The two-minute routine, decoded

Most good skin isn't a secret. It's a short routine done every day, by someone who stopped buying products to fix problems they didn't have. Here's the whole thing, in about two minutes.

Morning: three steps

• Cleanse. A gentle face wash, about thirty seconds, lukewarm water. Not your body wash and not hot water; both can leave skin tight.
• Moisturize. A pea-sized amount for the whole face. If your skin feels tight an hour later, use a little more or a richer one.
• Sunscreen. Broad spectrum, SPF 30 or higher, every day, even when it's cloudy. It's the step most people skip and the one that matters most over the years.

Night: two steps

• Cleanse again. Sunscreen, sweat and the day come off. If you wore makeup or a heavy sunscreen, wash twice.
• Treat or moisturize. A serum if you use one, then moisturizer. On nights you're tired, cleanse and moisturize is enough.

What to add, and when

Add one new product at a time and give it two to four weeks before you judge it. If two things change at once, you'll never know which one worked, or which one irritated you.

Patch test anything new: a small amount on the inside of your arm or behind your ear for a couple of days. Redness, itching or burning means stop.

What to skip

• Scrubbing hard. Rough exfoliation every day does more harm than good.
• Products that promise to erase, reverse or transform. Care for your skin; don't fight it.
• Buying for a problem you saw online. Buy for the skin in the mirror.

If something on your skin worries you, changes quickly or won't settle, see a dermatologist. A routine is care, not a diagnosis.