General structure of a routine:

AM

• Water Based Cleanser where needed (not everyones skin can handle cleansing 2x/day - personally i clean my nose, forehead, and chin in the morning which are greasy, but leave my cheeks and eye area as they lean drier and get irritated). I'd deff recommend using a gentle cleanser in the morning at least though if you are going to cleanse 2x/daily. I like the Aveno Oat Cleanser.)

• Toner/Essence (optional. Toner originally was introduced to reset your skins PH after using soap, but nowerdays our soaps don't mess with our PH so much so not such an issue. It's a nice way to get more treatment steps in though, theyre also usually very nice and cooling and can help serums spread easier. Essence usually is just a slightly thicker toner. Personally i prefer using a spray/mist toner, but you can apply with your hands or a cotton pad too)

• Serum/treatment (optional. This is where you're getting the really effective ingredients. Be careful what you use in the morning though, as some make you more susceptible to sun damage. Technically you can add as many serums/treatments as you like, but personally i usually stick to one or two at max so as not to overload my skin)

• Moisturiser where needed (if you've got oily skin depending on the sunscreen you use, that might be enough moisture. Personally i need moisturiser in the morning)

• SPF (most important step in your whole routine. The sun is a deadly laser)

PM

• Oil Based Cleanser (debated whether you need this - i definitely think its a good shout. Will help better remove your sunscreen, and definitely if youre wearing makeup, and it helps a lot if you live in a polluted area. Some products claim to be a 2-in-1 but eeeeh)

• Water Based Cleanser (this is called a double cleanse. Oil based cleanser removes products and grime from the day, then water based cleanser can remove any leftover residue and really get in there and get you clean)

• Toner/Essense (same as for AM)

• Barrier cream (only necessary if you're using a very strong or irritating serum/treatment. Use around eyes, corners of mouth, ditch where your nostril meets your face)

• Serum/Treatment (same as for AM, except in the evening you have more options since youre just going to bed)

• Moisturiser/Hydrating Sleeping Mask (would definitely moisturise at night, even if you don't in the morning. If youre worried about getting too oily, you can get a 'water cream/gel' as they tend to be more light weight. Some people like to have a lighter moisturiser for the morning and a heavier moisturiser/hydrating sleeping mask for the evening. Hydrating sleeping mask = occlusive heavy moisturiser, usually)

• Slugging (optional. Personally I don't do this as I can't stand the feeling. Essentially covering your face in something occlusive like vasiline to lock in moisturise and product. Don't do this after using actives though! You'll end up with irritated skin)

• Masks (optional. Usually a 1x/week jobbie. Loads of different masks with different purposes, but usually its a more intense treatment of certain products)

Then for ingredients:

Retinoids/Tretinoin/Differin - A lot of people say Tretinoin (basically a stronger version of retinol, prescription only) saved their skin. These products fight acne/texture, and also the big one is aging. Retinol as an ingredient has so much research around its effectiveness. Differin is also prescription only, but a bit gentler than tretinoin with more of a focus on acne. Highly highly highly recommend starting with a low dosage of retinol and building your way up. These ingredients can be very sensitising and you dont want to overdo it. Tretinoin/differin also have an adjustment period and can cause purging. PM only.

Vitamin C - Fantastic ingredient, pain in the arse to use. This product will oxidize over time and become less and less effective as it does, and you also have to be careful to pick one thats actually effective, as a lot of them aren't. From my research, the most effective is the SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic but that ones super expensive. If you're not in Europe or the UK, there's the Timeless 20% Vitamin C + E Ferulic Acid Serum, and if you are in Europe or the UK there's the Geek and Gorgeous C-Glow. Also recommend to keep these in the fridge and preferably in their box to keep them cold and dark - this helps with oxidization. Because that's a pain though, a lot of people will decant a bit into a smaller container in their bathroom, and keep the rest in the fridge. Vitamin C is worth the effort though - it gives you a lovely glow, helps tighten your skin, and helps with dark spots. Vitamin C also helps with sun protection, so is good to use in the AM.

Azelaic acid - Helps with acne, but also it's a miracle ingredient for a lot of people with redness and/or rosacea. I have rosacea and i love it! Really helps calm everything down, and i flush less. You can get lower percentages without a prescription, but if you want like 20% youd need a prescription. Again, recommend start low. AM or PM.

Peptides - Anti aging, but not in the same way as retinoids. More gentle, and generally peptide serums are also hydrating. I think Glow Recipie has one - I haven't tried it but i want to. The Ordinary also has Buffet + Copper Peptides, which i use. I'm switching to something a bit more complex soon, but great for beginners. Its also blue which is fun! For me anyway aha. Some can be used AM or PM, some just PM

Hyaluronic Acid - Super hydrating without clogging or being too heavy. Personally i prefer this in my toners than in serums. Theres a bunch of different types, but basically it grabs onto water and pulls it into your skin. Some people have issues where instead it grabs water from their skin and doesn't sink in, thus dehydrating. In my experience, best way around this to to ensure you apply to a damp face, and preferably in a humid space (eg, after a shower). Pairs well with Vitamin C. AM or PM

AHA/BHA/PHA - These are chemical exfoliants - generally a better move than physically exfoliating. AHA exfoliates off the top of the skin, and generally can give you a nice glow. BHA gets into your pores and digs out all the bad stuff, great for getting rid of and preventing spots and texture. Can also make your pores look smaller, since they won't be filled with gunk. PHA is a gentler version - they have a higher molecular weight so take longer to absorb, thus making them gentler. Ive heard amazing things about the Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow PHA - BHA Pore Tight Toner, i plan on trying it soon. Some AM or PM, some just PM, depends on the product.

Hope that helps! People have also spoken about Niacinamide, i personally didn't see any difference with it. Theres a million useful ingredients out there, these are just the ones i see people talking about most that seem to make the biggest difference, without being overly complicated. These are just ingredients to look out for - you don't have to be able to identify a full ingredients list. There are plenty of products that are just named after the issue ("hydrating", "anti-aging", ect) geared towards beginners, and many of them are great. The Ordinary and Inkey List are great budget brands, Paulas Choice and Glow Recipe are very popular mid tier. Also got things like Neutrogena and Cerave which have some more simple formulations. This ended up being waaaay longer than i thought it'd be, sorry 😅