I have spent an embarrassing amount of money on skincare. Serums that promised everything and delivered nothing. Moisturisers that felt incredible for a week and then broke me out. SPFs that left a white cast so severe I looked like I was auditioning for a period drama.
This list is what survived. These are the products that made it through two years of daily use, moved with me twice, and still earn their space on a very small bathroom shelf. Everything is on Amazon. Everything is linked. The prices are what I actually paid.
Good skincare is not about having twelve steps. It's about having the right three.
Cleansers
The Oil Cleanser That Doesn't Strip
Oil cleansing changed everything for me. I was using a foaming cleanser that left my skin squeaky clean — which, as it turns out, is exactly the problem. Squeaky clean means stripped. This oil cleanser removes sunscreen, makeup, and pollution without touching your moisture barrier.
Verdict: Use this as your first cleanse (the one that removes makeup and SPF), followed by a gentle water-based cleanser. The double cleanse sounds like extra work — it takes 90 seconds and it's worth it.
Serums
The Vitamin C That Actually Works
Vitamin C is the one serum category where price genuinely correlates with efficacy. Cheap vitamin C oxidises fast, stings, and can cause more inflammation than it solves. The formulation matters enormously — the percentage, the form of vitamin C, and the pH. This one gets all three right.
Verdict: Morning only. SPF after. Store in a cool, dark place. If it turns orange, it's oxidised — replace it. A bottle lasts me about 3 months.
The Niacinamide That Fixed My Pores
Niacinamide (vitamin B3) is the most evidence-backed ingredient in skincare after retinol and SPF. It minimises the appearance of pores, regulates sebum, fades hyperpigmentation, and strengthens the skin barrier. It's also one of the most affordable actives you can buy. This is the one I recommend to everyone starting out.
I'll publish the remaining 9 products across the next few weeks — including the retinol I swear by, the SPF I've finally stopped resenting, and the eye cream that actually does something.
In the meantime: start with these three. Cleanser. Vitamin C. Niacinamide. That's a complete routine that will do more than most 10-step systems.