The basics, without the jargon

A simple routine, in order

1. 1. Cleanse

   A gentle cleanser; a second cleanse at night if you wear sunscreen or makeup.

2. 2. Treat

   Thin, watery serums first (actives like vitamin C, niacinamide or acids).

3. 3. Moisturise

   Seal in hydration and support the skin barrier.

4. 4. Protect

   Morning only: broad-spectrum SPF 30+ as the last step, reapplied every 2–3 hours outdoors.

Rule of thumb: apply from thinnest to thickest texture. Start with one active at a time.

Layering actives

Each active's glossary page has more detail, for example retinol or vitamin C.

Reading an ingredient list

• Ingredients are listed from highest to lowest amount. The first five often make up most of the product.
• Below about 1% (often after the preservative, like phenoxyethanol), ingredients can be listed in any order.
• A star ingredient listed near the end is probably present in a small amount, whatever the front of the pack says.
• Look out for fragrance under many names: parfum, fragrance, limonene, linalool, citral and essential oils.

How to patch test

• Apply a small amount behind the ear or on the inner arm once a day for 3–5 days.
• If there's no redness, itching or bumps, try a small area of your face, like along the jaw, for a few days.
• Introduce one new product at a time, about two weeks apart, so you know what works.
• Stinging that fades in seconds can be normal with acids; burning, swelling or a rash is not. Stop and rinse.

Sunscreen in Indian weather

• Use broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher every morning, even indoors near windows and on cloudy days.
• Most people need about two finger-lengths for the face and neck.
• Reapply every 2–3 hours outdoors and after sweating or swimming.
• In humid weather, gel or fluid textures feel lighter; tinted sunscreens with iron oxides also help with visible light.

What makes a good dupe

• The same key actives, in a similar place in the ingredient list, matter more than the brand name.
• Texture, fragrance and exact percentages can differ, so a dupe is a similar formulation, not an identical one.
• Compare the price per ml or gram, not the pack price.
• Check what a dupe adds, like fragrance or drying alcohols, if your skin is sensitive.