Start with Clean Beauty by using natural skincare products, an essential move toward wellness. The best daily skincare routine for glowing skin uses non-toxic products in the order from the lightest to the heaviest. A good routine should include both water- and oil-based products! Water and oil don’t mix, but you need both for an effective natural skincare routine at home. Start with water-based products because they’re lighter and penetrate your skin’s barrier better than oil. However, water tends to evaporate quickly, so it’s best to apply oils or creams toward the end of your routine to seal in moisture. This approach also creates an affordable skincare routine for any budget. Remember, the order of products is crucial.
First, determine your skin type to tailor the routine to your needs. Everyone has a skin type! Ask yourself: Does my face get shiny quickly? Or does it feel dry and flaky? Do I have an oily T-zone but dry areas like the forehead or cheeks? Choose products with your skin type in mind:
- Dry Skin – Often feels tight and flaky, with little to no signs of oil.
- Oily Skin – Shiny quickly, especially in the T-zone.
- Combination Skin – Oily T-zone with dry or flaky cheeks and chin.
Step One: Cleanse
Begin by removing all grease and grime from the day or previous night. I don’t wash my face twice a day to avoid drying out my skin—I wash only at night. If I wear sunscreen or makeup, I wash my face in the evening too, and I wash it twice first with an oil cleanser and then a water-based cleanser to remove all the grease and grime.
Choose an oil-based or water-based cleanser, depending on your preference or skin type. I prefer water-based cleansers because they’re low-maintenance. I also use cream cleansers 2-3 times a week to avoid over-irritating my combination/oily acne-prone skin.
If you use an oil cleanser, remove it with water, which makes it suitable as a first step. Oil cleansers might sound hard to remove, but they’re amazing for specific skin types we’ll discuss soon.
Step Two: Exfoliate
This isn’t a daily step. Exfoliate once a week if you have acne-prone skin or two to three times per week for others. Choose an exfoliating cleanser or scrub that leaves your skin moisturized.
After washing my face at night, I sometimes spray it with a mixture of apple cider vinegar, rose essential oil, and water. Go by what your skin needs at any given time: exfoliate more to open pores and clear acne, or moisturize if your skin feels red or irritated.
Step Three: Toner
I love using rosewater spray in the morning, mixed with apple cider vinegar to help with acne. I also use a regular toner with no alcohol, witch hazel, aloe vera, and rosewater. If I need extra deep cleaning, I apply a bentonite clay mask (for deep pore cleansing) twice a week and skip toner.
Toner is essential! A basic toner, mixed with witch hazel, apple cider vinegar, or rosewater, evens skin tone, controls excess oil, and adds moisture. It also preps skin for moisturizer. Apply moisturizer while your skin is still damp from toner to lock in water before it evaporates.
After rosewater spray, apply a natural moisturizer and/or serum for a refreshed feeling!
Step Four: Moisturizer/Serum
The difference between a moisturizer and a serum is as follows:
- Moisturizers are lightweight lotions that keep your face protected and moisturized.
- Serums are more intensive treatments, usually made of nourishing oils.
Affordable serums start as low as $20 and are worth including for bright, youthful skin. They’re effective for treating wrinkles, acne, and scars. They also do not waste too fast.
Apply whichever product is lighter first—usually, the serum, then the moisturizer in your nighttime routine. For a natural clean beauty serum, I recommend castor oil with essential oils for targeting acne, wrinkles, texture, or brightening.
A good natural moisturizer I use and recommend is mango butter (unbleached, peachy-orange in color), which acts as a natural retinol, targeting wrinkles after serum or oils.
Step Five: Sunscreen
Don’t skip sun protection from harmful UV rays! Sun damage accelerates aging and increases skin cancer risk.
Use a moisturizer with SPF in the morning for convenience. I like Acure’s Seriously Soothing SPF Day Cream, which feels lightweight. If you’ll be outdoors all day, try Badger Balm’s natural sunscreen for the face.
The Best Natural Skincare Routine for Acne-Prone or Oily Skin
For acne-prone skin, consider switching to an oil cleanser. One Love Organics offers a great option that can work wonders for oily and acne-prone skin.
There’s science to oily skin care: oil dissolves oil. Using oil can heal and calm irritated skin that overproduces sebum. Witch hazel makes a great toner as it controls oil production, and any toner mentioned here helps balance your skin’s pH.
For acne-prone skin, use more oil! It’s often a sign that your skin needs nutrients. Try oils like castor oil, argan oil, hemp seed oil, rosehip seed oil, lavender essential oil, frankincense essential oil, rose essential oil, and tea tree oil. Avoid oils like coconut and olive oil, which may clog pores. I also recommend a natural retinol moisturizer after your serum application, such as Mango Butter to address wrinkles. Apply sunscreen after your morning routine.
Natural Skincare Routine for Dry Skin
For dry skin, I also recommend an oil cleanser to provide much-needed moisture. Start with a serum in the morning to keep skin hydrated throughout the day. Use oils like coffee oil, argan oil, hemp seed oil, rosehip seed oil, lavender essential oil, frankincense essential oil, and rose essential oil. Avoid coconut and olive oil. I also recommend a natural retinol moisturizer like Mango Butter to address wrinkles. Apply sunscreen after your morning routine.
Lock in moisture by applying products while the skin is damp from toner.
The Best Routine for Combination Skin
Combination skin may take longer to find what works. Commonly, this skin type has an oily T-zone and dry cheeks and chin. Use lightweight products that still provide moisture to dry areas.
Try a water-based cleanser most of the time, with an oil cleanser 2-3 times a week. For combination and mature skin, I recommend a natural retinol moisturizer like mango butter to address wrinkles.
Use oils like castor oil with hemp seed, rosehip, lavender, frankincense, and rose essential oils. Always apply sunscreen after your morning routine.
Benefits of Homemade Face Serums (Castor Oil + Essential Oils)
Making a DIY face serum is cost-effective and beneficial for health and the environment as it’s 100% natural. These DIY serums can help with:
- Glowing skin
- Reduced wrinkles
- Even skin tone
- Improved elasticity
- Reduced dark spots
- Fewer fine lines
A glass dropper bottle or without the glass dropper is ideal for applying essential oils, and it’s affordable, too!
Before You Go!
Whatever your skin type, I hope this guide inspires you to start an all-natural skincare routine! You’ll be doing your health a favor in the long run, keeping your skin healthy and glowy as you age!
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