How to build a skin care routine for your skin type
Your skin has a type—but it also has changing needs. Weather, stress, sleep, hydration, sun exposure, and consistency can all affect how your skin looks and feels. That means the routine that worked perfectly last season may need a little adjusting today.
The good news? Building an effective skin care routine doesn’t have to be complicated. Start with three purposeful steps—cleanse, tone, and moisturize—then choose formulas based on how your skin currently feels.
Young Living’s new plant-powered, high-performance skin care lineup makes it simple to do exactly that. With two cleansers, one exfoliating toner, two moisturizers, and four curated collections, you can create thoughtful morning and evening routines without compromising your skin or your standards.
First, get to know your skin
Not sure where to begin? Think about how your skin usually looks and feels a few hours after cleansing—before makeup, a workout, or the day’s weather has had too much influence.
- Dry skin may feel tight or rough and can look dull or flaky.
- Normal skin generally feels balanced, not overly oily or especially dry.
- Oily skin may develop noticeable shine and can be more prone to visible, congested-looking pores.
- Combination skin may feel oily through the forehead, nose, and chin while feeling normal or dry in other areas.
Your skin may not fit perfectly into one category, and that’s completely normal. Instead of treating skin type like a permanent label, use it as a starting point, and pay attention to what your skin is asking for now.
If your skin is dry or normal
Dry and normal skin can benefit from a routine that cleanses without leaving skin feeling stripped, supports the moisture barrier, and delivers long-lasting hydration.
Step 1: Cleanse with Antioxidant Foaming Cleanser
Antioxidant Foaming Cleanser removes impurities while supporting hydration and the skin’s moisture barrier. Its formula features niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, plant-powered cleansing agents, and moisture-barrier-supporting lipids—making it a thoughtful daily choice when skin tends to feel tight, dull, or dry after cleansing.
Step 2: Smooth with Exfoliating Toner
Exfoliating Toner gently exfoliates while supporting the skin’s moisture barrier with hydrating seawater minerals. It helps your skin look smoother, brighter, and more even. Because exfoliation needs can vary, start by using it 2–3 times per week at night and build up to more frequent nightly use if needed.
Step 3: Nourish with Anti-Aging Intensive Moisturizer
When your skin is craving richer moisture, reach for Anti-Aging Intensive Moisturizer. Powered by our patented DeepSpectra® technology*, it provides deep hydration and supports visibly renewed-looking skin. It’s an especially fitting final step for dry skin or an evening routine when you want more intensive care.
A simple dry/normal routine:
- Antioxidant Foaming Cleanser morning and night
- Exfoliating Toner at night, 2–3 times per week
- Anti-Aging Intensive Moisturizer morning and night
If your skin is oily or combination
Oily and combination skin still needs hydration. The goal is not to strip away every trace of oil—it’s to cleanse thoroughly, support the skin’s moisture barrier, and choose lightweight moisture that feels comfortable.
Step 1: Cleanse with Pore Cleansing Gel
Pore Cleansing Gel is designed for oily and combination skin that wants a deeper cleanse without a stripped feeling. Plant-powered cleansing agents work alongside niacinamide, aloe, and vitamin B5 to cleanse while supporting the skin barrier and the appearance of clearer-looking pores.
Step 2: Visibly refine with Exfoliating Toner
Exfoliating Toner brings gentle exfoliation into the routine while supporting the moisture barrier. It’s formulated with exfoliating ingredients such as caviar lime and AHAs that help to visibly refine skin texture. As with the dry skin routine, start by using it 2–3 times per week at night and build up to more frequent nightly use if needed.
Step 3: Hydrate with Light Moisturizer
Light Moisturizer delivers weightless, all-day moisture that plays well with the rest of your routine without pilling. Multi-weight hyaluronic acids provide layered hydration, while squalane, murumuru butter, and hibiscus help support the moisture barrier. It’s a fresh final step for oily or combination skin—and for anyone who prefers a lighter moisturizer.
A simple oily/combination routine:
- Pore Cleansing Gel morning and night
- Exfoliating Toner at night, 2–3 times per week
- Light Moisturizer morning and night
What if your skin needs a little of both?
Your routine doesn’t have to stay in one lane. You might prefer lightweight moisture in the morning and richer hydration at night. Your skin may feel oilier in warm, humid weather and drier when temperatures drop. You may even want a fresh morning cleanse and a more thorough evening cleanse.
That’s where a flexible routine comes in:
- Choose Antioxidant Foaming Cleanser when hydration and moisture-barrier support are top of mind.
- Choose Pore Cleansing Gel when you want a deeper cleanse and support for clearer-looking pores.
- Choose Light Moisturizer for lightweight, everyday hydration.
- Choose Anti-Aging Intensive Moisturizer when you want richer moisture or help reducing the look of wrinkles.
- Add Exfoliating Toner 2–3 times per week when your routine needs gentle exfoliation and support for smoother-, brighter-looking skin.
A few thoughtfully chosen options let you respond to your skin instead of forcing it into the same routine every day.
Your morning and evening routines, simplified
Your morning and evening routines don’t need to be identical. In the morning, focus on a fresh cleanse and comfortable hydration. In the evening, focus on thoroughly cleansing away the day and giving your skin the specific care it needs.
Morning routine
- Cleanse with Antioxidant Foaming Cleanser or Pore Cleansing Gel.
- Apply Light Moisturizer or Anti-Aging Intensive Moisturizer.
- Finish with your preferred broad-spectrum sunscreen.
Evening routine
- Cleanse with Antioxidant Foaming Cleanser or Pore Cleansing Gel.
- Apply Exfoliating Toner, starting with 2–3 times per week.
- Finish with Light Moisturizer or Anti-Aging Intensive Moisturizer.
Always follow the application and frequency directions provided on each product label and Product Information Page.
3 tips for finding what works
1. Start simple
You don’t need a shelf full of steps to care for your skin well. Begin with cleanser, toner, and moisturizer. Consistency with a simple routine can be more approachable than introducing too many products at once.
2. Choose for your skin—not your age
Skin care isn’t tied to a specific birthday. Mature-looking skin doesn’t automatically need the heaviest formula, and it’s never too late to begin a thoughtful routine. Choose products based on how your skin feels and the benefits you want.
3. Give your routine room to adjust
Check in with your skin as seasons, schedules, and environments change. Switching your cleanser or moisturizer isn’t starting over—it’s simply meeting your skin where it is.
Meet your new routine
Conscious ingredients. Purposeful performance. A routine designed around your skin.
Choose the individual products that fit your needs or take the guesswork out of getting started with one of Young Living’s four curated skin care collections. Whether your skin is seeking a fresh cleanse, lightweight hydration, richer moisture, or smoother-, brighter-looking care, there’s a thoughtful place to begin.
*Our DeepSpectra® technology is protected under U.S. Patent Nos. 12,540,293 and 12,559,697.
