Cleansing, moisturizing, sun protection, and a decision about whether you want anything beyond that.
The core of a daily routine is short. Something to clean the skin without stripping it, something to keep it comfortable, and sun protection in the morning. Utah's dryness is worth accounting for — a climate this arid makes comfort and barrier care a bigger part of the conversation here than in humid places, especially in winter with heating running.
Beyond the core, the well-established categories people ask about are retinoids and antioxidants. We will name those as categories and stop there. We do not name products, we do not tell you what any ingredient will do for your face, and we do not cite studies at you, because the honest position is that the specific choice depends on your skin, your tolerance, what else you use and what you are willing to keep up. That conversation belongs with a professional looking at your actual skin.
What we will say about method: introduce one thing at a time, slowly, and give it a long stretch before judging it. Stacking three new things at once means you learn nothing when your skin reacts. Irritation is not a sign something is working. And if a routine has grown to the point where you resent it in the evening, it is too long and will not survive the year.
Tell us what you have noticed. We will tell you which tier it belongs to, what to ask when you get there, and when the honest answer is that nothing needs doing.
Ask Before You BookA sentence or two is plenty. We will follow up with which tier it belongs to and what to ask when you get there.