How Do I Know Which Skincare Products I Actually Need?

The beauty industry would love you to believe you need a twelve-step routine and a bathroom shelf that groans under the weight of it. You don't. Most people need surprisingly few products — the trick is knowing which ones. Here's how to cut through the noise and figure out what your skin actually needs, and what's just clever marketing.

Start with the true essentials

Almost everyone's skin needs just three things to be healthy: a cleanser, a moisturiser, and sunscreen. That's the genuine core. Cleanse to keep skin clean and comfortable (CTRL+ALT+DEL Facial Cleanser, $62), moisturise to keep it hydrated and protected (Crème Vitale, $190), and apply SPF by day to protect it (Outside SPF 50+ Face Crème, $40). If you did only these three, consistently, your skin would be in genuinely good shape. Everything else is optional and additive.

Then add based on your actual goals

Beyond the essentials, the right products depend entirely on what you care about. Name your top one or two priorities honestly, then add a targeted product for each — and only for each.

Want more hydration and glow? Add a serum like Instant Plump ($199).

Bothered by dullness or texture? Add a gentle exfoliating treatment such as Power Trip Facial Serum ($122).

Want overnight repair? Add a night serum like Pure Cell Protection ($170).

Focused on the eye area? Add a dedicated eye cream like Eye Lift ($199).

The point is to add purposefully, one product per genuine goal — not to collect products because they exist.

How to spot what you don't need

A few honest questions will save you money. Does this duplicate something I already have? (Three serums doing the same job is two too many.) Will I actually use it, or does it intimidate me? (An unused product meets no need.) Am I buying this because my skin needs it, or because an ad made me anxious? Products sold on fear — especially fear of ageing — rarely earn their place. If you can't name the specific job a product does for your skin, you probably don't need it.

Let your skin, not the trends, decide

Skincare trends move fast, and most of them aren't about your skin at all. Tune out the noise and pay attention to how your skin actually feels — tight and dry means more hydration; comfortable and happy means you're doing enough. Your skin is the only reviewer that matters. When something's working, resist the urge to keep adding; a calm, consistent routine is a sign of success, not a lack of effort.

Enough is enough

Here's the freeing truth: you almost certainly need less than you've been told. A few well-chosen products, used consistently, will do more than a crowded shelf of half-used jars. And you certainly don't need to buy your way out of getting older — the fine lines and softening that come with time are lovely, not flaws. Choose the products that genuinely serve your skin and your life, skip the rest without guilt, and enjoy a routine that feels like care rather than pressure.

Find your essentials at Maison Skin.