People Always Compliment My Flawless Skin—These 6 Steps Are Why

From sunscreen and essences to moisturizers, it's all here.

Hannah Baxter headshots
(Image credit: Hannah Baxter)

Hello, fellow beauty obsessives! Marie Claire Beauty Director Hannah Baxter here, kicking off the very first (but certainly not the last) installment of our new biweekly beauty newsletter, Face Forward. I joined the team in September after two years as a freelance writer and brand consultant, and prior to that I held editor roles at The Zoe Report, Coveteur, and Bust Magazine, with over ten years devoted to all things beauty. It also helps that I’m a beauty nerd to the extreme, always eager to learn about the newest and most notable launches, the science behind ingredients and formulations, and which direction the multi-billion dollar industry is heading.

I’m a huge proponent of transparency in beauty, and nothing makes me happier than to share my editor knowledge with people who aren’t, say, unboxing 37 mailers from various beauty brands each week. I also try to be an open book with my beauty choices, whether that’s the best budget tinted lip balm or my various filler and injectables, because there should be zero shame with however much (or how little) you choose to engage with the industry. I’m extra in some areas (like skincare) while more of a minimalist in others (my typical makeup routine takes under five minutes) but equally enthusiastic about all the various facets of the industry.

To kick things off, I wanted to share a few secrets about the thing I get asked about the most—my skin. Putting all humility aside, I hear from at least one person a day about how radiant and dewy my skin looks (#notsohumblebrag). For context, I’m a longtime skincare fanatic thanks to my mother (hi, mom!) who instilled healthy habits from the moment I turned 13. Think cleansing, moisturizing, and daily SPF, the critical basics. I’ve upgraded a few things since then, and while stellar skin genes definitely play a role in the state of my epidermis, consistency and quality products are also a major factor. However, I haven’t always had a clear, even complexion, and I still have days wherein my skin acts up—I’m human. In fact, I had to conduct a full overhaul of my routine when I was 26 after I got my first hormonal IUD and I experienced deep cystic acne along my jawline and across my forehead for the first time. Luckily, I’ve finally found a regimen that works for my skin and delivers a clear, radiant glow (plus adding in 100mg of oral spironolactone once a day, because sometimes topical products simply aren’t enough).

I’d love to tell you that there is a magic formula that will wipe away any traces of acne, fine lines, sun damage, and sagging skin, but that’s simply not the way that skincare works. The key, as I’ve learned over the last 22 years of using products, is figuring out how your skin reacts to certain ingredients, what your three core skin priorities are (mine are hydration, skin renewal, and combatting dark spots), being SUPER consistent, and not doing too much to your skin. I repeat, do NOT go bananas and try a dozen new things all at the same time. How would you know what works for you and what doesn’t?! You’re just asking for a rash or a breakout, or both.

All that being said, I do have my core products that I return to time and again once I swipe the last dollop out of the jar. These are the formulas that I reach for when my skin is stressed or when I’m simply over testing out newbies and just want guaranteed success with my routine. So, if you’re looking for thoroughly vetted products that just might help you reach my beauty director-level glow, keep reading for my six-step routine.

Kick It Off With a Cleanser

A non-negotiable step, you absolutely need a solid formula to remove pollution, makeup, and oil before diving into the rest of your routine.

The Essence of Beauty

The goal with my skincare routine is to pack as many nourishing and hydrating ingredients in as I can, so I always tap an essence, aka a lightweight, water-based toner with high active ingredients, into slightly damp skin post-cleansing to lay the foundation for the rest of my products.

Never Skip a Hydrating Serum

Adding a humectant product (meaning it binds water to the skin) is key to maintaining your skin’s hydration levels throughout the day, so a quality hydrating serum is always a crucial part of my routine.

Protect Yourself With an Antioxidant Serum

Free-radicals are these pesky unstable oxygen molecules that come from exposure to UV light, pollution, cigarette smoke, and even certain processed foods, and cause oxidative damage to your skin cells. Antioxidants work to stabilize the molecules and protect your skin to prevent dark spots, fine lines, and dullness. In other words, they help keep your skin looking healthy and flawless!

Seal It In With a Moisturizer

Lock in all those yummy serum ingredients with an emollient moisturizer and provide your skin with an essential hydration boost for a long day of work, play, and general bad ass-ery.

Sunscreen Is Essential, Always

Do I really need to remind you that the most effective “anti-aging” product in your skincare arsenal is SPF? Remember: SUNSCREEN. Every. Single. Day!

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Hannah Baxter
Beauty Director

Hannah Baxter is the Beauty Director at Marie Claire. She has previously held roles at The Zoe Report, Coveteur, and Bust Magazine, covering beauty, wellness, fashion, and lifestyle. Her writing has appeared in Harper's Bazaar, Allure, The Cut, Elle, InStyle, Glamour, Air Mail, Vogue, Architectural Digest, Byrdie, Nylon and more. She is also the founder of Anxiety Beer, a bi-monthly newsletter about the intersection of culture and mental health. In her spare time you can catch her reading too many overdue library books, thrifting, or hanging with her hairless cat, Norman. You can find her on Instagram and TikTok @hannahbaxward.