An at home skin care routine is VITAL to your skin health.  Your daily routine should include the following at the minimum:  Cleansing ~ I recommend twice.  First quick cleanse to remove superficial make-up, oil and debris from the day, and a second deeper cleanse, paying extra attention to problem areas, followed by a toner appropriate for you skin type/condition and moisturizer. And YES, even oily skin needs daily moisturizer!! One of my biggest challenges is convincing clients who feel shiny or oily to apply a water-based, oil-free or oil control moisturizer…..it will actually slow down oil production.  Cleansing and NOT applying some moisture can actually INCREASE your oil production.  Keeping your skin appropriately balanced is key to healthy skin.  Sunscreen during the day is crucial in protecting the skin from damaging rays which result in fine lines, wrinkles, hyperpigmentation (dark spots) and worst case, skin cancer.

I have many people say they “just don’t have the time”, but your above steps take less than 10 mins….and if you have to eliminate something….eliminate your morning routine and go to bed with a clean face.  Give your skin a chance to breathe and rejuvenate itself.  You’ll be pleasantly surprised with the difference.

Optional additional steps provide the best added benefits and these are your best at home “correcting” treatments:

Exfoliation:  The first additional step that should be added to your at home regime is the use of a mild/gentle exfoliant 2 to 3 times a week, depending again, on your own skins needs and your ultimate skin goals.  There are an array of exfoliants (with a wide variety of ingredients) that will smooth skin, slough of dead skin cells, brighten and increase new skin cell production. Exfoliating regularly also allows all of your other products to penetrate and perform better.

Masking:  1-2 times a week (depending on the needs of your skin) helps provide added benefits and correction, whether it’s extra moisture or vitamins,  purifying the pores, absorbing excess oils, brightening, etc.

Serums (my favorites):  there are an endless array of formulations, depending on your needs and goals

Eye creams, again formulated for your target goals

There are many other options available to improve your skin and help you reach your ultimate goals, including a wide variety of at home tools that can be incorporated into your routine to maximize product and ingredient performance, penetration, and enhancement.

Choosing the right skin care line for your skin is important as well.  Do your research and get to know your beneficial and useful, as well as useless and potentially harmful ingredients!  Happy cleansing!