‘What skincare products do I actually need?’ This is the question I‘m asked most right now.

Not, ‘What should I buy this week?’ or ‘Do I need the new viral serum I keep seeing on social media?’

Every day there seems to be a new miracle molecule or a must-have serum promising transformative results. Even if you love skincare, it’s overwhelming.

In my 20s and 30s, I was happy to experiment and, as long as my skin felt hydrated, I was satisfied. But, by midlife, I found myself searching for products that made a positive difference but also required very little fuss and nonsense.

It’s why I find myself recommending the same core routine to anyone who asks me.

Starting with the morning routine, there are three products I consider fundamental.

The beauty of this approach is that it gives you a solid foundation. Once you’ve got those essentials covered, you can absolutely build around them. The irony is that in a world where we have more skincare choices than ever before, many women over 40 are actually craving simplicity. Not because they care less about beauty, but because they care more about outcomes. There is enormous pleasure in reaching a point where you know your skin. Where your routine takes five minutes, your skin is happy and you know the basics are doing all the heavy lifting. Sometimes the most sophisticated skincare routine isn’t the longest one. It’s the one built around ingredients that are proven to work. And, in the end, that’s where the real fun begins.

Will you give this regimen a try? The beauty is, you can use your existing cleansers and moisturisers around these four pillars…