pleasant product to apply (ghostly, goopy, sticky, tacky formulas have done us dirty in the past).
If you’re someone who can’t still bring yourself to wear sunscreen daily because of those trust issues, try the cult-favorite Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun: Rice + Probiotics formula or La Roche-Posay Anthelios UV Hydra Sunscreen SPF 50 (both 2024 Well+Good SPF Awards Winners, ahem), that we tested and confirmed to be super hydrating with no white cast. Want more options? Check out more of our favorites below.
Our Recommendations
7. At-home tools
Frequency: As needed
At home tools can't out-smooth or out-repair the work of a cosmetic injectable or a professional laser (at the hands of a board-certified professional, of course). However, to maximize your skincare results, they're a great addition to a thorough routine and can help you achieve your goals quicker between in-office services.
One you’ve probably seen all over TikTok? Micro-infusion stamping, which is basically the latest at-home iteration of microneedling that’s meant to increase the penetration and efficacy of your skincare ingredients when used twice a month. You can also incorporate red-light therapy devices, which you can use daily (if you’ve got the time) which can potentially help soothe breakouts and irritation (however, remember that in-office professional light devices are significantly more effective).
Popular microcurrent device options like the NuFace or Ziip Halo are great picks to have on hand when you want to temporarily de-puff and lift, though this won't be a permanent fix, but rather a good pick me up before a date or special event.
Our Recommendations:
8. Exfoliating mask or peel
Frequency: Bi-monthly or monthly (or as instructed by your dermatologist)
Getting rid of dead cells on the surface of your skin gives it a brighter, smoother appearance, which is where exfoliation comes in. If the word "exfoliation" immediately brings to mind harsh scrubs and the earthly scourge of microbeads, think again. "I do not recommend physical exfoliants," says Dr. Bloch, who instead recommends "mild chemical exfoliants like retinoids or hydroxy acids, e.g., AHAs or BHAs."
If you have acne-prone skin, look for products with ingredients like salicylic and glycolic acid, which help to cut through oil and prevent clogged pores. Dr. Ploch also recommends lactic acid, a gentle yet powerful AHA that helps slough off dead skin cells. At-home peels (even the gentle ones) are highly concentrated with powerful ingredients, so this isn’t the product to overdo it with (basically, you shouldn’t be swiping on peels every day). Like anything potent on your face, start low and slow, do a patch test in a small hard-to-see area first to rule out reactions.
Our Recommendations
9. Retinol
Frequency: 2 to 3 nights per week
If you aren't using it already, you should (probably) start a retinol in 2025, whether through skincare products or a prescription. To that point, "prescription retinoids are wonderful," Dr. Ploch says. "They can irritate the skin when misused, but they increase skin cell turnover, decrease our risk of skin cancer, minimize fine lines and wrinkles, and build collagen over time."
Don't fret if prescription isn't in your cards (or budget), as Dr. Ploch says a simple over-the-counter retinol is a great way to get started (we like the Paula’s Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment Cream, also formulated with peptides and licorice extract for extra brightening).
It is important to note: Retinol makes your skin more sensitive to the sun, making diligent sunscreen usage more salient than ever. And if you have sensitive skin, you may never get past using retinol three times a week which is totally fine, btw. Well+Good’s deputy editor, Chloe Metzger (our resident sensitive skin expert) swears by Peach and Lily’s Retinal For All Renewing Serum, which is also formulated with ectoin, a natural compound that helps reduce irritation from retinoids, so you get the benefits of a retinoid, without making your skin angry (how generous).
Of course, if your skin can tolerate retinol nightly, you’re in luck and can work your way up to using it nightly, here are some of our favorites.
Our Recommendations:
The bottom line
Here we are, about to kick off 2025, along with the usual commitments to major changes and lifestyle transformations—many of which will likely be dropped by the spring if we're honest with ourselves. But if you're genuinely looking to get serious about skincare this year, your best bet is to go slow, be intentional about the ingredients you're using and when you're using them, and keep track of your ongoing results. By this time next year, you'll be the skincare sage of the group text.
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