Chaé Skincare Regimen – 4 Simple Steps for all skin types
Chaé’s four-step routine (cleanse or exfoliate, mist, serum, moisturize) with the products to reach for at each step, whatever your skin type.
The Ultimate Guide to a 15-Step Skincare Routine for Glowing Skin
Seven core steps, plus the habits around them — customizing, masks, lifestyle, nutrition, life stages, and ethical choices — for healthier, glowing skin.
A clear, radiant complexion is a universal desire, and getting there usually takes a well-structured skincare routine. This guide walks through it in 15 parts: why a routine matters, the seven core steps, and seven more ways to support your skin — customizing, masks, lifestyle, nutrition, troubleshooting, life stages, and ethical choices.
Whether you are new to skincare or already an enthusiast, you’ll come away knowing what each step is for, and how to make the routine your own.
The short version
- A skincare routine isn’t just pampering. It is a commitment to the health of your skin and its protective barrier.
- The core routine: cleanse, exfoliate, tone, apply a serum, moisturize, protect with sunscreen, and give your skin a nighttime routine.
- Customize it for your skin type and concerns, and add masks and treatments weekly or monthly.
- Diet, water, sleep, stress, smoking, alcohol, and exercise all show up on your skin.
- Choose eco-friendly, cruelty-free products — and be consistent and patient.
Why a Skincare Routine Matters
A skincare routine is not just about pampering yourself. It is a commitment to maintaining and improving the health of your skin.
It helps to know how skin works. Your skin is made of layers and has a protective barrier, and understanding that structure is the key to seeing why each step of your routine matters.
The Seven Core Steps
Step 1: Cleanse
Cleansing is the foundation of any routine. It removes dirt, oil, and impurities from the skin’s surface. Cleansers range from foaming to oil-based, so choose the type that suits your skin. In the Chaé line, that might be the Foaming Cleanser, the balancing NuClarity Cleanser, or Cleansing Waffles for removing makeup.
Step 2: Exfoliate
Exfoliation removes dead skin cells and helps improve skin texture and tone. It comes in two forms, physical and chemical, and the right one depends on your skin. Look for gentle yet effective exfoliation, such as the fine micro-scrub in our Açai Polishing Complex.
Step 3: Tone
Toners help balance your skin’s pH, prepare it for the products that follow, and add hydration. There are hydrating, soothing, and exfoliating toners; pick the one that fits your skin type and concerns.
Step 4: Serum and Treatment
Serums are potent, concentrated formulas made to target specific concerns, and targeted treatments go after common issues like breakouts, dark spots, and fine lines. Chaé options include INFUSION Advanced Serum for radiance, Perfection Brightening Serum for dullness and uneven tone, and NuAge Peptide Serum for the look of fine lines.
Step 5: Moisturize
Moisturizers lock in hydration, strengthen the skin barrier, and reduce moisture loss. Textures and ingredients vary, so find the right one for dry, oily, sensitive, or combination skin — for example, our Argan Collagen Moisturizer or CoQ10 Revitalizing Moisturizer.
Step 6: Sunscreen
Sunscreen is non-negotiable. It protects your skin from UV damage and premature aging. Understand what the SPF number on the label means, and choose a sunscreen that suits your skin type and preferences.
Step 7: Nighttime Routine
Nighttime is the ideal time for skin repair and renewal. Night creams and sleeping masks are designed to boost hydration and support your skin’s recovery while you sleep.
Customize Your Routine
Tailor your routine to your skin type — oily, dry, sensitive, or combination — and to specific concerns like breakouts, hyperpigmentation, and redness. If your skin is sensitive, take a gentle approach.
Add Masks and Treatments
Masks, peels, and other treatments, used weekly or monthly, can take your results further. There are many kinds of masks, from clay masks to sheet masks, each with its own best practices. A purifying option like our Charcoal Mask fits easily into a weekly routine.
Lifestyle, Nutrition, and Your Skin
What you do outside your routine shows up on your skin, too.
- Diet and hydration: what you eat and how much water you drink affect your skin’s health and appearance.
- Sleep and stress: sleep quality and stress levels are reflected in your skin’s condition.
- Habits: smoking, alcohol, and exercise all influence your skin.
- Nutrition from within: key vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants support healthy skin from the inside out, and dietary supplements can support your skincare efforts.
Troubleshooting Common Concerns
- Breakouts: understand what causes them, and build a routine to keep them in check.
- Dryness and dehydration: focus on restoring and maintaining hydration.
- Fine lines and wrinkles: use anti-aging strategies to minimize their appearance.
- Hyperpigmentation: address existing dark spots and melasma, and help keep new ones from forming.
Skincare for Every Life Stage
Your skin’s needs change as you age. Tailor your routine to your skin in your 20s, adjust it to maintain youthful-looking skin in your 30s, and adopt more advanced strategies to age gracefully in your 40s and beyond.
Sustainable and Ethical Choices
Glowing skin and a clear conscience can go together. Choose environmentally friendly skincare brands and products, and look for brands committed to cruelty-free practices and ethical sourcing.
The Journey to Glowing Skin
The steps above only work if you stick with them. Be consistent, be patient, and keep your expectations realistic. And remember: healthy skin is beautiful skin, and caring for it is a form of self-love.
FAQ: Building a Skincare Routine
What order should my skincare steps go in?
Cleanse, exfoliate, tone, apply a serum or treatment, moisturize, and finish with sunscreen — then give your skin a nighttime routine, too.
Do I really need sunscreen every day?
Yes. Sunscreen is the non-negotiable step that protects your skin from UV damage and premature aging.
Why does a nighttime routine matter?
Nighttime is the ideal time for skin repair and renewal, and night creams and sleeping masks support hydration and recovery while you sleep.
Product Spotlight
Want the routine without the guesswork? These ToxicFree® kits bring the core steps together, with a radiance serum and a weekly purifying mask to build on them.
ToxicFree® Daily Routine
A four-step face routine for morning and night: cleanse, mist, glow by day, moisturize by night.
Original price was: $165.84.$99.50Current price is: $99.50.
Shop ToxicFree® Daily Routine
Pure Radiance Kit
A five-step radiance routine: cleanse, polish, mist, firm the eye area and glow.
Original price was: $165.79.$99.47Current price is: $99.47.
Shop Pure Radiance Kit
INFUSION Advanced Serum - Visible Skin Radiance
Glow, bounce and all-day moisture for skin that looks dull, tired or stressed.
Original price was: $59.99.$35.95Current price is: $35.95. · save 15% with Subscribe & Save
Shop INFUSION Advanced Serum
Charcoal Mask - Purifying
Deep-cleansing charcoal that purifies skin—without leaving it dry and tight.
Original price was: $26.95.$16.15Current price is: $16.15. · save 15% with Subscribe & Save
Shop Charcoal Mask
