Start with three steps — cleanser, one peptide serum, moisturiser — and add a single new active every two weeks so you can tell what's working.
What should a beginner skincare routine include?
Three things: a gentle cleanser, one peptide serum, and a moisturiser. Add SPF in the morning and you have a complete routine.
Adding five products at once makes it impossible to work out which one your skin liked. One at a time is slower and far more useful.
- Week 1–2: cleanser + one serum + moisturiser
- Week 3–4: add a second serum, 2–3 nights a week
- Week 5+: build to daily if your skin is comfortable
Which peptide serum should you start with?
If your skin is dull or dehydrated, start with PDRN (Pinky Promise). If your concern is expression lines, start with SNAP-8 (Snatched). If it's firmness and barrier resilience, start with GHK-Cu (Blue Me Away).
All three are formulated for twice-daily use, so none of them require a tolerance ramp the way a retinoid does.
How do you know if a product is working?
Give it 8–12 weeks and compare photographs taken in the same light and at the same time of day.
Signs to stop and reassess: persistent stinging, new flaking, or a barrier that flushes at things it used to tolerate.
Do you need to patch test?
Yes — 24 hours on the inner forearm or behind the ear before first use, especially with sensitive or reactive skin.
