The Basics

A few of my favorite products: moisturizer, cleanser, body butter, and spot treatment.

Depending on your schedule, budget, and skin condition your skincare routine can vary greatly. One simple step can often be the difference between inflamed and irritated skin or keeping it clear and balanced. Whether you have an elaborate routine with lots of products that you have to layer on or you can barely remember to wash your face, here is the simplest routine I recommend for all of my clients:

1. Gentle Cleanser- use twice a day. Preferably milky or oil-based, but foaming is fine as long as it doesn't make your skin feel tight right after you use it.

2. Exfoliant- use once or twice a week. This can be a gentle scrub, gommage, or a peel with a low concentration of enzymes, glycolic or salicylic acid. You can also use a multi-purpose mask for this step or even cleanse your face a couple times a week with a facial brush (like a Clarisonic).

3. Toner- use after cleansing and before applying serums and moisturizer. Can be optional if you want a more low maintenance routine, but it will really help keep your skin balanced and moisturized. Look for one that is alcohol-free so it won't strip your skin. These are usually marketed based on skin type, but a gentle hydrating one is fine for most people.

4. (Optional!) Serum or Spot Treatment- use after cleansing/toning and before moisturizer. Depending on your specific skin concerns (i.e. acne, dark spots, fine lines and wrinkles, etc.) targeted treatments with more concentrated ingredients should only be used where you need them. This is a great place to use essential oils in your routine. I also consider neck creams and eye/lip contours (a fancy word for anti-aging cream) as spot treatments, since you only use them on a specific area and they tend to be optional.

5. Moisturizer- use twice a day as your last step. Out of all the products you use on your skin (other than serums and spot treatments) this is the most important to match to your skin type. Obviously, you don't want to put a rich, thick cream on an oily or acne-prone skin type- even if everyone is praising it as the newest "it" product! You can alternate between day creams with SPF and richer night creams in the evening, or just use the same one twice a day and add an SPF.

6. (Optional!) Mask- use once or twice a week after cleansing and before toning. A good mask can help with a multitude of skin issues: clay masks help purify and deep clean which helps control oil, gel masks help hydrate and calm sensitized skin, and creamy masks with exfoliating ingredients improve cell turnover and help smooth and brighten dull, rough skin. There's a ton of trendy masks out now, for more information check out my post on choosing the right one for your skin type, They Say Beauty Is Pain But Should It Really Bring You To Tears? 

Bonus:
Body Scrub- use in the shower at least once a week and prior to shaving. Sugar and salt based scrubs are great on rough, dry skin and for preventing in-grown hairs.

Body Lotion/Butter- use post-shower to lock in moisture. Don't forget to moisturize the rest of your body! Key areas include: hands, feet, knees, and elbows especially during drier and colder months. Shea butter, coconut oil, and glycerin are great moisturizing ingredients for these areas.