The Basic 4-Step Skincare Regimen Step 1: CleansingSimple 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 the drugstore. There's no need to
spend $40 on a fancy wash. 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 at night should do you.
If you have dry skin, consider cold cream like Pond's, which the French
use. Simply apply cream, then wipe off, no water needed (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 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 overcleansing skin, see signs you are overcleansing your 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.

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

See my list of the best facial scrubs and microdermabrasion kits.

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 microdermabrasion kit keeps skin glowing year-round. Make sure
you use a gentle scrub with tiny grains. Big grains in cheap scrubs can
tear skin and cause more harm than good. My favorite microdermabrasion
kit is made by Lancome.

In the hour it takes to get a chemical peel, you can take off five years
from your face. Can't afford the price tag for a monthly peel? Try some
over-the-counter peels that work over the course of a month. I prefer MD Skincare's.

Retinoids
(such as Retin-A or the more moisturizing Renova) also work by removing
the top layer of dead skin cells while also generating collagen in the
skin. "Collagen is the skin's structural fiber," dermatologist Dennis
Gross said in O Magazine. "As we get older, it breaks down,
creating lines and large pores." Skincare experts disagree on all sorts
of things, but most of them consider retinoids to be a miracle skin
saver. I'm addicted to Retin-A, which I pick up in Mexico on my yearly
jaunts.

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.


Step 3: MoisturizeWhile 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.
Even if your skin is oily, it will benefit from moisturizers.
(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 overmoisturize --
this can clog pores.

See my list of the best moisturizers on the market.

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.
See my list of the best eye creams.


Step 4: Apply SunscreenO Magazine ran an article featuring interviews with several top skin care experts and dermatologists (check it out here).
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.

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 La-Roche Posay) or Helioplex, found in
Neutrogena products.