Facial Skincare Products: Finding Your Right Fit

They all swear they’re the one. Your skin says... ‘we’ll see.’

Let’s face it.  There are a TON of facial care products out there with ads screaming about how good they are, why you’ll regret not buying them, and how exclusive or limited they are, on and on.  You’ve no doubt seen it – just plug into any social media feed and pay attention to the ads, or listen to the influencers who seem to switch allegiances weekly.

While there’s nothing inherently wrong with advertising, sponsorships, or monetizing content, the real challenge comes when we, the consumers, are left trying to sort through the noise and invest in products that actually work for us.  So, how do we get around that?

Simply put, we don’t.

The reality is, every product is going to have different results – to some degree – for every person.  Each of us are unique individuals and no two people have exactly the same skin, so what may work for someone gloriously may be a huge fail for someone else.  This can be frustrating when you buy a product anticipating awesomeness, only to chuck it in the garbage a week later, cursing yourself for time and money wasted.

But let’s not be too hard on ourselves.  Experimentation and trying new things can disappoint at times, yet can also lead to finding something new that really send us and works exceptionally well with our skin.

Facial skincare can be as simple or as advanced as you want it to be, but it always boils down to supporting your skin’s natural barrier, preventing damage, and correcting any specific concerns like acne, aging, hyperpigmentation, or dryness.

Great!  But where do you start?!

To narrow down what might work for you the best, you need to come up with a plan.  Ask yourself some simple questions:

What’s your skin type?  Skin Types can vary across the board.  Is your skin dry?  Oily?  Acne-prone? Or a combo of all of the above?  Your skin type should dictate what your routine will be and the types of products you will use.  For instance, I have “normal” skin, which is balanced – not too oily, not too dry, with few or no breakouts, small pores, even tone, smooth texture, rare sensitivity or redness.  So for my skincare routine taking skin type into consideration, maintenance is the key, comprising of gentle cleansers, light moisturizers, SPF, and the occasional exfoliant.

Do you have any specific concerns?  Specific skin concerns are like your personal "side quests" in skincare.  Do you have acne or are prone to breakouts?  Are you trying to target fine lines or sagging?  Do you have redness or dark spots?  While your skin type tells you how your skin behaves, your concerns tell you what you want to improve or prevent. Your products should address both.  My main concerns are fine lines and wrinkles, so I would add into my skincare routine an antioxidant cream in the morning and a retinoid at night, and instead of a light moisturizer, start utilizing a richer one.

What’s your current routine, if any?  Your current skincare routine is the bridge between your skin type/concerns and the products or ingredients you need to actually see results. Your current routine shows what’s missing.  Often, the answer to why your concerns aren’t improving is in what you’re not doing yet.  To get from where you are to where you want your skin to be, you build upon your current steps with more targeted and active ingredients, matched to your skin type and goals.  For instance, I only recently started adding a hydrating toner to my routine in order to achieve PH balance, and to hydrate and prep my skin to better absorb my serums and moisturizers.  I was very careful not to choose a toner that was alcohol-based or drying (many are), and this small step has made a significant difference in my skin tone and texture.

Any products or ingredients you love—or hate?  Knowing which ingredients your skin loves or hates is a game-changer.  It's what separates a routine that just "feels nice" from one that actually works and keeps your skin consistently healthy, balanced, and glowing! 

I know that my skin loves vitamin C, but hates fragrance of any sort.   I try very hard to research my products and make sure they are fragrance free, but that being said, sometimes I open a new product and the smell makes me ditch it immediately.

So how do you know what your skin loves?  Well, what your skin loves are those ingredients that visibly improve your skin, with: less irritation, smoother texture, better tone, or fewer breakouts.

On the other hand, telling what your skin hates should be easy, right?  Well, not necessarily.    The trick is to watch how your skin reacts, not just what others recommend or what sounds good. Your skin might hate something others swear by.  Signs an ingredient doesn’t agree with your skin:  Burning or stinging; redness, peeling, or tightness; breakouts shortly after starting a new product; or worsening of texture, dullness, or sensitivity.

Lastly, how simple or advanced do you want your routine to be?  This is a great question, and a very underestimated one in skincare.  Asking “how simple or advanced do you want your routine to be?” helps you design a routine that’s sustainable, effective, and personalized – not just trendy.  Skincare isn’t one-size-fits-all. Two people with the same skin type and concerns might need totally different routines based on things like time, budget, tolerance for steps, product knowledge, lifestyle or travel, and skin sensitivity.  If your routine doesn’t match your lifestyle, you won’t stick with it—and you won’t get results.

If you are a beginner, have a busy schedule, or are budget conscious, you might be best suited to a simple skincare routine utilizing cleanser, moisturizer, sunscreen in the morning, and one targeted treatment such as vitamin C or niacinamide.

If you are a skincare enthusiast, have multiple skin concerns, have a heart for learning ingredient interactions, or are self-care ritualistic, a more advanced routine might be perfect for you with double cleansing, toners, serums, moisturizers, SPF, targeted treatments, masks and exfoliants.

If you are somewhere in between, start with the basics and add on as time and lifestyle allows.  Your skincare routine should match your lifestyle, goals, and attention span—not someone else’s Instagram reel.

Let’s Summarize:  Let’s tie everything together, merging the overwhelming world of product marketing with the importance of personalization and understanding your own skin! 

You can’t completely avoid some trial and error.  As I stated:  Every person's skin is different.  Different types, different concerns, different sensitivities. A product that transforms one person’s skin might totally backfire on someone else. That’s where intentional, thoughtful skincare comes in. Rather than chasing hype, it's far more effective to understand your skin’s type, specific concerns, and even how simple or advanced you want your routine to be. This empowers you to make smart ingredient choices—like using antioxidants to target fine lines, or avoiding fragrances that inflame sensitive skin—rather than falling for flashy claims.

So yes, you may toss a product in the trash now and then. But every trial teaches you what your skin loves or hates. That knowledge, combined with a realistic understanding of what kind of routine you can stick to, is how you build something effective.

Skincare doesn’t have to be complicated, but it does need to be personal. And once you’ve learned how to listen to your own skin—not influencers—you’re no longer guessing. You’re creating an optimum routine that actually works for you!