The Complete Guide to Skincare: Everything You Need to Know in 2025
- Arya Kapoor
- Mar 5
- 12 min read
Updated: Mar 9
Your skin, tells your story…much more than you would like others to know and just enough to keep you in check! (Facts below will excite & shock you at the same time)
Whether you are thinking of buying annnnnother bottle of skincare, or you are confused like a lost puppy on whether you need sunscreen or not, or worse….you know nothing…& I mean NOTHING about skincare; You may need to take a pause and educate yourself.
(BTW, if you are an absolute beginner, that last line wasn’t a diss, we all start somewhere & I will do my best to make sure you feel this is a safe space for you.)
Your journey to healthy, radiant skin starts here. Whether you're a complete beginner or looking to enhance your skincare knowledge, this comprehensive guide will walk you through everything from basic principles to advanced techniques, helping you make informed decisions about your skin's health.
Understanding Your Skin
Your skin is remarkable - it's your largest organ and your body's first line of defense. Think of it as a living, breathing shield that protects you from environmental stressors while regulating your body temperature and sensing the world around you. Which btw if you haven’t got the chance to read about Skin Conduct yet, is also the Raison d'être of our Brand. The idea was simple - Protect what protects you! Look, our skin is like an armor, and armors need to be taken care of. They need to be cleaned, they need to be oiled and protected from rust just so that they can protect you too!
Similarly our skin is an armor that protects us which makes it our duty to protect it. But in the name of skin CARE, are we really taking "care" of our skin or are we just making it go through a bunch of experiments, ultimately confusing & breaking it?
Skincare is supposed to be gentle, don't you think so?
Anyways, getting back to the track....
The Three Layers of Your Skin
You must have read this somewhere in the 6th-7th grade, but who knew it'll come in handy now? Therefore, a quick refresh - Your skin's got 3 layers!
The epidermis- outermost layer, acts as a protective barrier, also the one that suffers a lot cuz bro's be giving front-end warrior vibes 🥷⚔️
The dermis- home to collagen, elastin, and blood vessels, star of the show cuz brands be creating 'holy grails' left & right for this one. Call it bae or b*tch, choice is yours, cuz this one's be adding all the beauty to your skin while taking it away from your pockets! 🤷🏻♀️
The hypodermis- contains fat tissue that helps regulate temperature and provides cushioning, your mama's slap, would have SLAPPED harder had it not been for this little shock absorber! (that's from personal experience) 🫣
Understanding Skin Types
Everyone's skin is unique, and we will dig deep (very deep) into it, but for now- our skin types fall into these main categories:
Normal: Well-balanced, neither too oily nor too dry
Oily: Excess sebum production, prone to shine
Dry: Lacks natural oils, may feel tight
Combination: Different areas have different needs (just like girls in their periods era)
Sensitive: Easily reactive to products or environmental factors
And then...there's SUPER ULTRA HYPER SENSITIVE SKIN TYPES which must, under no conditions be experimented upon. This particular skin-type comes with a warning label: To be handled by professionals only; but people forget to read it.
The Science Behind Skincare
The Skin Barrier
By now, you must have come across this term at least once in your life, in combination with 'ceramides' (we'll talk about that soon).
Your skin barrier is like a brick wall - skin cells are the bricks, and natural lipids are the mortar. When this barrier is healthy, it keeps moisture in and irritants out.
The skin barrier is important to human life. Physically, it protects from external threats such as infectious agents, chemicals, systemic toxicity and allergens. Internally, the skin helps to maintain homeostasis and protects from enhanced loss of water from the body.
Source: National Library of Medicine
Understanding this helps explain why certain ingredients and products work the way they do.
The Skin's Natural Processes
Your skin naturally:
Renews itself every 28-30 days
Produces protective oils
Maintains its microbiome
Regulates pH levels
Repairs damage
Essential Skincare Basics
The Fundamental Three
Every skincare routine needs these essential steps:
Cleansing -
Removes dirt, oil, and impurities
Prepares skin for other products
Should never leave skin feeling tight
Moisturizing -
Supports skin barrier function
Prevents water loss
Keeps skin balanced
Sun Protection -
Prevents premature aging
Protects against skin cancer
Required daily, regardless of weather
Read more on Steps of Skincare : Explained
Building Your Routine
Morning Routine
Tired of seeing tiktok girlies talkin' about their A.M routine? Don't worry babe, after this you'll become one of them too!
Depending on skin types & concerns, the products differ. However, these 4 steps are essential for everyone's morning skincare routine.
Gentle cleanser - A gentle cleanser is preferred over soap for morning face washing because most soaps are designed to strip away oil, which can be too harsh for your face, especially in the morning when your skin naturally produces oils overnight, while a gentle cleanser is formulated to cleanse without overly drying your skin and maintain its natural moisture balance.
People with dry skin, or even combination ones can skip this too, cuz honestly, water works just as well!
Treatment products (if needed) - Now you must have had your fair share of being exposed to the Vit C serum hype, especially for the morning skincare routine. When we say treatments, just know we are talking about not just serums but even other form of over-the-counter treatments like ointments, oils that are aimed at dealing with certain skin concerns.
Now the mention of Vit C serum must have got your curious and I would hate to leave you in hanging so here's a value bomb- Apart from helping reduce hyper-pigmentation, aiding in collagen (the protein responsible for providing structure, strength, and elasticity in skin) production, Vitamin C helps protect against UV light by acting as an antioxidant to reduce damage caused by free radicals, which btw makes it the chief guest in our morning routine. Learn more about it here! |
Moisturizer - Listen up bestie, this step is non-negotiable! Even if you've got oily skin, DO NOT SKIP MOISTURISER.
Think of it as giving your skin a big drink of water first thing in the morning. A good moisturizer locks in all those treatment products you just applied and keeps your skin plump and happy throughout the day. For morning routines, go for lightweight formulas that sink right in – save the thick, rich creams for your beauty sleep.
Pro tip: If you're in a rush (aren't we all?), look for moisturizers with built-in antioxidants. It's like getting a 2-in-1 deal for your skin!
Sunscreen - The grand finale and honestly, the MVP of your morning routine!
If you skip this step, everything else is pretty much pointless (harsh but true!).
Think of sunscreen as your skin's bodyguard – it's protecting you from UV rays, preventing premature aging, and keeping those dark spots at bay.
Here's the tea: Apply at least a quarter-sized amount for your face and neck. Yeah, you've seen those videos of two-finger length sunscreen, 1 tbsp sunscreen...all of that, the dermats, the skinfluencers, the general public and the aliens have been screaming. And this time, they are right!!!!
And no, the SPF in your makeup isn't enough! Although it depends on where you live and what the UV index looks like, still look for broad-spectrum protection with at least SPF 30. Nobody dares complain of white cast or heavy feeling cuz there are tons of lightweight, invisible options now – I am watching you!
Quick tip: Wait about 2-3 minutes after applying your moisturizer before going in with sunscreen. This gives everything time to settle and ensures maximum protection as well as reducing the chances of product piling. |
BOYS!!! This one's for you too. I know y'all be too proud of washing your face with the same hexa-purposed Head & Shoulders bottle & applying literally any cream lying around, yet having a good skin.......but for the love of god (& girls) PLEASE APPLY SUNSCREEN 🙂🙂
Product Recommendation : In case you slept for too long & have got like 93 seconds for your AM skincare routine, one indeed a holy grail product that I have found in the Indian Skincare market is the Dr. Sheth's Vit C sunscreen.
Serum, Moisturiser, Sunscreen...it does it all.
Lightweight, No white-cast, non-oily, leaves your skin glowy, smooth & above all - EVEN throughout the day & magically treats your acne & dark spots.
Good lord, I will kiss the hands of the Chemist who formulated this!
Evening Routine
Given how we have talked in detail about pretty much similar steps above, you'd be thinking, girl's got what more left to talk? WELL I DO HAVE MORE TO SHARE!
Double cleanse - (if wearing makeup/sunscreen) A general cleanser for your skin types works good, but not great when you've got makeup or sunscreen on. The first cleanse is with an oil-based cleanser while the second one is with a water-based cleanser.
Double cleansing removes makeup, oil, sweat, dirt, and sunscreen more thoroughly than a single cleanse. This can help prevent clogged pores and breakouts.
Clean skin and pores allow skincare products to penetrate more easily and be more effective while also improving your skin's texture.
To summarise, double cleansing can make your skin look brighter and more vibrant.
Treatment products - Similar to what we've discussed in our AM routine, our PM routine needs treatment products too, more than AM one TBH. While we'll talk about this in detail soon, all you need to know for now that the treatments are basically active ingredients which can react upon sun exposure causing your skin to become even more sensitive to sun, if it already isn't enough of pain in your life.
Consider them as ...princesses. They need to be handled with care.
Moisturizer - Again, super important, can't be missed and this is the time when you can make your products work like miracles. This is the stage when you can, rather you should (unless you have an oily skin) apply heavy moisturisers to let your skin heal, especially from all the stress the environment and certain humans have been giving you.
Quick tip : I can't hold myself back here, Nivea original cream is the OG when it comes to night time moisturisers. If you have irritated, sensitive skin, or if it has been through some strong active ingredients & needs special care, or if it's just chilling out in its 'trouble in paradise' era....GIVE CASH OR CARD, BUT BUY THAT NIVEA CREAM FOR YOUR SKIN. Because when the next morning, you wake up with baby soft rejuvenated skin..... you are not gonna regret looking a deep dried potato from last night! |
Read more about how to build the first skincare routine for your skin type
Advanced Skincare Concepts
Active Ingredients
As discussed above, actives have a targeted approach in our skincare. Some of the general/common actives used are -
Vitamin C for brightening
Retinoids for cell turnover
Hyaluronic acid for hydration
Niacinamide for multiple benefits
AHAs/BHAs for exfoliation
Layering Products
In any case you have been one of those who applied their serums AFTER their moisturisers...it's time you say "It's all in the past now".
The general rule is thinnest to thickest:
Water-based products - Ofc your cleansers, then toners, then essence in case you are being fancy.
Serums or/and then ampoules (just say serums with higher concentration)
Oils - Kind of controversial for how a lot of people believe in applying oils after the moisturisers, however oils, especially facial oils are generally thinner compared to creams and moisturisers & get absorbed/locked in well if applied before. Also save this for the night times or else the sun will be your enemy.
Creams - At this point, it's pretty self explanatory no? Just a quick tip - If you don't want to apply thick/heavy moisturisers or don't have time for an extra step in your routine, just mix your facial oil with your moisturiser, preferably gel-based. It works as well.
Something that can work for almost every skin type is mixing Gel based moisturiser like Pond's super light gel with 2-3 drops of a light squalene oil such as the Minimalist one.
Sunscreen (morning only) - What's more important about this step is the moisturiser that you apply before. Depending on the type of sunscreen, choose (or skip) your moisturiser.
If you are using a physical or hybrid sunscreen with more hydrating and moisturising ingredients such as natural oils, ceramides, hyaluronic acid, depending on your skin type, you may skip or choose a light weight gel moisturiser.
If you are using a mineral sunscreen, which do give a white-cast no matter how great the formulation is, make sure your skin is moisturised really well as it will allow the sunscreen to blend more easily, reduce the white-cast.
Read more about Sunscreens here.
Seasonal Skincare
While we'll dig deep into this matter over another cup of tea, for now I'll just give you a quick run down on what your skincare should look like when it comes to certain weather conditions:-
Summer Skincare Hub
- Ingredients spotlight: AHAs, Vitamin C, Niacinamide, Hyaluronic acid
- Skin concerns: Hyperpigmentation, oily skin, sun damage
- Products: Lighter formulations, Increased sun protection, Focus on oil control, Hydrating ingredients, Use gels and water-based sunscreens
- Natural remedies: Aloe vera, cucumber , green tea
Winter Skincare Hub
- Ingredients spotlight: Ceramides, peptides, hyaluronic acid
- Skin concerns: Dry skin, flaking, redness
- Product focus: Richer moisturizers, Barrier protection, Gentle exfoliation, Extra hydration, Use oils & cream-based sunscreens
- Natural remedies: Honey masks, oatmeal treatments
Spring Transition Hub
- Ingredients spotlight: Gentle exfoliants, antioxidants
- Skin concerns: Seasonal allergies, combination skin
- Product focus: Transitioning products, spring cleansers
- Natural remedies: Detoxifying masks, herbal treatments
Fall Transition Hub
- Ingredients spotlight: Retinoids, barrier repair ingredients
- Skin concerns: Post-summer damage, pigmentation
- Product focus: Repairing products, heavier moisturizers
- Natural remedies: Pumpkin masks, rice water treatments
Making Smart Product Choices
To keep it in short for now, there are two things you need to focus on -
Reading Labels
Apart from of course looking out for common solutions that target your skin concerns and suit your skin type,
Look for active ingredients near the top
Know your skin triggers
Consider product stability (plays a huge role in the life of active ingredients)
Investment Areas
Spend more on: treatments, serums When I say spend more, I do NOT mean for you to empty your pockets on serums. The key is in proper allocation of your skincare budget. Whichever form of selfcare it is, invest more in products that target specific issues over generic concerns.
Save more on: cleansers, simple moisturizers
Example - Let's say you are using more actives in a routine, you would like to pair it up with a simple moisturiser with generic ingredients that are simple and don't interfere with the action of the actives; such as pairing up chemical exfoliants (like AHA) with simple Hyaluronic acid & Vit E moisturiser. A holy grail in this category is the Pond's Superlight gel. At the same time, -if your routine is simple, -you are running late, -don't have time for serums or -you are simply doing a skin reset, and you still want to have some benefit, it is a great choice to invest in moisturisers formulated with active ingredients at lower concentrations.
Natural vs. Clinical Approaches
Both natural and clinical skincare have their place:
Natural ingredients offer gentle care
Clinical ingredients provide targeted results
Combined approaches often work best & are balanced.
Fun part? We will explore both the options equally at Skin Conduct. Also on that note, if you have anything in particular you would like us to discuss here, don't be shy and send your feedback/enquiry through our contact form.
When to See a Professional
Last but not the least, yes the internet is a great place, you find many solutions here as well as people who have the same concerns as you. Yes, the internet helps you save a lot of consultation money, thanks to some of our skinfluencers as well as board certified dermatologists who took it upon their shoulders this duty to make our life aesthetics better. But at the same time, (1) Please do NOT try everything you see on the internet, sometimes it's stupid but okay & sometimes it's straight up life threatening. (2) Consult a dermatologist, especially when:
Persistent skin issues arise
You need prescription treatments (please do not try secretive methods to get your hands on prescription medicines without consultation, not safe, not cool, not appreciated)
Your routine isn't working
You experience unexpected reactions
And oh, with a heavy heart, is it our time to part ways?
PAUSE PAUSE PAUSE....We are not partying ways...Arya, please don't make it dramatic!!!
We'll have our moments besties, but for now, remember: Skincare is personal, and what works for others might not work for you. Start simple, introduce new products slowly, and listen to your skin. Human body is immensely smart, beyond our imagination - straight up nature's best artwork till today! Your body KNOWS it & SHOWS it when something's not right, so be more observative towards your body. In skincare, its starts even more simple, if it's not right for your gut, it's not right for your skin.
I know this one took some good time from your schedule, however I hope you enjoyed it & I would LOVE to have your thoughts on the same.
To learn more about the romance between science & skincare, head over to the blogs menu. I promise you'll find something super cool!
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