Skincare routine basics: the 4 products that matter
A basic skincare routine needs four products. What each one does, what to look for on the label and what a decent option costs in South Africa.
Open the bathroom cabinet. There's a toner from a pharmacy three-for-two and two serums that promise the same thing. There's a mask from a gift set, an exfoliator that stings a bit, and a very expensive eye cream you use when you remember. Eleven products, give or take. Your skin, meanwhile, hasn't noticed much.
Skincare is marketed by the shelf, but a basic skincare routine is four products used every day. Below: what each one does, what to look for on the label, and the order they go on, so the next purchase earns its place.
What to decide first
What's your skin type? Oily, dry, combination or sensitive. It decides the texture of your cleanser and moisturiser.
What's the one thing you'd change? Breakouts, dark marks, dullness, fine lines. That decides your serum, if you want one.
How long will you actually spend? A routine you do every day beats a long one you do twice a week.
If you have a skin condition, or something isn't improving, a pharmacist or dermatologist is the right first stop, before any product.
1. A gentle cleanser
It removes oil, sunscreen and grime without stripping the skin. Gentle, fragrance-free gels suit oily skin; creamy or hydrating cleansers suit dry and sensitive skin. If your face feels tight after washing, the cleanser is too harsh. Pharmacy brands like CeraVe, La Roche-Posay, Cetaphil and Bioderma do this well, and large sizes last months.
2. A moisturiser
It keeps the skin barrier healthy and comfortable. Lighter lotions and gels suit oily skin; richer creams suit dry skin. Ceramides, glycerin and hyaluronic acid are reliable ingredients to look for. A moisturiser with broad-spectrum SPF30 or higher can double as your sunscreen on short-exposure days, if you apply enough of it. A separate sunscreen is better if you're outdoors.
3. Sunscreen, every day
Sunscreen protects against sun damage, dark marks and early ageing, and it's the step most people skip. Use a broad-spectrum SPF30 or higher every morning, all year, and reapply when you're outdoors for long. In South Africa's sun, SPF50 is a sensible default. The best sunscreen is the one you'll wear daily, so pick a texture you like.
4. One targeted serum, if you want one
Serums carry concentrated active ingredients for a specific concern. Niacinamide helps with oiliness, redness and uneven tone. Vitamin C helps brighten and defend against daily damage, in the morning under sunscreen. Retinol helps with texture, breakouts and fine lines. It goes on at night and needs a slow start and daily sunscreen.
Pick one, use it for a couple of months, then judge it. Stacking several at once mostly gives you irritation and no way to tell what worked.
| Product | What to look for | Price band |
|---|---|---|
| Cleanser | Gentle, suited to skin type | R100 to R400 |
| Moisturiser | Ceramides, glycerin, right texture | R100 to R450 |
| Face sunscreen | Broad spectrum, SPF30 to 50 | R150 to R450 |
| Serum | One active for one concern | R150 to R700 |
The order a basic skincare routine goes on
Thinnest to thickest. In the morning that's cleanser, then a serum if you use one, then moisturiser, with sunscreen last. At night it's cleanser, serum and moisturiser, and no sunscreen. If you use retinol, keep it to the evening.
Give each layer a minute to settle before the next. A new product slots into the same order by texture, which also tells you when you've doubled up: two thin layers that promise the same thing usually means one can go.
Deals, and where REALRANK™ comes in
Where to save and where to spend on each of these four, and how to do the price-per-millilitre sum, sits in our guide to building a skincare routine on a budget. Three-for-twos and points have their own guide to the real price of beauty promos.
The Beauty Shop ranks live beauty deals from the shops we track by REALRANK™. It reads six things: how deep the discount is, how much it saves in rand, how the price compares to other shops, whether the brand is one people search for, how recently the price dropped, and whether it's in stock across sizes.
Before you pay
Check the size, because the same product comes in very different sizes. Check the expiry or the period-after-opening symbol on the pack. Patch-test anything new, especially retinol and vitamin C. Most shops won't take back opened skincare unless it's faulty, so start with smaller sizes when you're trying something new. Our playbook on returns for opened beauty items has the detail.
Before you buy, Check The Deal. Shop great beauty deals, verified and ranked by REALRANK™.
Frequently asked questions
What is a basic skincare routine?
A gentle cleanser, a moisturiser for your skin type and a daily sunscreen of SPF30 or higher, with one targeted serum if you want it.
Do I need to wear sunscreen every day?
Yes. Daily broad-spectrum sunscreen of SPF30 or higher is one of the most effective ways to prevent sun damage and dark marks, especially in South Africa's sun.
What order do I apply skincare products in?
Thinnest to thickest. Cleanser, then serum, then moisturiser, with sunscreen last in the morning. At night, skip the sunscreen.
Can I use retinol and vitamin C together?
Many people use vitamin C in the morning and retinol at night. Start one at a time and introduce retinol slowly.
Where are the best skincare deals in South Africa?
The Beauty Shop on THE REAL DEAL ranks live beauty deals from the shops we track by REALRANK™.
Sources
- Clicks, CeraVe range (cleanser, moisturiser and SPF prices), read 22 October 2026
- Clicks, face sunscreen SPF50 range (price bands), read 22 October 2026
- Clicks, niacinamide serums (price bands), read 22 October 2026
- Clicks, retinol serums (price bands), read 22 October 2026
- American Academy of Dermatology, how to select sunscreen, read 27 October 2026
- Consumer Protection Act, section 56, implied warranty of quality, read 19 October 2026
Written by Dean. Reviewed 27 October 2026. Price bands are for a decent option at full price, rounded, and change; the live deals show today's prices. This guide is general information, not medical advice. Some links earn THE REAL DEAL a commission. Placement buys visibility, it never touches REALRANK™.