Start with three products, a gentle cleanser, a moisturiser and a broad-spectrum SPF 30+ sunscreen every morning, and run them for about four weeks before adding one active ingredient at a time. Answer the questions below to get a simple morning, night and weekly routine matched to your skin type, time and goals.
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Free, no sign-up. General grooming and fitness information, not medical advice.
1. Your skin type
2. Your main skin goal
3. Time you'll actually spend per day
4. Have you used cleanser, moisturiser and SPF daily for 4+ weeks?
5. Facial hair
6. Anything else you want to work on? (pick any)
7. Age
Your routine appears here as you answer. Questions 1 to 3 are enough to start.
Weeks 1 to 4: the core three. Everyone starts with a gentle cleanser, a moisturiser that suits their skin type (gel or light lotion for oily skin, a cream for dry) and SPF 30+ every morning. An intact skin barrier means less redness, less irritation and better tolerance of anything you add later.
Week 5 on: one active, matched to your goal. The builder then picks one of three routines from the book: A for oily or congested skin (niacinamide, a salicylic acid cleanser a few nights a week), B for persistent acne (a short-contact benzoyl peroxide wash, adapalene at night) or C for dry or sensitive skin, redness and marks (niacinamide or azelaic acid). One new active at a time, patch tested, two or three times a week to start.
| Active | What it does | How to start |
|---|---|---|
| Niacinamide | Calms redness, helps regulate oil, evens tone slowly. The gentlest place to start. | 2–5% serum or moisturiser, once daily. |
| Salicylic acid (BHA) | Gets inside pores: blackheads, congestion, bumpy texture. | 0.5–2% cleanser or leave-on, 2–3 nights a week. |
| Benzoyl peroxide | Red, inflamed spots, including chest and back. | 2.5–5% wash, left on 1–2 minutes then rinsed. Bleaches fabric. |
| Adapalene (a retinoid) | Persistent acne, blackheads, texture, marks. | Pea-sized amount at night, 2–3 nights a week. Prescription-only in some countries (including the UK): ask a pharmacist or doctor. |
| Azelaic acid | Redness, bumps, lingering dark marks. | Once daily; can tingle at first. |
Stop a new product if you get burning, stinging, a rash or raw patches, and go back to the core routine. See a doctor or pharmacist if it doesn't settle, or if you have swelling. Under 18, on medication or with a diagnosed skin condition: ask a doctor before starting retinoids or strong acne treatments. Before a new training plan, check with a doctor if you have a medical condition or haven't exercised in a long time.
This tool puts a few of the named techniques from Glow up Protocol to work. Each line says how it relates to the tool.
See every technique in Glow up Protocol →
Three products: a gentle facial cleanser, a moisturiser and a broad-spectrum sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher every morning. The American Academy of Dermatology advises washing with a gentle cleanser and lukewarm water rather than bar soap, moisturising daily, and using SPF 30+ sunscreen. Run this core routine for about four weeks before adding anything else.
Wash your face with a gentle cleanser, pat it dry, put nothing on it and wait one hour. Shiny all over means oily; tight, dull or flaky means dry; a shiny forehead, nose and chin with normal or dry cheeks means combination; comfortable with little shine means normal. If products, weather or shaving often make it sting, flush or itch, treat it as sensitive.
Only after the core routine has run for about four weeks, and one new active at a time, waiting at least four weeks before adding another. Patch test for three nights first, start two or three times a week, and don't stack strong actives on the same night. Under 18, on medication or with a diagnosed skin condition, ask a doctor or pharmacist before starting retinoids or strong acne treatments.
Yes, for anyone who wants to protect their skin. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher on exposed skin, reapplied about every two hours outdoors and after swimming or sweating. Sun exposure also makes acne marks stay dark for longer.
The NHS suggests seeing a GP if acne is moderate or severe, or if pharmacy treatments haven't worked. See a doctor or pharmacist too if spots are painful, deep or scarring, if a new product causes swelling or a rash, or if a consistent routine with an active ingredient hasn't helped after about 12 weeks.
General grooming and fitness information, not medical advice, and no promise of specific results. Product strengths are typical over-the-counter ranges; follow the label and ask a pharmacist if unsure.