How To Customize Your Skin-Care Routine Using The Best Products At Ulta Beauty

Putting together a starting lineup for your skin can feel like a moving target considering all the tried-and-true staples and new launches lining the shelves every day. First, we recommend looking at what has and hasn’t worked for your skin in the past. Next, ask yourself, "What kind of skin do I have?" For example, what works for dry complexions may not be ideal for oily types, especially when we talk about cleansers and masks.

In addition to selecting the right products for your skin, learning how to layer them may also create a roadblock. There is a simple method to the madness: Apply from thinnest to thickest, and go from water-based to oil-based. This applies even if you’re incorporating actives like vitamin C (used in the daytime) or retinol (used at night). One more tip as you begin to add new products into your routine: Add them one at a time, so you know whether your skin is reacting well or adversely. Now that we've covered a few of the basics, ahead are products we love for different skin types that you can snag right off the shelves of Ulta Beauty.

Dry Skin

If you have dry skin, there are a few ingredients you'll want to look for in your products — mainly hydrators and skin-barrier protectors. You may have already heard of the superstar hyaluronic acid. The moisture-retaining humectant is found naturally in the body and can hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water, making it an optimal ingredient for parched complexions. In addition, keep an eye out for ceramides, squalane, and lactic acid as you build your routine.

Formulated with both ceramides and hyaluronic acid, CeraVe’s non-comedogenic face wash is a nourishing staple for dry skin.

A great moisturizer is the cornerstone of any regimen, and it’s especially important if your skin tends to be dehydrated. Clinique's oil-free gel-cream moisturizes for up to 100 hours thanks to ingredients like hyaluronic acid and aloe water. Oh, and the packaging is recyclable.

We love how fresh’s Rose Deep Hydration Oil-Infused Serum plumps up skin and deeply hydrates all day without feeling greasy. Squalane helps to moisturize while rosewater calms and smoothes.

Mature Skin

With age comes experience, wisdom, and skin with its own unique set of needs. A good regimen should focus on restoration and protection. Because the sun is one of the leading causes of wear and tear on skin over time, having a daily sunscreen is a must in addition to products that feature ingredients like retinoids, peptides, collagen, ceramides, and vitamin C.

As we age, our bodies start to produce less collagen. Consider adding a product with the ingredient at the center, like ELEMIS 3-in-1 cleansing balm (it nourishes, removes makeup, and hydrates), which makes washing off the day a breeze and hydrating (which help smooth fine lines) a priority.

Retinol: the skin-restoration queen. Luna Sleeping Night Oil is an oil-based treatment that gives you the best of both worlds — increased cell turnover and moisture — to help reveal refreshed skin after a night of rest.

Aveeno's oil-free, hypoallergenic, and non-comedogenic Positively Radiant Daily Moisturizer is formulated with the brand’s Total Soy Complex that helps even skin tone over time, while the SPF 30 protects from UVA and UVB rays.

Acne-Prone Skin

With acne-prone skin, it can be tempting to try every intensely active product that’s out there, but the truth is, you want a combination of gentle yet effective formulas. Among the best ingredients to look for are salicylic acid, alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs), benzoyl peroxide, niacinamide, and retinol. However, you want to be mindful of how you combine them in the same routine to prevent irritation.

Treating acne comes down to consistency and maintaining a healthy skin barrier. Sunday Riley's five-piece kit is made with this in mind — it doesn’t include common harsh ingredients that can often overdry the skin and make breakouts worse. The set includes a cleanser, lactic acid treatment, retinoid serum, face oil, and sulfur-based mask treatment to help your skin look and feel its best.

When treating the skin with AHAs and retinoids, it’s essential to wear sunscreen to prevent burning and to keep hyperpigmentation and dark spots from getting worse. Tula’s non-comedogenic SPF 30 is full of nourishing ingredients (like probiotic extracts to improve smoothness and pineapple and papaya to even out tone) that help keep the skin barrier healthy while shielding from UVA and UVB rays.

It’s important to take off your makeup every night no matter your skin type; it’s especially important if you deal with breakouts. Not only do these gentle microfiber towels not tug at the skin, but they also remove makeup with just water, creating an irritation-free canvas ready for a double cleanse.

Combination Skin

Combination skin typically means you can count on your T-zone to be oily and your cheeks to be dry. With two different skin types to treat (oily and dehydrated), it can be difficult to suss out the right products to use. But hyaluronic acid, salicylic acid, lactic acid, niacinamide, and vitamin C are all ingredients that are ideal for this category.

Formulated with ceramide-3, niacinamide, and glycerin, La Roche-Posay’s gentle cleanser rinses away excess oil and supports the health of the skin barrier.

This exfoliating liquid from The Ordinary can be a valuable addition to a combination skin-care routine. It targets congestion, enlarged pores, and discoloration. Just be sure to take things slow as you integrate the peel to prevent over-exfoliation.

Any skin type can benefit from the use of hyaluronic acid, especially combination skin that sits at the corner of oily and dry. This serum is packed with high- and low-weight hyaluronic acid as well as glycerin for a hydrating boost without the addition of oil.

Oily Skin

Certain products, environmental factors, stress, and hormones can all play a role in oil production. So for anyone looking to minimize sebum — salicylic acid, retinol, hyaluronic acid, and niacinamide are all ingredients that can help keep your skin from veering into oil-slick territory.

Starting and ending the day with a cleanser made for your skin type can be the first line of defense for your skin-care concerns. Formulated with salicylic acid and sebum-cleansing meadowsweet extract, Dermalogica’s gentle foaming wash helps zap oil without overdrying.

First Aid Beauty’s Facial Radiance Pads are gentle enough to use in your daily routine and can ensure a glowy complexion while decongesting skin. Cucumber and Indian gooseberry help tone while licorice root brightens.

A clay mask is oily skin's wingman. Kylie Skin's is infused with kaolin clay, bentonite clay, and charcoal to not only soak up excess oil but hydrate with hyaluronic acid.