There are 4 basic steps for a skin care routine that you should use daily. These are Cleanse, Tone, Moisturize, and Protect.

Cleanse

The first part of a skin care routine is to cleanse. It is important to have clean skin before using a toner, moisturizer, and sun protection. Make sure to use a gentle cleanser that doesn’t include any detergents. Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel target is a soap-free, foaming gel designed to thoroughly remove impurities without disturbing the skin’s natural moisture balance.

Tone

Next in a skin care rountine is to tone. Toning prepares your skin for the next step to moisturize. It also removes any left over residue from the cleansing step. An alcohol-free toner is usually a good choice. Obagi Toner hydrates and tones the skin while restoring its normal pH balance.

Moisturize

Third in a skin care routine is to moisturize. Make sure to use a moisturizer that is appropriate for your skin type. And even if you have oily skin it is important to moisturize. SkinCeuticals Daily Moisture hydrates, nourishes, and helps reduce the appearance of pore size.

Protect

The final step in a skin care routine is to protect with a product that has an SPF of at least 15. An additional product may not be needed if you use a moisturizer or foundation that offers sun protection. Jane Iredale Amazing Base Loose Powder has an SPF of 20. Other mineral makeups offer this protection as well.

If you follow this 4 step skin care routine you will be on your way to better skin. However, sometimes you may need to supplement this daily skin care routine with specialized products based on your needs. Such products may include peptides or vitamin C.

I’ll post more about supplemental skin care products in future posts.