Simple is key here. You need to find a good cleanser that your skin responds well to, and stick with it.
You can find a good cleanser at a spa or dermatologist office, we recommend Dermalogica. There’s no need to spend $40 on a fancy wash with a fancy name on it, you are only paying for the name brand. Avoid bar soaps as they tend to dry out the skin. According to Rona Berg, in her book, “Beauty,” a French cosmetics executive once told her, “Soap should only ever touch your skin from the neck down.” We agree. Choose a creamy cleanser if you have dry skin or a clear cleanser if you have oily skin.
Be careful not to cleanse too often. Washing in the morning and at night should do you. If you have dry skin, consider Essential cleaning solution by Dermalogica, which the French use. Simply apply cream, add water and apply for a minute or two then wipe off, (if you have hard water it can be especially harsh on skin). Most women prefer the water method: Use warm water to loosen dirt and clogged pores. Use a dime-sized bit of cleanser, then rinse with cool or lukewarm water. You’ll also want to take off your makeup with a proper makeup remover.
In the morning, a splash of lukewarm water with a little cleanser is all you need (we find it’s great for removing excess oils from your nightly moisturizing). Never wash your face with hot or cold water (both can cause broken capillaries). Also be careful about over cleansing skin.
Step 2: Exfoliate
Exfoliation is the step most people skip in their weekly skincare routine. But trust me, if you start properly exfoliating your skin, you will notice an almost immediate difference. According to Berg, one of the reasons men’s skin looks more youthful than women’s is because men tend to exfoliate daily when they shave. There are several ways to exfoliate skin: Microdermabrasion, chemical peels and retinoids.
Scrubs work by removing the top layer of dead skin cells that tend to dull your complexion. We find exfoliating skin once a week with a professional microdermabrasion treatment ( Don’t use a at home kit ) it keeps skin glowing year-round. Make sure you use a gentle scrub with tiny grains, we use skin prep scrub or Daily Microfoliant. Big grains in cheap scrubs can tear skin and cause more harm than good.
Should you use a toner? Some people swear by toners, but many beauty experts do not (I once read a skincare expert claim, “toners are only for copy machines”). Toners are meant to remove all remaining traces of oil, makeup and dirt, but a good cleanser should do this. I firmly believe it’s up to you. If you like the way your skin feels with a toner. Buy it. Use it. Enjoy it. We use ours Multi Active Toner for Hydration.
Step 3: Moisturize
While I know of at least one famous beauty editor who swore skin doesn’t need moisturizer, basically everyone else I’ve read disagrees and is an adamant believer in it. A basic law of beauty is that everyone, no matter her skin type, should moisturize. (The only exception is those with acne). Why? Moisturizers seal moisture into skin (Berg calls this the “Saran Wrap effect”). So how much should you moisturize? Your skin will tell you. When your skin is tight, it’s crying out for moisture. Be careful not to over moisturize — this can clog pores. We have four different levels of Moisturizers for your perfect skin match,
Are eye creams necessary? Well maybe. Some beauty experts strongly recommend eye creams. Why? The skin around the eye contains no fatty tissue and is therefore very thin and susceptible to wrinkles. Special eye creams are formulated to “thicken” this area. Yet other experts (including the beauty editors of Allure in their new book) claim your daily lotion works around the eyes just as well. Your eyes do not produce oils, so a good eye cream works to hydrate to prevent further wrinkles.
Step 4: Apply Sunscreen
O Magazine ran an article featuring interviews with several top skin care experts and dermatologists Every single one of them said sunscreen was the most important part of your skincare regimen. It was the secret they would pass on to their daughters. You only need 15-30% the rest is just added chemicals.
The number-1 cause of wrinkles is sun damage, so it’s important to use sunscreen from your early years on even in winter and on cloudy days. A great trick is to purchase two moisturizers: One for night and one for day that includes UV protection. Don’t use moisturizers with sunscreen at night, the ingredients are not meant to be used 27/7 and can aggravate skin. When choosing a sunscreen, make sure it contains Mexoryl (found in my favorite sunscreen Sheer Tint by Dermalogica ) or Helioplex, found in our other Dermalogica sunscreen products.