I'm curious about how everyone takes care of their skin these days.

I was chatting with a friend at a nice cafe for the first time in a while. The bathroom lighting was so harsh, I noticed my face in the mirror looked much duller than usual. My confidence plummeted, and I realized it was time to start taking serious care of my skin. I'd been just using a sloppy lotion, but my skin felt noticeably different from my friends who actually take care of their skin. Honestly, I feel like home care alone isn't enough, so I'm starting to wonder if I should go to a salon. How do you guys usually take care of your skin? If you have a special, cost-effective routine you can consistently follow at home, please share it with us. I really want to get back to my radiant skin by sticking to my skincare routine. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. What products or masks have you found effective?