need help with skin routine

as a beginner I think you should start with the basics. A basic routien would be: 1. cleanser (a gentle one because you have dry skin) 2. a toner (toners have different objectives. I suggest you to start with a hydrating toner and then once you are more experienced you can start interacting exfoliating toners, but you will have to be careful with these because you have sensitive skin and you'll want to start slowly) 3. a serum: a must have especially as we get older, there are plenty of serums that target different skin concerns (aging, brightening, hyperpigmentation...), as with toners I suggest you start with a hydrating toner to get your skin used to things and then maybe you can slowly get into retinol, niacinamide, acids and so on... 4. moisturizer: a good moisturizer is a must to seal moisture and water to the skin. 5. sunscreen for a.m routine: a good spf and frequent reapplication are the most important weapons against aging signs. you can also use washoff masks a couple of times each week. I always do and I love what they do to my skin. i did skip some steps like essence, ampoules, eye creams, and sleeping masks because these are subjective (for some they are a must for others they are optional, you'll have to decide on your own what works best for you). because we have the same skin type I'll leace some of my favorite products currently ✌🏻❤

Here’s a sample routine: 1. Cleanse - any mild cleanser or just water in the AM - double cleanse or one really good but mild cleanser in the PM Faves: Bioderma Micellar Water, SkinCeuticals Purifying Cleanser, Paula’s Choice Hydrating Cleanser 2. Treat - antioxidant in the AM. I like vit C, L-ascorbic acid at least 15%. I use Timeless CE Ferulic and SkinCeuticals Silymarin CF - anti-aging in the PM. I started with retinol (anti-acne but works as anti-aging too) and now using tretinoin (the most studied and provern and the only FDA-approved anti-aging ingredient). I use Retin A .05% Cream thrice a week. - some nights, I use azelaic acid or an exfoliant. My current faves, Paula’s Choice Azelaic Acid and Biologique Recherche Lotion P50 3. Hydrate - deeply hydrating toner used in the AM and PM. I love gel type toners like Sulwhasoo Ginseng Water. you can also add an emulsion for more hydration. I use Sulwhasoo Ginseng Emulsion. 4. Moisturize - a heavy moisturizer made for dry skin. I suggest getting one enriched with ceramides or pseudo ceramides. Zeroid, Atopalm, Aestura are some good Korean brands. - You may want to use eye cream too. 5. Protect - sunscreen in the AM Skincare routines can be overwhelming for a beginner. I remember when I started getting serious with skincare, I wanted to do all steps - double cleanse, first essence, tone, ampoule, serum, sheet mask, emulsions, moisturizer, eye cream, sleeping mask, sunscreen, etc etc etc. Now, I realized that all my skin needs is to be clean, hydrated, moisturized, treated, and protected.

thank you so much I will definitely have a look at these products x

Gentle cleanser, ceramide based moisturizer, and a good SPF. That’s where I’d start. Once you’re sticking with it, I’d add in a vitamin C serum for the day and a gentle retinol in the evening (and be aware starting retinol can be a process, not just something you start doing every day). I only cleanse in the morning because my skin is very dry. I don’t bother with eye cream or masks usually either.

thank you everyone xx