In general, u don't need to think much. The basic is face wash and moisturizer, that's it. But first and foremost, is to know your skin type. In general, there are 3 types, oily (the enemy is comedo and acne), dry skin (the enemy is black spot and dry skin) and hybrid (have both at the same times). After you know, it will always comes back to face wash (to remove dirtness, oil, and etc) and moisturizer (to prevent your face to make oil when sleeping and/or dry when sleeping).
Assuming you wake up in the morning and an active member of society, take face wash to remove any dirt, oil, and other stuff while you sleep (it also helps you to fresh your face in the morning). For me, use cold water is great (it closes your pores) and refreshing at the same times. Apply moisturizer and sunscreen and go with your activity, this is very safe and standart. After you come home from activity, go take shower and use face wash again to remove oil, dirt, etc. Let it dry, apply moisturizer and just go to sleep or do any night activity. It's that simple. Make sure to let it dry before apply any other skin care routine.
Habit is the most under rated one. Yui already explained it to you the whole routine is very important. Me personally, instead of using dedicated towel, just use one use tissue after showering and after face wash (yes, i skip my face when using my body towel) and use one use tissue instead (there is dedicated facial tissue product that more soft in your skin). The key to ANY OF THIS, IS CONSISTENCY. Like any habit, consistency is the key. You will see changes in 3 weeks+ even more, so lower your expectation.
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Now for advanced part. The world usually divided with two hemispheres, east and west. Surprisingly, they have two different understanding with skin care routine stuff (it's because it has different climate duhhh). I like to corporate both world in my skincare routine. In the west, the advanced step of skincare is face wash --> toner --> serum --> moisturizer (mask). While in the east is oil cleanser --> facewash --> moisturizer (mask). Now of course, marketing stuff will fill any product in the middle of that process, like eye cream, night cream, day cream, exfoliate, or whatever. I find it not essential, but if you want it go ahead.
Now wtf is toner here? toner is to hydrate your skin after facewash (sometimes in sensitive stuff, your skin is so dry after using face wash product, toner is to hydrate your skin after that). Also, face wash in general is mildly acidic to be able to getting rid of that dirtness and oil stuff, you rub your hand to getting rid of that excess stuff out of you face. It makes skin dry after doing that, but feels clean. Toner after facewash has two function in general, hydrate your skin and makes the next skincare product absorbs in your skin more efficient. We want to rebalance pH in your face from slightly acidic to neutral again so the next product can penetrate your skin more effective.
Serum / essence, related to active ingredient chemical. Now this is vary because so many active ingredient out there. Start like niacinamide, salicylic acid, retinol, arbutine, zinc oxide, benzoyl peroxide, hyaluric acid, and many more. Now this will affect different problem for your face problem. For example, have acne? use salicylic acid; need bright skin? niacinamide; want to get rid of black spots? arbutine + vit.c (and so many more). Go see skin doctor to conduct your skin problem and ask for what active ingredients that good for your skin. In general, this is quite advanced because you need to research first before apply in your skin.
Now, what is oil cleanser? it's a way to get rid of oily and make it double cleanser. Usually, if you are only using face wash, it's not thoroughly clean. This fills the spot, to make sure your face is thoroughly clean. Kinda like oil based product for your skin to trap that dirt stuff, then wash it with face wash (water-based product). But honestly, face wash as started is good enough (just make sure you rub your face thoroughly with gentle move). It's different case if you have make up and want to get rid of that, now that's the primary use for oil cleanser, want to make sure that oil make up stuff all are gone before apply any skincare right....
Super good product to use every 3-4 days is mask. Now this, is good product. Ofc different type skin has different type of mask. I have oily skin type and find clay mask very good for me. Again, this is optional but good to have.
My morning routine: face wash --> toner --> moisturizer --> sunscreen
my night routine: oil cleanser --> face wash -- > toner --> serum / essence (i use niacinamide only now) --> moisturizer
Notable product brand is: Cerave and La roche posay (my skin like products from this brand, ofc after trying many times and fails, couple breakouts, experiment here and there)
