A Beginner's Guide to Skincare: Journey to Healthier Skin

How to Start a Skincare Routine (Even If You Know Nothing About Skincare!)

I still remember the overwhelming feeling I had standing in the skincare aisle five years ago. Countless bottles, mysterious ingredients, and marketing claims that all promised perfect skin. My face was breaking out in painful cystic acne that left both physical and emotional scars. The sheer number of products made me freeze in place, unsure where to even begin.

This is a common experience. Many of us struggle to develop a skincare routine that works for our unique skin. Today, I want to share what I've learned through my personal journey, my medical degree as a doctor and from connecting with hundreds of patients who sought guidance for their skin concerns.

Understand Your Skin Type Before You Purchase Any Product!

Before you spend money on expensive skincare products, you need to know your skin type. Using the wrong products can make your skin worse instead of better.

Most people fall into one of these five basic skin types:

✔ Oily Skin → Looks shiny, especially in the T-zone (forehead, nose, and chin). Prone to acne, blackheads, and enlarged pores. Feels greasy a few hours after washing.

✔ Dry Skin → Feels tight, rough, or flaky. May have visible dry patches, redness, or irritation. Makeup often looks patchy.

✔ Combination Skin → Oily T-zone (forehead, nose, chin) but dry or normal cheeks. Some areas get breakouts, while others feel dry.

✔ Sensitive Skin → Reacts easily to new products, temperature changes, or harsh ingredients. Often experiences redness, burning, or itching.

✔ Normal Skin → Balanced—neither too oily nor too dry. Rarely breaks out, feels comfortable, and tolerates most skincare products.

Your skin tells a deeply personal story. It reflects your genetics, environment, stress levels, diet, and overall health. What works for one person might trigger reactions in another. For example, I get a breakout every time I apply glycolic acid, but my wife cannot survive a week without it. 

Sunita, a 32-year-old teacher I worked with, also discovered this firsthand: "I kept using products my friend swore by, but they made my rosacea worse. Understanding that my skin had different needs was the first step toward healing."

✔ How to Test Your Skin Type at Home

🧼 Step 1: Wash Your Face – Use a gentle cleanser and pat dry. Don’t apply any products.

⏳ Step 2: Wait for 30 Minutes – Let your skin rest. Don't touch it.

👀 Step 3: Observe Your Skin

• Feels tight, flaky? → You have dry skin.

  
  

• Shiny all over? → You have oily skin.

  
  

• Shiny T-zone but dry elsewhere? → You have combination skin.

  
  

• Redness, itching, irritation? → You have sensitive skin.

  
  

• Looks fresh, no major oiliness or dryness? → You have normal skin.

  
  

Once you know your skin type, you can finally choose products that actually work for your skin. 

I Know My Skin Type. What now?

Start Simple With The Essential Building Blocks

The foundation of any effective skincare routine requires just three elements:

1. Gentle Cleanser

I learned this lesson the hard way. For years, I scrubbed my acne-prone skin with harsh, foaming cleansers, believing cleaner meant clearer. Instead, I was stripping my skin's protective barrier, triggering more inflammation and breakouts.

Choose a cleanser that removes dirt and makeup without leaving your skin feeling tight or "squeaky clean." That sensation often indicates disruption to your skin's natural moisture balance.

Choose the right cleanser to remove dirt, oil, and makeup without hurting your skin:

✔ For Oily Skin:Foaming or Gel Cleansers → Removes excess oil, keeps pores clear.

✔ For Dry Skin:Cream or Milky Cleansers → Hydrates while cleansing.

✔ For Combination Skin:Balancing Cleansers → Removes oil without drying out cheeks.

✔ For Sensitive Skin:Fragrance-free, Gentle Cleansers → No harsh surfactants, just soothing

ingredients.

✔ For Normal Skin:Mild Gel or Cream Cleansers → Keeps skin fresh and balanced.

2. Moisturiser

"But doctor, my skin is already oily," Rajesh told me during his consultation. This common misconception leads many to skip moisturiser. However, even oily skin needs hydration—depriving it can actually trigger increased oil production. It is also mentioned in the American Academy of Dermatology Association that not using moisturiser on oily skin type will only produce more oil.

Select a moisturiser appropriate for your skin type. Using the right moisturiser locks in

hydration and protects your skin barrier.

✔ For Oily Skin:Gel-based moisturisers → Lightweight, non-greasy.

✔ For Dry Skin:Thick creams → Deeply nourishing.

✔ For Combination Skin:Lotions → Hydrates without feeling too heavy.

✔ For Sensitive Skin:Fragrance-free, hypoallergenic creams → Soothes irritation, prevents

reactions.

✔ For Normal Skin:Balanced, lightweight creams → Keeps skin soft and supple.

3. Sunscreen

"The spots on my face appeared gradually. I barely noticed until they became prominent," shared Gopal, who developed hyperpigmentation after years without sun protection.

Daily sunscreen application remains the single most effective way to prevent premature ageing, hyperpigmentation, and skin cancer. Choose a broad-spectrum SPF 50+ formula you'll actually use consistently and reapply it every 2-3 hours.

Beyond the Basics - Advanced Skincare Routine

Treat Your Skin Concerns with These Serums: Acne, Blackhead, Whiteheads, Wrinkles, Dark Skin, etc 

Once you've established your core routine, you might consider targeted treatments for any of your skin concerns or to prevent the anticipated skin concern. For these, you may use serums or pharmaceutical creams. Serums are power-packed formulas designed to deliver active ingredients deep into your skin. Choose a serum based on your biggest skin concern.

💡 Skincare Cheat Sheet: Serum Ingredients That Actually Work

✔ Acne: 

→ Salicylic Acid or Benzoyl Peroxide to fight breakouts.

→ Niacinamide to calm inflammation & control oil.

✔ Hyperpigmentation, Dark Spots & Acne Scars: 

→ Vitamin C brightens, Kojic Acid fades spots.

✔ Wrinkles or Fine Lines: 

→ Retinol or Retinoids = anti-aging (use at night!).

✔ Loose or Dull Skin: 

→ Multi-peptides help firm and rejuvenate.

✔ For That Hydrated, Plump Look: 

→ Hyaluronic Acid → Lightweight, works for all skin

types.

🔹Sleep, hydration, sugar intake, and stress play a huge role. No serum can outwork poor lifestyle habits!

🧴 Exfoliation → Removes Dead Skin Cells (1-2x a Week)

Your skin naturally sheds dead cells, but sometimes, they build up and cause dullness, clogged pores, and rough texture. Exfoliation speeds up this process, leaving your skin brighter and smoother.

✔ For Oily/Acne-Prone Skin: 

Use a chemical exfoliant with salicylic acid (BHA) to unclog pores and reduce breakouts.

✔ For Dry/Sensitive Skin:

Stick to gentle exfoliants like lactic acid (AHA) or enzyme-based scrubs. 

✔ For Normal/Combination Skin:

A mix of AHAs & BHAs works best to keep your skin fresh.

⚠ Warning: Over-exfoliation can damage your skin barrier. Limit exfoliation to 1-2 times a week to avoid irritation.

Personalised Skincare Routine For Every Skin

🧴 Basic Skincare Application Order:

1. Cleanser

2. Toner (optional)

3. Serum

4. Moisturiser

5. Sunscreen (AM only) (At night: skip sunscreen)

   
   

 Beginner’s Skincare Routine by Skin Type

Skin Type	Morning Routine	Night Routine
Oily	1. Gel Cleanser 2. Lightweight toner (optional)3. Hyaluronic Acid + Vitamin C Serum 4. Oil-free moisturiser (gel-based) 5. Sunscreen (matte finish/gel, SPF 50+)	1. Gel Cleanser 2. Hyaluronic acid + Niacinamide serum or salicylic acid /Retinol/Multi-peptide 3. Gel moisturiser
Dry	1. Cream Cleanser 2. Hydrating toner or essence3. Hyaluronic acid + Vitamin C Serum 4. Thick cream moisturiser 5. Sunscreen (hydrating SPF 50+)	1. Cream Cleanser 2. Hyaluronic acid + multi-peptide serum 3. Nourishing night cream or facial oil
Combination	1. Gentle foaming cleanser 2. Balancing toner3. Hyaluronic acid + Vitamin C Serum 4. Gel/Lotion-based moisturiser 5. Sunscreen (non-comedogenic, SPF 50+)	1. Gentle foaming cleanser 2. Hyaluronic acid + Targeted serum (e.g., salicylic acid + niacinamide on T-zone) or Retinol or Multi-peptides) 3. Light cream or gel moisturiser
Sensitive	1. Fragrance-free gentle cleanser 2. (Optional) calming toner like rose water 3. Soothing moisturiser with ceramides 4. Mineral sunscreen (SPF 50+)	1. Gentle cleanser 2. Calming serum (like Centella or oat-based) 3. Fragrance-free moisturiser
Normal	1. Mild cleanser 2. Light moisturiser3. Hyaluronic acid + Vitamin C Serum 3. Sunscreen (any texture you like, SPF 50+)	1. Mild cleanser 2. Vitamin C/peptide serum/Retinol 3. Moisturiser (cream/lotion based)

Keep rotating between the serums separated by “/”. 

You don’t need to add everything at once. Start slow, listen to your skin, and build a routine that works for you. 

❄️☀️ Your skin may behave differently in different seasons, and you will need to adapt your skincare routine accordingly.

Always Remember To Listen to Your Skin

When I introduced retinol too quickly into my routine, my skin became red, flaky, and irritated—it was literally communicating that something wasn't right. Learning to listen to these signals is crucial.

Your skin communicates through:

• Redness and irritation

• Breakouts in unusual places

• Excessive dryness or oiliness

• Itching or stinging sensations

  
  

These symptoms provide valuable information about product compatibility. Track your skin's responses when introducing new products, and introduce only one new product at a time, using it for at least two weeks before adding another. Also, remember to patch-test it on a less sensitive area of your body. Apply a small amount of the new product to your jawline or behind your ear for 24 hours before using it all over your face.

Common Beginner Mistakes

• Over-exfoliating

• Skipping sunscreen

• Using too many actives at once (active skincare serums)

• Giving up too soon (skin needs 4–6 weeks!)

  
  

Always listen to your skin.

When to Seek Professional Guidance

Despite our best efforts, some skin conditions require medical attention. Consider consulting a dermatologist if you experience:

• Persistent acne that doesn't respond to over-the-counter treatments

• Unusual moles or skin growths

• Severe redness, inflammation, or rashes

• Significant scarring

  
  

A dermatologist can provide personalised recommendations and, when needed, prescription-strength treatments tailored to your specific needs.

Final Thoughts: Consistency Over Complexity

The most sophisticated skincare routine fails without consistency. My own journey improved dramatically when I focused less on finding "miracle" products and more on daily, gentle care.

Skincare isn’t about buying the most expensive products or copying someone else’s routine. It’s about understanding your own skin, responding to its needs, and being consistent. Progress happens over time, not overnight.

Remember that healthy skin is a marathon, not a sprint. Results take time, and what matters most is developing sustainable habits that work with your lifestyle and skin's unique needs.

Your skin doesn't need perfection—just consistency, kindness, and a bit of knowledge. Start simple, stay curious, and enjoy the process. You've got this! 💪

And if you’d like to visit us at Eravio Clinics in Nagpur and Mumbai, your can book your appointment by calling us at  📞9975630949.

📜 Medical Disclaimer

This content is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. None of the products mentioned in the blog are affiliate-based. We only recommend what we trust. For personalised guidance, please consult Dr. Niraj Gechode or a qualified healthcare professional.