Let’s be real – skincare can feel more complicated than assembling IKEA furniture while blindfolded. One minute you’re happily washing your face with whatever soap is handy, and the next you’re drowning in a sea of serums, acids, and products with names you can’t pronounce. But here’s the thing: good skincare doesn’t require a chemistry degree or a trust fund. It just needs some common sense and the right game plan.

Think of this guide as your skincare GPS – we’re going to navigate through the essentials without getting lost in the weeds (or spending your rent money at Sephora). We’ll cover the five holy grail categories that actually matter: not destroying your face while washing it, protecting yourself from that giant ball of fire in the sky, getting rid of dead skin without looking like you wrestled with a cheese grater, keeping your face properly hydrated, and fighting Father Time with some scientifically-backed weapons.

Ready to become best friends with your skin? Let’s dive in.

Step One: Stop Attacking Your Face (A.K.A. Gentle Cleansing)

Here’s a gentle reminder: your face is not a dirty dish that needs serious scrubbing. Yet somehow, many of us treat it exactly like that. If your cleanser makes your face feel “squeaky clean,” congratulations – you’ve just stripped away your skin’s natural protective barrier like you’re removing old wallpaper.

Your skin has a natural pH of around 5.5 (slightly acidic, like a good sourdough starter), and it works hard to maintain that balance. When you blast it with harsh cleansers that have the pH of household bleach, your skin throws a tantrum. It either becomes drier than the Sahara desert or starts producing oil like it’s auditioning for a role as a pizza slice.

The goal is to find a cleanser that removes the day’s grime without making your face feel tight enough to crack when you smile. Look for something with a pH between 4.5 and 6.5 – basically, anything that doesn’t make you look like you’ve been slapped by an invisible hand after washing.

Pro tip: If you’re into the whole Korean skincare thing (and honestly, who isn’t at this point?), double cleansing is like the skincare equivalent of washing your dishes – first you use dish soap to cut through the grease, then you rinse everything clean. Start with an oil-based cleanser to melt away makeup and sunscreen, then follow with a gentle water-based cleanser. Your face will thank you, and you’ll feel very sophisticated.

Most people need to cleanse twice a day, but if you have skin drier than a desert, you might want to just rinse with water in the morning and save the cleanser for nighttime when you actually have stuff to wash off.

My favorite gentle cleanser is CeraVe Hydrating Gentle Cleanser as it has 3 types of ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and glycerin. This cleanser is very gentle and does not foam or get sudsy. It is more of a cream consistency. If you are a person who is needing suds or foamy for your face to feel "clean," you can try the Hydrating Cream to Foam Cleanser Makeup Remover Face Wash For Dry Skin. I use this when I feel like I have a heavier makeup day and really just needs some suds! My more luxurious cleanser is from Tula. If you want to go for the gold, try Tula’s Purifying Face Cleanser. It is famous for its probiotics and skin superfoods which makes your skin glowy. It is thick and creamy and your face feels so clean afterwards! The other plus is that the 6.7 oz tube will last you FOREVER. And yes, I do always have a few facial cleansers going at once depending on the day. ;)

Thanks for reading.

XOXO,

SG

Cleansing