Skin
The Three-Product Skincare Argument
18 February 2026 · 5 min read · By Amelia Fox
Cleanser. Moisturiser. SPF. That's the minimum effective dose. Here's why most people would get better skin from doing less.
I've cleansed thousands of faces. I can tell you with some confidence: the people with the best skin in my chair, on average, use the fewest products. Not because they're holding back — because that's actually what works.
The three that matter **Cleanser.** Gentle, twice daily, lukewarm water. Removes the day, the night, the SPF. Doesn't strip the barrier.
**Moisturiser.** Twice daily. The job is to keep water in the skin, full stop. Whether your moisturiser also contains peptides, vitamin C, or 14 botanical extracts is largely marketing — the moisturising itself is the point.
**SPF.** Every day. Mineral or chemical, doesn't matter — what matters is that you actually use it. SPF 30 minimum. This is the single most effective anti-ageing product you will ever buy.
What about actives? Active ingredients — retinol, vitamin C, AHAs, BHAs — have real evidence behind them for specific concerns. Add **one** at a time, slowly, only if you have a specific concern that warrants it. Most people don't.
The honest version Nine clients out of ten who walk in convinced their skin is "complicated" are using too many products. We strip the routine back, treat the underlying skin in-studio, and three months later the same skin looks calmer, clearer, and more even-toned. No miracle. Just less interference.
Book a Signature Facial. We'll work it out together.