Product catalogue
Reference products by the role they play — not a store. Each card shows what the product is for, the active that does the work, how strong the evidence is, and a representative price band. Use it to recognise a routine; build your own at the desk.
16 products
What comes off, and how often.
The morning and evening wash
A non-foaming gel that lifts oil and sunscreen without stripping the barrier. The default for almost every routine; a second cleanse at night removes SPF and makeup.
Typical price
$8–16
Drugstore
●●●
For dry or reactive skin
A creamy, low-foam cleanser for skin that feels tight after washing. Leaves more of the lipid layer intact than a gel; pair with a morning rinse-only on low-tolerance days.
Typical price
$10–18
Drugstore
●●●
For congestion
A 2% BHA cleanser for blackheads and oil control that rinses off, so it is gentler than a leave-on. Use three nights a week; contact time matters less than consistency.
Typical price
$11
Drugstore
●●●
The weekly resurfacer
A 5–7% glycolic toner for texture and dullness, one to three nights a week. Never on a retinoid night; stop if stinging or flushing appears. Not for reactive or pigmentation-prone skin.
Typical price
$14
Drugstore
●●●
The leave-on steps that do the work.
The entry retinoid
The most studied over-the-counter retinoid for breakouts and texture. Start every third night, buffered under moisturiser; the cheapest, best-evidenced active in the cabinet.
Typical price
$12–22
Drugstore
●●●
For tolerating skin
One step closer to prescription retinoic acid, for skin that has outgrown adapalene. Faster results, more irritation risk; build the barrier first and use every other night.
Typical price
$28–48
Mid-range
●●●
For oil and tolerance
Reduces visible oiliness and supports the barrier at 4–5%. Stable, cheap, and plays well with every other active; the rare ingredient that earns a slot in almost any routine.
Typical price
$8–16
Drugstore
●●●
The morning antioxidant
L-ascorbic acid around 15% for antioxidant and mild pigment support. Photodegrades fast; buy airless, keep dark, and pair with SPF. The evidence is real but modest.
Typical price
$10–25
Drugstore
●●●
For active spots
A flat patch that absorbs fluid from a headless spot overnight and stops you touching it. Cheap, low-risk, and genuinely effective for the spot you have today, not the routine you build.
Typical price
$6
Drugstore
●●●
For reactive skin
A calming serum for skin that reacts to everything. Reduces the redness and stinging that retinoids and exfoliants cause; the buffer that makes stepping up possible.
Typical price
$10–20
Drugstore
●●●
For redness and marks
A 10–15% azelaic serum for post-acne marks, rosacea-like redness, and melasma. One of the few actives safe across skin tones for pigmentation; pair with daily SPF.
Typical price
$12–24
Drugstore
●●●
What holds the routine in place.
The morning hydrator
A gel-cream for normal-to-oily skin that hydrates without heaviness. Goes under SPF in the morning and under a retinoid at night; the routine's connective tissue.
Typical price
$10–18
Drugstore
●●●
For dry and mature skin
A heavier emollient cream for skin that needs oil, not just water. The final step that locks in a retinoid or active; reduce to a lighter one in humidity.
Typical price
$28
Mid-range
●●●
The evening seal
A petrolatum- or ceramide-rich cream for the last step at night. Repairs a compromised barrier from retinoids, over-exfoliation, or cold; the cheapest effective thing you can do.
Typical price
$14–28
Drugstore
●●●
Daily UV protection
A lightweight, no-cast filter for oily and deeper skin tones. Broad-spectrum UVA protection matters more than the number; this one earns its place on visible light too.
Typical price
$12–26
Drugstore
●●●
Daily UV protection
Zinc-oxide-only sunscreen that sits on the surface and reflects. The most reliable choice for reactive, pigmentation-prone, and post-procedure skin; reapply every two hours outdoors.
Typical price
$12–28
Drugstore
●●●
Prices are representative, not live. This page does not sell anything and earns no commission — it exists so you can see what a complete routine looks like before you build one at the desk.