My Complete Face Product Map

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This took me years. Finding the right products for my skin, in my climate, at my age, required testing dozens of things that didn’t make the cut.

So here’s the whole map. Every product. Every step. In order. If something is here, it’s because I’ve used it for at least six months and repurchased it at least once. That’s my bar.

Morning routine

I keep mornings simple. Three products, two minutes, done. The goal is getting my face ready to face the world without looking like I just rolled out of bed. (Even though I did.)

Step 1: Cleanser

I use a gentle gel cleanser because anything foamy strips my skin and makes me look like a reptile by noon. This one has been my ride-or-die for two years.

CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser

Gentle, fragrance-free, and under $15. I’ve bought this more times than I can count. Mom uses it too.

Step 2: Serum

One serum. That’s it. I know people who layer four serums and I don’t know how they have the time or the patience.

The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%

Under $10. Outperforms things that cost 8x more. This single product changed my mind about the entire skincare industry.

Step 3: Moisturizer + SPF

I combine these into one step because I’m doing three steps, period. If your moisturizer doesn’t have SPF, you’re making a choice I disagree with.

EltaMD UV Daily Broad-Spectrum SPF 40

Moisturizer and sunscreen in one. No white cast. No breakouts. This is the product people ask me about most.

Evening routine

Evenings get one extra step: retinol. Everything else is the same cleanser, same serum, heavier moisturizer because I’m done fighting the sun for the day.

CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum

Started using this at the recommendation of my dermatologist. Gentle enough for nightly use. I noticed a difference in about three weeks.

That’s it. That’s the whole map. Six products total, morning and evening. No 47-step routine. No $200 eye creams. Stuff that works, that I’ve repurchased, and that I’d hand to a friend without hesitation.