THE BASIC STEPS THAT EVERY ROUTINE NEEDS
Let's chat through what a basic skincare routine actually looks like, the kind we'd build in clinic. Below is one we'd recommend regularly.
Learn more about each product/category below and explore alternatives.
CLEANSER
Your cleanser is the foundation of your routine. You want it to remove impurities and product build-up without stripping the skin or disrupting the barrier. In clinic we mainly use cream or gentle cleansers, morning and night.
A luxurious cleansing balm, suitable for all skin types. Effectively removes makeup & oils while nourishing the skin barrier.
For anyone who wants gentle without the strip. A cream cleanser with PHA that lightly exfoliates as it cleanses. Kind to sensitive skin, and a clinic favourite.
For oily or acne-prone skin that needs a proper deep clean. The salicylic acid gets right into the pores, and it calms rosacea-prone redness too.
The affordable everyday pick. A hydrating lotion that melts away makeup and grime without stripping. Good for most skin types and easy on the budget.
ANTIOXIDANT
Think of your antioxidant as your skin's shield. It protects against environmental damage, pollution and free radicals. The two I reach for most are Vitamin C (brightening and collagen-boosting) and Niacinamide (calming, barrier-strengthening). This is a morning step, worn under your SPF.
The one to buy if you want the best. The vitamin C every other serum tries to be. Brightens, firms and softens fine lines....
Honestly, the one I reach for most in clinic. A lightweight niacinamide that suits almost everyone and almost every concern....
Alto Defence Serum
For the most thorough environmental protection in one bottle. Vitamin C plus 18 more antioxidants to defend and repair. Gentle enough for sensitive and rosacea-prone skin.
The affordable pick. A niacinamide serum we reach for with problem skin, acne and rosacea included. Calms, brightens and fades dark marks. Suits all skin...
SPF
The single most important product in your routine. Whatever your concern, pigmentation, fine lines or acne, SPF is your first line of defence. Apply two full finger lengths every morning, rain or shine, and reapply through the day when you can.
For anyone who wants glow as well as protection. Nourishing oils and a luminous finish, lovely under makeup or bare. Best on dry, normal...
If you want protection and a bit of cover in one. A buildable tinted mineral SPF that evens out tone. Great for sensitive, rosacea-prone and blemish-prone skin.
bio-watery sunscreen spf 50
For anyone who hates the feel of sunscreen. A watery, lightweight Korean SPF that hydrates as it protects and sits beautifully under makeup. Suits most skin types.
The budget Korean pick. A gel-textured SPF that drenches skin in hydration while it protects, all at a brilliant price. Lovely for combination and dehydrated...
Retinoids
Retinoids are your secret weapon. They speed up cell turnover, stimulate collagen and keep your skin behaving like it's 25 again. This is the step that makes a visible difference. Use it at night, and always wear SPF the next day.
*Combines your retinoid & exfoliating acid step.* Our best-seller, and a retinoid plus exfoliating acid in one step. Visibly softens fine lines, wrinkles and pigment with barely any irritation.
AlphaRet's answer to breakouts. The same clever retinoid and acid pairing, tuned for oilier, blemish-prone skin that needs clarifying. A good step up from a gentle retinol.
For when you've used a retinoid before and you're ready to step up. Retinal works faster than retinol with the same low irritation. Brightens, smooths and clarifies.
The gentle starter, teen-friendly and easy on the budget. Eases skin into retinol while lifting cell turnover to clear breakouts and blackheads. A soft landing into retinoids.
Exfoliating Acids
This is where we sweep away the old to reveal the new. Exfoliating acids like glycolic, lactic and salicylic help dissolve dead skin cells, clear congestion and improve texture. An evening step. Alternate nights with your retinoid rather than layering the two.
For dull, tired skin that needs a wake-up. A lightweight lotion that sweeps away old surface cells to reveal brighter, fresher skin underneath. Easy to slot in.
For oily, congested or blemish-prone skin. A 2% salicylic acid that's oil soluble, so it gets deep into the pores and breaks down the blockages behind breakouts.
The affordable all-rounder. AHAs and BHAs together to smooth texture, soften congestion and keep pores in check. A nice gateway into acids.
For an occasional intensive boost, or a glow before an event. Pro-level peel pads that target texture, tone and pores. Use up to three nights a week.
Moisturiser
Once your serums have done their work, your moisturiser seals everything in. It doesn't need to be fancy, but it does need to be functional. Use it morning and night, as your last step before SPF in the day.
For anyone who wants a moisturiser that actually works. Packed with antioxidants and repairing ingredients, but feels like velvet. Suits all skin, sensitive and post-treatment included.
The night step if firmness and lines are your concern. A repairing cream that supports collagen and elastin overnight while strengthening the barrier. Use in the evening.
For anyone who just wants a simple moisturiser that works. Long-lasting daytime hydration, nothing fussy. A clinic bestseller for good reason.
Best if you're using acne treatments like adapalene or tretinoin. It calms the dryness and irritation those bring while supporting the barrier. A firm clinic...
THAT'S IT, ALL YOU NEED FOR HEALTHY SKIN!
"I call these the Bookends (cleanser and moisturiser) and the Core 4 (antioxidant, SPF, retinoid and exfoliating acid). Once you've found the ones that work for you, that's when you can start adding more if you'd like."
In the morning, cleanse, then antioxidant, then moisturiser, then SPF. In the evening, cleanse, then your retinoid or exfoliating acid, then moisturiser. SPF always comes last in the day.
No. Start with the Bookends, your cleanser and moisturiser, plus a daily SPF. Once those feel like second nature, bring in the Core 4 one at a time so your skin has time to adjust.
Yes, for experienced users. But if you're starting out better not to layer them, it's a lot for the barrier to take at once. Alternate nights instead. If you'd rather keep things simple, AlphaRet Overnight Cream does both jobs in one (which is why we love it!)
Give any new active around 8 to 12 weeks of consistent use. Skin renews on roughly a 28-day cycle, so real change takes a few of those. SPF is what protects all that progress. But honestly, real progress, real changes takes much more time than this.
The Bookends are your cleanser and moisturiser, the steps that top and tail every routine. The Core 4 are the active steps doing the heavy lifting: antioxidant, SPF, retinoid and exfoliating acid.
Some of it isn't, retinoids and certain acids in particular. We've got a dedicated Pregnancy-Safe edit for that, and it's always worth checking with your own doctor.
We would always recommend starting with SPF. As Dr. Laura says "If I could give you one thing, that in 5 years time would reduce your ageing by 26% that is SPF". It's an easy win.
No, and anyone who tells you it's non-negotiable is overselling it. A retinoid is one of the most proven anti-ageing ingredients we have, so most adults will get something from it. But it isn't essential and it isn't for everyone. If you're pregnant or breastfeeding, leave it out. If your skin is young and healthy, your SPF and the basics matter far more first. Add a retinoid when you're ready, not because you feel you have to.
Keep it simple. A gentle cleanser, a moisturiser and a daily SPF is genuinely all most younger skin needs. You don't need a shelf of actives in your teens or twenties, and reaching for strong retinoids or acids too early often does more harm than good. If breakouts are the main issue, that's the one thing worth treating properly, and our Teenage Skin and Acne edits are a good place to start.
If you're dealing with something like rosacea, eczema, persistent acne or anything that just isn't settling, that's the point to get a proper opinion rather than guessing online. The right plan depends on your skin, your history and sometimes prescription treatment. You can book an online consultation with our team, or see Dr. Laura in clinic, and we'll build something around you.
