The order of steps

Cleanse first, always. A gentle, non-foaming cleanser in the morning and a slightly more thorough cleanse at night removes sunscreen, sweat and pollution without stripping the skin.

Then treat, then moisturise, then protect. Treatments — serums and essences — go on clean skin so they can absorb. Moisturiser seals them in. In the morning, sunscreen is the final step and the one that protects everything you did before it.

Start with three products, not ten

A cleanser, a moisturiser and a sunscreen cover the basics for almost everyone. Live with that trio for two to three weeks before adding anything else, so you can tell what is helping and what is irritating.

When you do add an active — a hydrating serum such as hyaluronic acid, or a retinoid — introduce it two or three nights a week and build up. Redness, stinging and flaking are signs to slow down, not push through.

Match the product to the concern

Dryness responds to humectants (hyaluronic acid, glycerin) layered under a cream. Oiliness responds better to lightweight gels and consistent cleansing than to harsh scrubs. Uneven tone is a long game: sunscreen every day plus a gradual active does more than any single "brightening" product.

Fragrance-free formulas are the safer default for sensitive skin, and patch-testing anything new on the jawline for a few days costs nothing.

What sunscreen actually needs to do

Broad-spectrum protection of SPF 30 or higher, applied generously, is the single most effective anti-ageing step available. Reapply through the day if you are outdoors, and do not rely on the SPF in a moisturiser or foundation to cover a full day outside.