A good natural skincare routine starts with understanding what your skin actually needs. For most people, the essentials are straightforward: cleanse appropriately, keep skin comfortably moisturised and use sun protection during the day. From there, serums, facial oils, exfoliators and other treatments can be added according to your skin type and concerns.
Natural skincare gives you a wide range of plant oils, botanical extracts and naturally derived actives to choose from. The key is knowing which ingredients suit your skin, when to use them and how the different steps fit together.
This guide explains how to build a natural skincare routine for morning and evening, the correct order to apply products, and how to adapt your routine for dry, oily, combination, sensitive or mature skin.
What's Inside
What does a natural skincare routine need?
A simple routine starts with a suitable cleanser, a moisturiser that leaves your skin comfortable and broad-spectrum sun protection during the day.
From there, you can personalise your routine. A serum might provide extra hydration or a targeted active, while facial oils can add emollience and botanical lipids. Toners, eye creams, exfoliators and masks can also be useful depending on your skin and what you want from your routine.
The aim is to choose products that complement one another and give each step a clear role.
Why choose a natural skincare routine?
Natural skincare isn't only about what a formulation leaves out. For us, what's included matters just as much.
Plant oils, butters and botanical extracts can provide complex combinations of fatty acids, tocopherols, sterols, polyphenols and other naturally occurring compounds. Humectants such as glycerin and hyaluronic acid can then be combined with these botanical ingredients to support hydration and help create well-balanced formulas.
Plant oils also differ considerably from one another. Jojoba, rosehip, sunflower, sea buckthorn and evening primrose, for example, have different compositions and cosmetic characteristics. This gives formulators plenty of scope to combine botanical ingredients according to the texture and purpose of a product.
Good natural formulation is about selecting those ingredients intelligently and bringing them together in ways that make sense for the skin.
Build the foundations first
Get your cleanser, moisturiser and daytime sun protection right first. These provide the foundation of the routine.
You can then introduce serums, oils and other treatments according to your skin type, concerns and preferences.
How to choose skincare for your skin type
Your skin type is a useful starting point when choosing products, but also pay attention to how your skin actually feels.
Skin can be oily but dehydrated, dry and blemish-prone, or sensitive as well as combination. Your needs can also change with the seasons, particularly when colder weather, central heating, sun exposure or changes in humidity affect the skin.
Dry skin
Look for gentle cleansing and moisturisers combining humectants with richer emollients such as plant oils, squalane and shea butter. A facial oil can provide additional emollience when your skin needs it.
Oily skin
Choose a cleanser that removes excess oil without leaving skin feeling uncomfortably tight. Lightweight moisturisers and hydrating serums can provide moisture without the richness of a heavier cream.
Combination skin
Start with lightweight, balanced products and adjust individual areas where necessary. You might use a little more moisturiser on dry areas while keeping the rest of the routine consistent.
Sensitive skin
A straightforward routine makes it easier to identify products your skin likes. Introduce new formulas individually and pay attention to fragrance and essential oils if you know your skin is sensitive to them.
If sensitivity is your main concern, our natural skincare for sensitive skin guide looks more closely at ingredients, product choices and building a gentle routine.
What about mature skin?
Mature skin isn't a separate skin type – it can still be dry, oily, combination or sensitive – but its needs can change over time.
Hydration, comfortable moisturisation and daily sun protection remain important. You may also want to introduce targeted ingredients such as antioxidants or bakuchiol, depending on your goals.
Plant oils can be particularly appealing in richer formulations because they contribute emollient lipids alongside naturally occurring compounds such as tocopherols and sterols.
For more targeted advice, see our natural skincare guide to fine lines and wrinkles.
Your natural morning skincare routine
Your morning routine prepares your skin for the day, supports comfortable hydration and finishes with protection from UV.
1. Cleanse
Use a gentle facial cleanser if your skin needs cleansing in the morning. Oily skin may particularly appreciate a fresh cleanse, while some dry or sensitive skins may be comfortable with a simple lukewarm-water rinse.
2. Apply toner or essence
If you use one, apply toner or essence after cleansing. Modern toners can provide hydration, botanical extracts or targeted ingredients and can be selected according to what your skin needs.
3. Apply serum
Serums allow you to make the routine more targeted. You might choose a hydrating formula, an antioxidant serum or another active according to your main skincare goal.
4. Moisturise
Moisturiser helps maintain hydration and supports the skin barrier. Choose the texture according to your skin: lightweight lotions and gel-creams can work well for oilier skin, while dry skin may prefer a richer cream containing plant oils and butters.
5. Finish with sunscreen
Broad-spectrum sunscreen should be the final skincare step before make-up. Apply it generously to exposed skin and follow the individual product's instructions, including advice on reapplication.
Make sunscreen your final morning skincare step
UV exposure plays an important role in visible skin ageing, so sun protection is particularly relevant if maintaining even-looking skin and minimising the appearance of premature lines and pigmentation are priorities.
Foundation or skin tint containing SPF can provide additional protection, but a dedicated broad-spectrum sunscreen gives you a much clearer way to apply an appropriate amount.
Your natural evening skincare routine
The evening routine is your opportunity to remove make-up, sunscreen and the day's build-up, then replenish the skin with hydration, moisturiser and any targeted treatment you use.
1. Remove make-up and sunscreen
If you're wearing make-up or water-resistant sunscreen, an oil, balm or suitable first cleanser can help dissolve it before your main cleanse.
2. Cleanse
Use your regular facial cleanser to leave the skin clean and ready for the products that follow. If your first cleanse has already removed everything effectively, the amount of additional cleansing you need will depend on your skin and the products you've worn.
3. Apply serum or treatment
Evening is a convenient time for targeted products such as hydrating serums, bakuchiol formulas or exfoliating treatments. Follow the directions for the particular product, especially where active ingredients are concerned.
4. Moisturise
Apply a moisturiser that suits your skin. You can use the same cream morning and evening or choose a richer night cream if your skin benefits from additional emollience.
5. Add facial oil
If facial oil is part of your routine, a few drops can usually be applied towards the end. Oils can add emollience and are particularly appealing when skin feels dry or you prefer a richer evening routine.
Do you need a separate day cream and night cream?
Not necessarily. A well-chosen moisturiser can be used morning and evening if the texture suits you.
Separate products become useful when you want different things from them. You might prefer a lighter moisturiser beneath sunscreen and make-up during the day, for example, and a richer botanical cream in the evening.
A night product may also incorporate targeted ingredients that you specifically want to use as part of your evening routine.
How to choose serums and active ingredients
Serums are one of the easiest ways to personalise a skincare routine because they allow you to concentrate on a particular goal without changing the rest of your products.
| If your priority is... | Ingredients to consider | Routine approach |
|---|---|---|
| Dehydration | Glycerin, hyaluronic acid, aloe | Use a hydrating serum followed by moisturiser. |
| Dryness | Plant oils, squalane, shea butter | Choose a nourishing moisturiser and add facial oil if your skin benefits from it. |
| Fine lines & uneven texture | Bakuchiol, antioxidants, appropriate exfoliating acids | Choose a targeted treatment and introduce it according to its directions. |
| Dull-looking skin | Vitamin C, antioxidants, gentle exfoliating acids | Choose a treatment that complements the rest of your routine. |
| Sensitivity | Glycerin, suitable plant oils and barrier-supporting ingredients | Build a comfortable core routine before introducing more targeted actives. |
Hydrating serums
Humectants such as glycerin and hyaluronic acid help attract and retain water in the outer layers of the skin. They're useful when skin feels dehydrated and can work across several skin types, including oily skin.
Antioxidant serums
Antioxidants are widely used in skincare to help protect formulas and skin from oxidative processes. Natural skincare can draw on both recognised antioxidant ingredients and botanical extracts containing naturally occurring antioxidant compounds.
Bakuchiol
Bakuchiol is a plant-derived cosmetic active that has become particularly popular in natural skincare aimed at visible signs of ageing.
It isn't retinol and shouldn't be described as though the two ingredients are identical. It offers a different approach for people interested in improving the appearance of fine lines, texture and overall skin quality.
Exfoliating acids
Ingredients such as lactic acid can help loosen dead surface cells and improve the feel and appearance of skin texture. Their appropriate frequency depends on the product concentration, formulation and your skin's tolerance, so follow the individual directions.
Add targeted products gradually
Introducing one new treatment at a time makes it easier to understand how your skin responds and whether the product deserves a permanent place in your routine.
This is particularly useful with exfoliating acids and other concentrated active products.
Where do toners, facial oils, masks and exfoliators fit?
Once your core routine is established, these additional steps can be selected according to your skin and preferences.
Toner
A toner sits between cleansing and serum. Depending on the formula, it can provide additional hydration, botanical extracts or targeted ingredients.
It doesn't “close” pores – pores don't open and close in that way – but a well-formulated toner can still be an enjoyable and useful skincare step.
Facial oil
Facial oils are particularly interesting in natural skincare because different botanical oils bring different fatty-acid profiles and naturally occurring lipid-soluble compounds.
They can help soften the skin and reduce moisture loss, but they don't provide the water content of a conventional emulsion. That's why many people find facial oils work particularly well alongside a moisturiser rather than as a direct replacement.
Exfoliator
Exfoliation removes some of the dead cells from the skin's surface and can help rough or flaky texture feel smoother.
You can choose between physical exfoliation and formulas using exfoliating acids. Whichever route you prefer, frequency should be guided by the product and how your skin responds.
Our guide to choosing a face scrub explains physical exfoliation in more detail.
Face mask
Masks are a useful way to add something specific to the routine. A hydrating mask can provide an intensive moisture step, while other formulas may focus on clay, exfoliation or richer botanical oils.
Choose according to what your skin needs rather than assuming one type of mask suits everybody.
For a closer look at how these steps work together, read our guide to cleansing, toning, exfoliating and masking.
What order should you apply skincare?
Product instructions should always take priority, but a conventional routine will usually follow this order:
- Cleanser
- Toner or essence, if used
- Serum or targeted treatment
- Eye product, if used
- Moisturiser
- Facial oil, if used
- Sunscreen as the final morning skincare step
The familiar advice to apply products from thinner to richer textures can be a useful general guide, but formulation matters more than texture alone. Always check the directions when you're using a targeted treatment.
How to switch to a natural skincare routine
You can move towards natural skincare gradually, replacing products as they run out and learning which formulations work particularly well for your skin.
1. Start with your everyday products
Cleanser and moisturiser are sensible places to begin because they're products you'll use regularly and form the foundation of the routine.
2. Choose according to your skin
Look beyond the word “natural” and consider the complete formulation, texture and purpose of the product. A rich botanical balm and a lightweight natural gel moisturiser can be designed for very different skins.
3. Introduce targeted skincare
Once you're happy with the basics, add a serum, facial oil or treatment according to the concern you most want to address.
4. Adjust with the seasons
Your routine doesn't have to remain identical throughout the year. You may prefer richer moisturisation during a British winter and lighter textures when the weather becomes warmer.
Natural skincare: MyPure picks
These three products illustrate different parts of a natural skincare routine: cleansing, targeted evening moisturisation and a botanical treatment oil. Choose according to the role you need to fill rather than treating them as a prescribed three-product routine.
MOSSA JUICY CLEAN Cleansing Crème-Mousse
MOSSA JUICY CLEAN Cleansing Crème-Mousse is an everyday facial cleanser with a creamy mousse texture, making it a useful starting point for the cleansing stage of a natural skincare routine.
The important test of any cleanser is how your skin feels afterwards. It should remove what you need it to remove while leaving your skin comfortable and ready for the rest of your routine.
Explore MOSSAMÁDARA Retinol Alternative Plant-Powered Night Cream
MÁDARA Retinol Alternative Plant-Powered Night Cream shows how your moisturising step can also provide the targeted part of an evening routine.
The plant-powered formula combines botanical oils and butters with hydrating ingredients and is designed as an alternative approach for people interested in addressing visible signs of ageing without using conventional retinol.
Explore the MÁDARA Retinol Alternative RangeLiving Nature Rewind & Repair Serum
Living Nature Rewind & Repair Serum is an oil-based treatment containing pequi, jojoba and sunflower oils alongside bakuchiol, ceramide NP, sodium hyaluronate, tōtara extract and mānuka honey.
It's a useful example of why texture and formulation matter when deciding where a product belongs in your routine. Although it's called a serum, its oil-rich formulation makes it quite different from a conventional water-based hydrating serum.
Explore Living NatureBuild your routine by product role
| Routine role | What to look for | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Cleanser | Effective cleansing that leaves your skin feeling comfortable. | Usually evening; morning according to your skin. |
| Serum or treatment | Ingredients chosen for a particular skincare goal. | According to the product and active ingredients. |
| Moisturiser | A balance of hydration and emollience in a texture that suits your skin. | Usually morning and evening. |
| Facial oil | Botanical oils selected for their emollience and naturally occurring lipid compounds. | Usually towards the end of the routine. |
| Sunscreen | Broad-spectrum UV protection appropriate for your needs. | Final daytime skincare step on exposed skin. |
Build a routine around your skin
Explore natural and organic cleansers, serums, moisturisers, facial oils, exfoliators, masks and sun care from brands selected by MyPure.
Shop Natural & Organic SkincareNatural skincare routine FAQs
What are the basic steps of a skincare routine?
A good starting point is cleansing, moisturising and daytime sun protection. You can then add a serum or treatment for a particular concern, plus optional products such as toner, facial oil, eye cream, exfoliator or masks according to your skin and preferences.
What is the correct skincare order in the morning?
A typical order is cleanser if needed, toner or essence if used, serum, moisturiser and finally sunscreen. If a particular product gives different application instructions, follow those instead.
What is the correct skincare order at night?
Remove make-up and sunscreen, cleanse, apply your serum or targeted treatment and then moisturise. Facial oil can usually be used towards the end of the routine if you want additional emollience.
Do I need toner in my skincare routine?
Toner is an additional rather than essential step. Modern toners can provide hydration, botanical extracts and other useful ingredients, so choose one according to what it contributes to your routine.
Do I need a serum?
A serum is useful when you want to make your routine more targeted. You might choose one for additional hydration, antioxidants or another active ingredient depending on your skincare goals.
Do I need separate day and night moisturisers?
No. You can use the same moisturiser morning and evening if it suits your skin. Separate products can be useful if you prefer different textures or want an evening moisturiser containing particular targeted ingredients.
Should facial oil go before or after moisturiser?
Facial oil will usually fit comfortably after a water-based serum or moisturiser. Formulations vary, however, so follow the directions for your particular product.
What is the best natural skincare routine for dry skin?
Start with gentle cleansing and a moisturiser combining humectants with emollient ingredients such as plant oils, squalane or shea butter. A hydrating serum or facial oil can then be added if your skin benefits from extra hydration or richness.
What is the best natural skincare routine for oily skin?
Choose a comfortable cleanser, lightweight moisturiser and daytime sunscreen. Hydrating serums can work well for oily skin because oiliness and dehydration can occur together. Add targeted products according to concerns such as blemishes or uneven texture.
How should I introduce a new skincare product?
Introduce new products individually where possible and follow their directions. This makes it easier to understand how your skin responds, particularly when adding exfoliating acids or other targeted active ingredients.
Can I try natural skincare before buying full-size products?
Yes, where samples are available. MyPure lets you choose up to five free sample sachets with an order, so you can try the texture and feel of selected products before committing to a full size. Browse the available free samples.
How does MyPure choose natural skincare?
We curate natural, organic and clean beauty brands according to our ingredient standards. You can read more about what we look for in the MyPure Purity Promise.
The bottom line
A good natural skincare routine is one that suits your skin, addresses your priorities and fits comfortably into your day.
Start with the foundations: cleanse appropriately, moisturise well and protect your skin from UV during the day. From there, you can introduce hydrating serums, botanical oils, antioxidants, bakuchiol, exfoliators or other targeted products according to what you want from your skincare.
Natural skincare gives formulators a broad palette to work with, from plant oils and butters to botanical extracts and naturally derived actives. These ingredients can bring complementary properties to a formula when they're selected and combined intelligently.
For us, that's the real attraction of natural skincare: not simply a list of ingredients to avoid, but the opportunity to make thoughtful use of what plants can contribute to a formulation.
Please note: This article provides general skincare information rather than medical advice. Always follow individual product instructions. If you have a diagnosed skin condition, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or are unsure whether a particular active ingredient is appropriate for you, seek appropriate professional advice.