Skin Care 101

Ok, so for my first foray into the subject of skin, I've decided to first discuss good skin care regimen basics. These next steps are the basic steps that every person should begin with as they begin to build good skin care habits. I have broken them into daily, weekly, and monthly steps. It might seem like a lot at first, but remember, this is your foundation. Once you have mastered these steps as a habit, and you've perhaps done a bit of experimenting with products, we'll dive more deeply into specific product recommendations and skin types. For some steps, I have noted brands in parenthesis that I have found to be good across the board, but this by no means is the only brand out there, and it may not be the brand for you. You won't truly know your skin type until you've mastered a good basic regimen, so I have tried to keep these recommendations at a reasonable price point. If you follow these steps for 2 whole weeks, you may begin to notice that you are dry or oily, or that some products suit you better than others. This is part of the learning curve!

Daily
1. Wash your face twice a day with a good cleanser. (Neutrogena has wonderful cleansers and bar soap.)

2. Use a gentle toner after you wash. (Clinque's toner is strong, but fabulous. Mario Badescu is a bit more gentle.)

3. Moisturize with non-comedogenic lotion.

4. Use sunscreen, every morning, regardless of your outdoor activity. Thank me when you're 65. (Oil of Olay, SPF 15 for Sensitive Skin is not bad and very reasonable.)

5. Use eye cream, every night, regardless of your age. Thank me when you're 65.

Weekly
1. Exfoliate with a gentle exfoliant. If you are new to using an exfoliant, try twice a week at the beginning. (Suki's Lemongrass Exfoliator is heaven, but pricey. St. Ives' Apricot Scrub is a good basic to get you started, as well.)

2. Use a face mask on a day that you did not exfoliate. Later, you may find that it's better to use one immediately after or before exfoliating, but for now, let's keep it simple. (Mario Badescu)

Monthly
1. If it's in your budget, have a facial performed at a top-ranked spa.

2. If facials aren't in your budget, consider performing them at home. I like to put a pot of water on the stove, standing over it by about 10-12 inches, and let the steam work it's magic on my pores. Cost of heating water on your stove? $0.00!