What's your nonnegotiable three step skincare routine?

[notaurewhatusername]

Hi,

If you could only pick three skincare products for the rest of your life what would they be? They absolute bare essentials. Mine would be;

Cleanser

Moisturiser

SPF

If the moisturiser has a decent amount of SPF in it then I'd probably say vitamin C serum

A nice rough cotton terry flannel
Random bar soap of literally any brand
A strict regimen of rest-days between face washes; not more frequently than every other day

More importantly, no drinking alcohol or smoking, no products or make-up on my face and protection from the sun (hats) has gifted me nice, clean, clear skin with few wrinkles or blemishes, despite being very fair (and very much middle-aged). If I could just remember to drink more water, I suspect I'd be absolutely radiant.

A flannel
Good facial sunblock which is sufficient moisturising for my skin (boots protect and perfect)
Flexitol or similar for feet, elbows, knees and anywhere needing a bit of TLC.

Vaseline.
Dr Jackson's 01 Day cream.
Dr Jackson's 02 Night Cream.

I was going to say this shouldn't be controversial as the basics are well known, but I see there are already a variety of answers!

For me it would be cleanser moisteriser and spf like you. I tend to buy products with SPF in so I might go with cleanser (Clean Green from Pharmacy), all round serum (Double Serum), moisteriser (with SPF) (from anywhere - I'm not fussy).

I would pick

Balm tallow - the fierce nature as at a push I could use for cleaner and wipe off or as a moisturiser. Though I do love my cleansing oils.

Tretinoin from Dermatica

Spf - I prefer chemical ones as my skin is dry and sometimes mineral ones make me dry

I would hate to be without Erborian CC cream but that's more makeup.

At the moment

Pai rosehip cleansing oil either on a muslin cloth or wash off in shower
Skinn no negociables exfoliant once a week or so
Prai gold serum and cream

Cleanser, moisturiser and lip balm

Though I'd like an eye cream too.

Thanks! Just curious to see what others do, looks like it's a very mixed bag?

Oh god, the thought of using a rough flannel, bar soap and no moisturiser 😬 I can feel my skin squeak at the thought.

I think OP nails it really, but if we can say cleanser and moisturiser +/- SPF, my additional item would be glycolic acid. It's made a huge difference to my skin.

@JudgeBurrito I haven't tried that before - what has it done to improve your skin?

It's a chemical exfoliant. It's basically brightened it, and cleared the bumpy skin on my forehead. I had lots of little under the skin spots and it completely cleared them up, so my skin is lovely and smooth now.

I'm boring.

Gentle cleanser, rich moisturiser and SPF 30.

Cleanser, moisturiser (would prefer separately but with spf in this scenario) and lip balm. Cannot do without lipbalm!

Cleanser, toner, moisturiser

1. Elemis Collagen Cleansing Balm
2. Tretinoin custom formula from Monderma
3. BFF Trinny London (SPF30 ‘barely there coverage’ with glow)

If I could have four products? I’d add a moisturising treatment oil, eg Clarins Orchid Oil.