I'm on the train writing this so excuse me Grammar and spelling, these are things I remembered from my placement and personal experience
Keep it simple, the more products and mess it becomes a chore and you won't be consistent
All you need IMO:
AM:
A good cleanser (if your an oily gal, look for something with BHA, if your a dry girl like me use Cerave cleanser)
vitamin c serum
A really good sunscreen
PM
Same cleanser
Retinol/Tretinion
a GOOD night moisturiser
(my go to's for nightcreams are La Roche Posay Lipikar BAUME or sometimes Cerave PM, the latter has niacimade and ceramides that sooth and repair skin, which will be helpful since you're using Retinol, and niacimide has shown to reduce skin irritation and dryness from the retinol, helps your skin tolerate it a lot better)
Retinols do a LOT for the skin, probably more than anything I've mentioned in this post but it's also irritating and drying as it's literally changing the way your skin behaves and it's resurfacing so it's going to be drying for most people, so if you want you can apply a moisturiser before or after it, it doesn't hinder its effectiveness it actually helps your skin tolerate it better
The three skin godly products are
Retinol
Sunscreen
(if your aren't gonna use it, then don't bother with a routine)
Vitamin C
(you don't NEEEEED it it's like like Kelly to Beyoncé is Beyoncé was the Retinol, you'll still have Retonol even if you didn't have the Vitamin C jcjdxj but it does help with dark spots, collagen production, wrinkles, lines etc, it's also UV protective so it protects your skin from the sun, it oxides in sunlight so your skin doesn't and it boosts your sunscreen as well, that's why I layer it under sunscreen, some people use it at night as well, it's effects are more long term than immediate results too so don't expect any instant results, the only thing I've noticed is my skin has this yellow glow underneath)
Everything else is there to maintain or use as nesscarary
For the oiler gals in terms of sunscreen I'd use Nivea Watergel or Skin Aqua Sunscreen, it has a high alcohol content which won't dry out the skin but it'll dry a less greasy and shiny than regular sunscreen, for the EU girls that don't have access to those two, (try and order from Korea/Japan, if your can't) than Nivea Sun Sensitive or Garnier UV Face Shield or any of the La Roche Posay lines atr a great alternative and some of them
come in a bigger bottle than the Asian sunscreen as well.
Remember to Always use two finger lengths of sunscreen for the face and neck, a little pea sized blob won't DEW, if you've had constant sun exposure for 4 hours or more, then re-apply.
America sunscreens tend to be shit because your FDA have been slow to approve more modern and effective sunscreen filters so if you can look to Eureopean and Korean/Japanese sunscreens as they are probably 15/20 years ahead in their technology and feel.
AHA-Alpha Hydroxy Acids
These are acids like naturally occurring acids, the most popular, researched and effective are lactic and glycolic which basically unglue dead skin from the surface and renews clearer brighter skin, they come in different strengths you can use them daily in low strengths or weekly in medium peels and monthly in high strengths. These can used mostly for everyone for dark patches, texture issues, whiteheads, blackheads etc
BHA-Beta Hydoxy Acids
These are the same as AHA, but they work IN the skin and penetrate the skin to work deeper because they can penetrate through the skin oils, BHA is mainly used to combat oily skin, so if your an oily gal, I'd chose the BHQ over the AHA, they also unplug blackheads, pimples, great for acne as it's also have anti-microb activity and it's also great for texture and they have a pote blurring/minimising effect on the skin.
Ceramides and Hyalauronc Acid
These are found in the skin naturally, they make the skin look plump and full but as we get older they deplete I think it's something like 15% every year after the age of 25
So creams and lotions that are accessible and rich in either or both are Cerave for the ceramides and Hado Labo for Hyalaroic acid, (Cerave's PM has both!) even though it's named Hyalarunic Acid it's not acid it doesn't peel or purge the skin it's purpose is to solely attach, pull and hold water and moisture up to 2000x it's weight into the skin, but it CAN do the opposite of you use it on dry skin, it'll PULL it out instead
If the AHAs and BHAs are more your speed I'd look to The Ordinary OR Paulas Choice, they carry AHA/BHA's in lots of different strengths or formulations.
You can mix and match all these products but stay consistent and remember Sunscreen are Retinol are probably going to be the most effective products in your cupboard.
I've used a lot of shit over the past 10 years so I can recommend a lot of products and tell you which ones are shit
And for the wash and go gals, you can still use a retinol and sunscreen if you want a minimalist mess
