Basic Skin Care Needs

There's tried-and-true ways to properly care for your skin, from the right way to cleanse your face, towards the best moisturizers and sunscreens.

Get the latest on healthy skin: skin care, skin protection Your skin is much more than an outer surface for the world to determine. It protects you against bacteria, dirt and other foreign objects and the ultraviolet sun’s rays, and contains the nerve endings that allow you to know if something is cold or hot, soft or hard, sharp or dull.

Before we start with the proper daily 4-step skincare routine, you will have to know your skin type. The method that you care for your skin is utterly dependent upon the type of skin you have: oily, normal/combination, dry, sensitive or sun- damaged. Find what skin type you have.

The Basic Step Skincare Regimen 1: Cleansing

Simple is the vital thing here. You need to find the best cleanser that your skin responds well to, and stick with it. See the best cleansers for your skin type.

You will find a good cleanser with the drugstore. There's no need to spend $40 on a fancy wash. Avoid bar soaps as they tend to dry out the skin. As outlined by Rona Berg, in her book, "Beauty," a French cosmetics executive once said, "Soap should only ever touch your skin through the neck down." We agree. Go with a creamy cleanser if you have dry skin or a clear cleanser when you have oily skin care.

Be careful not to cleanse too often. Washing at night should do you. If you have dry skin, consider cold cream like Pond's, that this French use. Apply cream, then wipe off, no water needed (for those who have hard water it can be especially harsh on skin). The majority of females prefer the water method: Use tepid to warm water to loosen dirt and clogged pores. Utilize a dime-sized bit of cleanser, then rinse with cool or lukewarm water. You will also want to take off your makeup with a proper minreal makeup.

Every day, a splash of lukewarm water is all you need (we find it is great for removing excess oils from the nightly moisturizing). Never wash your face with hot water (both may cause broken capillaries). Also be careful about overcleansing skin, see signs you're overcleansing your skin.

Step 2: Exfoliate

Exfoliation is the step most people skip within their weekly skincare routine. But believe me, if you start properly exfoliating your skin, you will observe an almost immediate difference. As outlined by Berg, one of the reasons men's skin looks youthful than women's is because men tend to exfoliate daily after they shave. There are several approaches to exfoliate skin: Microdermabrasion, skins and retinoids.

In my article, The best way to Exfoliate, I share my tips and tricks to proper exfoliation. Including why you should throw out the loofah.