The Ordinary
Glucoside Foaming Cleanser
A gentle foaming facial cleanser built around glucoside surfactants — a calm place to start the routine.
Explore ProductRoutine Guide · 6 min
The Three-Product Routine
Cleanse, hydrate, protect. Everything else is optional and should stay that way for at least a season.
Editorial overview · written by the LumiRise editors · not medical advice · Reviewed & refreshed October 2026
Key takeaways
- Three products done nightly outperform nine done occasionally.
- Cleanse, moisturise, protect is the foundation every routine is built on.
- Introduce a single active only once the basics are automatic.
A routine you can complete on a tired Tuesday is worth more than one you admire on a shelf. Three products, done nightly, will outperform nine done occasionally. This is the foundation every more elaborate routine is built on — and for many people, it is all they ever need.
The three steps
Cleanse with something that leaves skin comfortable rather than squeaky. Hydrate with a cream that suits your climate more than your skin type. Protect with sunscreen every morning, including the grey ones.
- Cleanse — gentle, rinse-off, leaves no tightness.
- Moisturise — morning and night, sealed over any serums.
- Protect — broad-spectrum sunscreen, every morning.
When to add a fourth
Only once those three are automatic should you introduce a single active — one, for eight weeks, so you can tell what it did. If you cannot name what an active is doing after two months, it is not earning its place.
Sources & further reading
Skincare can involve health-related decisions. These are the reputable sources we drew on. We do not diagnose or promise treatment outcomes.
Continue exploring
Every article connects to the next. Here is the natural journey from this one.
Related products
Now that the how and why are clear, these are the products we would actually reach for. Some links are affiliate links.
The Ordinary
Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA
A surface hydration cream with amino acids, fatty acids, and hyaluronic acid — a plain finisher for many routines.
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