11/23/2025
Take Better Care of Your Skin
Here’s some advice.
Four steps for skin care
It doesn’t take much to maintain healthy skin. Here’s a routine you can follow that requires only a few products and a few minutes of your day.
Cleanse. At night, remove grime, sweat, dirt and makeup. Clean skin allows for better absorption of serums and moisturizers. When you wake up, you can wash again to remove residual skin care products. (If you have dry or sensitive skin, try just rinsing rather than full-on cleansing.)
Treat. In the morning, use an antioxidant like vitamin C serum to offset damage from sunlight and pollution. On alternating nights, use either a hydroxy acid exfoliant, which whisks away dead skin cells, or a retinoid, which helps minimize fine lines and other signs of aging, acne and oiliness.
Moisturize. Apply cream or lotion to your face and body both morning and night. Massaging the product into slightly damp skin will boost its effectiveness.
Protect. Every morning — rain or shine, clear or overcast, at the beach or in the basement — wear sunscreen.
Our testing led us to 31 stellar products across skin types and categories — each ready for heavy rotation in an easy routine. You can find them in Wirecutter’s new Skin Care Essentials package. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/30/briefing/skin-care-treatment.html