6 Best Skincare Routines for Every Skin Type

From protecting against germs to regulating body temperature, our skin does a lot for us. So why not show our appreciation by giving back some love? One of the best ways to do that is with a daily routine that addresses your skin’s unique needs. Whether it’s sensitive or oily, the right skincare routine for your skin type can help your complexion stay healthy, hydrated, and radiant—while keeping concerns like dryness at bay. Not sure where to start? Browse our recommended routines and learn more about how to create an easy-to=follow skincare regimen that works for you.

Does your face start looking shiny throughout the day? Are blotting pads becoming your best friend? If so, you may have oily skin. Here are steps you can take to help conquer your skin type in your daily routine:

1. Cleanser

First thing’s first: Face cleanser! This crucial step clears away impurities and excess oil that can clog pores and dull skin. For oily skin in particular, a foaming or gel cleanser will adequately remove excess dirt and oil from your skin due to ingredients like niacinamide and salicylic acid. An ELEMIS product that we recommend is the Superfood Facial Wash. It’s a prebiotic gel cleanser that removes daily grime and deeply cleanses the skin for a fresh and beautiful glow.

2. Toner

After cleansing, you’ll want to apply a skincare liquid called a “toner” to your dry skin using your fingers, a cotton ball, or a cloth. Make sure to do this before using other leave-on skincare treatments like serums and moisturizers. With oily skin, you’ll want to look for astringents, such as alcohols or witch hazel, that tightens the pores. However, we recommend our Balancing Lavender Toner to purify and soften the skin without the use of alcohol. 

3. Serum

A serum is a lightweight product that deeply penetrates the skin to deliver active ingredients, such as antioxidants, peptides, and vitamins. A serum tailored to your skin concerns can both treat and protect, delivering concentrated amounts of these powerful ingredients to address a number of complexion issues.

4. Moisturiser

The final step is to apply moisturizer. Using a lighter moisturizer during the day, such as a lotion or gel, will absorb quickly and won’t pill under makeup. If your skin begins to dry out, try a thicker formula, like a cream. Opt for light lotions or gel-based formulas labelled “non-comedogenic” or “oil free.” We recommend using Pro-Collagen Marine Cream SPF 30 in the morning and Superfood Night Cream in the evening. 

Do you find your cheeks are dry while your T-zone is oily? Or maybe you have dry patches but you’re also trying to battle acne breakouts? Combination Skin, like yours, is common! And we have the perfect routine just for you!

1. Cleanser

Introducing one of our favorite, most versatile products—the cleansing balm. Benefiting almost any skin type (including oily, dry, sensitive, and mature), cleansing balms are especially great for combination skin. Rather than being formulated with mineral oils, they’re made up of natural antibacterial waxes and oils that help replenish moisture without feeling too heavy or causing an excess build up of sebum. If you’re looking for a cleansing balm with a gorgeous floral undertone, the Pro-Collagen Rose Cleansing Balm is for you! 

2. Toner

If you're interested in additional complexion-purifying and brightening benefits, today's toners are much more advanced than the drying alcohol and astringent-based formulas of the past. In fact, toners today are packed with skin-boosting benefits that can leave you glowing—which is why we recommend using one as the next step in your skincare regimen.

For combination skin, opt for gentle exfoliants, hydration boosters, and antioxidants like vitamin C, vitamin E, and green tea, which can combat free radicals and prevent skin damage.

3. Serum

We briefly touched upon serums and how they help deliver amazing ingredients that your skin will go crazy for. When choosing the right serum for you, think about this: Vitamin C is considered the gold standard antioxidant. So why not try the ELEMIS Dynamic Resurfacing Super-C Serum? This clinically proven serum has highly stable Vitamin C to help reduce visible signs of pigmentation in as little as 5 days.

4. Moisturiser

Last but not least comes face moisturizers, which keep your skin soft and hydrated and help strengthen its barrier. An ultra-light, antioxidant rich day cream like the Pro-Collagen Marine Cream SPF 30 delivers continuous hydration and helps balance normal to combination skin. It’s formulated with hyaluronic acid and neroli to help lock in essential moisture in the drier areas, while meadowsweet extract regulates oil production.

Aging is a beautiful thing that we’re lucky to experience. But with aging, components of the skin like its elasticity changes. This routine will help ensure your complexion maintains a tight, youthful appearance.

1. Cleanser

Keeping the face nice and clean is the first step in refreshing your complexion. A cleanser should do the trick! The best formulas will gently cleanse your skin without stripping it of healthy oils. We recommend Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm: A multi-purpose cleanser with a blend of nine essential oils, including lavender, chamomile and eucalyptus. So you can turn your cleansing ritual into a spa-like experience.

2. Serum

What’s one serum that anyone can benefit from in the morning? An antioxidant serum. This will prevent the formation of free radicals and lessen signs of aging over time. The ELEMIS Pro-Collagen Renewal Serum helps improve the signs of aging, promoting a more youthful illusion across skin.

3. Eye Cream

Eye creams are different from face creams because they’re formulated specifically for the delicate eye area, which ages faster than the rest of your face, and therefore fall into the "treat" category, too. If you're concerned about fine lines, wrinkles, a lack of firmness, dark circles, or under-eye bags, an eye treatment product is definitely a good option. We recommend the anti-wrinkle ELEMIS Pro-Collagen Eye Revive Mask.

4. Moisturizer

Dermatologists recommended moisturizers for all skin types year round, since hydrating is crucial for keeping skin youthful and healthy. Pro-Collagen Marine Cream is an anti-wrinkle day cream clinically proven to improve hydration, leaving skin looking and feeling firmer and more radiant.

5. Facial Oil

As we age, our skin tends to become drier and more prone to wrinkles and fine lines. Face oils can help to hydrate and nourish the skin, improving its overall appearance and helping to minimize the signs of aging. So, to finish your routine, we recommend Pro-Collagen Marine Oil —an ultra-lightweight facial oil infused with a trio of seaweeds to minimize the look of fine lines and wrinkles.

Let’s face it: Sometimes our skin can be stubborn. Acne breakouts are no exception. The recommended routine below should help keep breakouts at bay and leave acne-prone skin looking and feeling better than ever.

1. Cleanser

Like the previous routines, using a cleanser is an important first step. For acne-prone skin, you’ll want to look for a good sulfate and soap-free facial cleanser. The gentle nature of these pH-balanced cleansers will help maintain the skin’s barrier without stripping any essential moisture. For example, a gentle foaming cleanser with acne-fighting ingredients like salicylic acid, glycolic acid, benzoyl peroxide, or sulfur is a great option. An ELEMIS product that you could try is the Superfood Cica Calm Cleansing Foam. It helps calm and hydrate the skin while lifting away makeup, dirt, and grime.

2. Toner

A good toner can help ensure your skin is totally clean and grime-free, plus provides an extra dose of active ingredients. We recommend the ELEMIS Balancing Lavender Toner. This purifying facial toner balances and softens the skin.

3. Serum

Picking the right serum can determine what kind of results you’ll get. So be sure to read the labels carefully, because some serums are best used in the morning, while others are ideal for nighttime. We recommend the clinically proven ELEMIS Dynamic Resurfacing Super-C Serum. Its highly stable Vitamin C helps reduce visible signs of pigmentation in as little as 5 days.

4. Moisturiser

If you have acne-prone skin, opt for a lighter moisturizer during the daytime, such as a lotion or gel that will absorb quickly and won’t pill under makeup. If your skin is dry, try a thicker formula, like a cream. Look for light lotions or gel-based formulas labelled "non-comedogenic" or "oil-free." The prebiotic ELEMIS Superfood Day Cream is a vitamin-rich moisturizer packed with Superfoods and Matcha Tea to replenish skin with vital hydrating nourishment for a fresh glow.

Flakes. Patches. Irritation. It can all be avoided if you carefully follow this skincare routine for dry skin.

1. Cleanser

First thing’s first: If you have dry or sensitive skin, try washing only at night and rinsing your face with water in the morning. Your skin loses moisture while you sleep. So cleansing before bed helps to replenish lost moisture, keeping your skin well nourished.

When searching for the right cleanser, look for a lotion, cream, or balm formula with hydrating ingredients like ceramides, glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and botanical oils—like the 3-in-1 ELEMIS Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm. It effortlessly removes long-wear makeup, daily grime, and surface pollutants, while deep cleaning for your softest skin.

2. Toner

For dry skin, seek out a hydrating toner (or its sister, an essence) made without parching alcohol and with ingredients like glycerin and hyaluronic acid to soothe. The refreshing ELEMIS Rehydrating Ginseng Toner helps revitalize, rebalance, and moisturize skin. Hello, radiance! 

3. Serum

As previously mentioned, everyone should use vitamin C, no matter what age. It helps reverse a lot of the skin damage we get from the sun and pollution. For those with dry skin, Vitamin C can enhance skin barrier function and help reduce water loss. In simpler terms, it’s a great ally for dry skin and may even prevent it. Try the ELEMIS Dynamic Resurfacing Super-C Serum to harness the power of Vitamin C and help reduce visible signs of pigmentation in as little as 5 days.

4. Eye Cream

Did you know that the area under your eyes can become dry too? We recommend Absolute Eye Serum —a lightweight eye serum that deeply hydrates the delicate eye area to help reduce the look of dullness and puffiness.

Eye cream can be applied in the morning and at night. Remember to lightly tap using your ring finger (your weakest) to avoid tugging on this delicate area and causing damage.

5. Moisturiser

A rich cream moisturizer packed with emollients, humectants, ceramides, and occlusives is key to quenching dryness. In the morning, we suggest using the rose-infused 3-in-1 ELEMIS Pro-Collagen Rose Marine Cream. This lightweight gel-cream glides effortlessly onto the skin, leaving a silky-satin finish that is the perfect base for makeup. At night, we recommend Superfood Midnight Facial. This overnight sleeping cream is packed with probiotics, leaving dry, thirsty skin feeling soft, radiant, and replenished with moisture upon waking.

6. Facial Oil

The final step in this routine is to apply facial oil. Face oil works wonders for dry skin! It supplies much needed moisture and an immediate plumping effect. A great option you can get from ELEMIS is the Superfood Facial Oil. It’s rich with nutrients that feed your skin with 9 antioxidant-filled Superfoods to reveal a healthy-looking glow

If you have sensitive skin, you’re probably all too familiar with sudden irritation or harsh products that leave your face angry. By following this skincare routine for sensitive skin, you can avoid these challenges and end up with a complexion that will have all heads turning.

1. Cleanser

Just like dry skin, if you have sensitive skin you’ll want to wash at night and rinse your face with water in the morning. Another thing to note is the frequency in which you’re cleansing and the products you’re using. Many people cleanse too often or use a cleanser that’s overly harsh, which will actually break down your skin’s protective barrier. We recommend a micellar water, which is an ultra-gentle cleanser that includes tiny particles called micelles that trap impurities and lift them away without drying your skin in the process. Another amazing product is a gentle cleansing balm. The ELEMIS Pro-Collagen Rose Cleansing Balm is our go-to product for sensitive skin, as it easily dissolves makeup and daily grime for petal-soft skin. 

2. Toner

Adding a toner to your routine isn’t required but it definitely doesn’t hurt! In fact, swiping one on can be a great way to refresh skin, remove any residual debris, and balance pH. For sensitive skin, seek out a hydrating toner (or its sister, an essence) made without parching alcohol and with ingredients like glycerin and hyaluronic acid to soothe. The Soothing Apricot Toner is a calming facial toner that hydrates and refreshes the skin without the use of alcohol.

3. Moisturiser

Finish your routine with a great moisturiser. Look for ingredients like ceramides or hyaluronic acid, since these ingredients are the building blocks of moisture retention in skin. Also seek out formulas that are hypoallergenic and free of potential irritants, like fragrance and alcohol. We recommend the lightweight ELEMIS Sensitive Soothing Milk, a deeply hydrating moisturizer formulated for sensitive skin that’s clinically proven to reduce the appearance of redness.

We all want glowing skin. But what we do daily makes the biggest difference in how our skin ultimately turns out. So yes, you can listen to celebrities who say green smoothies will help or get regular facials done by professionals. No matter what you choose to do, one of the most essential tips for looking good can be summed up in a single word: consistency. Whether it’s your daily skincare routine when you wake up or the beauty choices you make before bed, what matters most is to keep doing what works for your skin.