We asked 2 dermatologists to create the easiest, most effective skincare routine for most people. Here's their guide.

CeraVe; La Roche-Posay; EltaMD; Robyn Phelps/Insider

• Skincare routines can feel overwhelming, especially if you're just starting out.
• We spoke to two dermatologists, who say you really only need 3-5 products for an effective regimen.

When it comes to skincare, there's no shortage of new products or TikTok trends to try.

But unless you're a professional dermatologist, beauty influencer, or skincare enthusiast, nailing down a routine can range from feeling like a burdensome nightly chore to an impossibly overwhelming task when you keep hearing about "12-step" regimens. Plus, buying an assortment of random products you saw online (only to use them once) gets pricey.

Luckily, you don't have to spackle layers of creams every night or shell out on the most expensive cleansers to take phenomenal care of your skin.

Dr. Ivy Lee, a board-certified dermatologist practicing in Los Angeles, and Dr. Annie Chiu, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of The Derm Institute, both agree you mainly need five quality ingredients:

• Cleanser
• Moisturizer
• Sunscreen (year-round)
• A vitamin C product
• Some kind of retinoid

"These may not be the sexiest products you can find on Instagram nowadays, but they are the most effective ingredients for a basic, healthy skincare regimen," said Chiu.

To make things even easier, Lee recommended buying "multi-functional" products like a moisturizer with vitamin C and sunscreen to use in the morning or a retinol combined with a moisturizer for nighttime.

Below, we've included Lee and Chiu's recommendations for the best products for skincare beginners and broken down the steps and order to put them on.