I basically have a PhD in skincare shopping (not official… but my Sephora and Target receipts would say otherwise 😉). My actual job is to research, market, and obsess over skincare products, so trust me when I say I know my way around both luxury serums and drugstore steals. Which also means I get hit up constantly by friends, family, and random people in my DMs for skincare advice. Consider this list my answer key. If you’ve been staring at the 8,000 products on the shelf and wondering, “Do I really need all of this?” the answer is no. You need five basics: cleanser, a Vitamin C serum, moisturizer, SPF, and a retinol. That’s it. Those are the Avengers of skincare. Everything else is just supporting cast (and yes, I’ll help you figure out who deserves a cameo in your routine). I’m going to break this all down for you, category by category, and then spill my ride-or-die recs—both drugstore and medical grade—so you know what’s worth the hype. Think of this as me dragging you out of the skincare aisle, gently prying that random 17th serum out of your hands, and handing you a foolproof routine that actually works. Ready? Let’s dive in.
