Simple is key here. You need to find a good cleanser that your skin responds well to, and stick with it: See the best cleansers for your skin type.
Here are some tried-and-true cleansing tips:
Be careful not to cleanse too often or you risk over-cleansing skin, see signs you are over cleansing your skin. Most experts agree you really only need to wash your face at night to remove makeup and sunscreen, which can clog pores.
In the morning, a splash of lukewarm water is all you need. I find it's great for removing excess oils from your nightly moisturizing. If you have super oily skin, you can cleanse your skin again in the morning. Never wash your face with hot or cold water .
Make sure to remove eye makeup with a proper makeup remover. The area around the eye is delicate so don't pull or rub too hard. You can also use olive oil as a natural eye makeup remover. Find out more in Use Olive Oil as an Eye Makeup Remover.
If you have dry skin, consider cold cream like Pond's, which the French use, or make your own organic cold cream using this simple cold cream recipe. Simply apply cream, then wipe off, no water needed .
To cleanse 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.
Skin purists believe tap water is bad for your skin because it contains harsh minerals and additives like fluoride and chlorine. If this stuff freaks you out, find out how to wash your face without tap water in How to Cleanse Your Face the Expert Way.
I personally swear by my Clarisonic skincare brush, as does pretty much everyone I know who has one. The machine does all the work for you. Buy your own from Amazon.com for under $100.
For detailed tips on cleansing, see How to Wash Your Face Properly and, for those of you who really want to do it right, check out How to Cleanse Your Face the Expert Way
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.
How much you exfoliate is up for debate. Some women have skin that gets scaly quickly.
Others look dewy and fresh with minimal fuss. Dermatologist Dr. Patricia Wexler recommends women exfoliate every day. "This once-a-week thing is nonsense. But, I think you have to know your skin. You should never look red or irritated—you should look better after you scrub."
Types of Exfoliation
This picture here shows a woman using a salt scrub. Can you tell what's wrong with this photo?
Simple: those salt crystals are too big and will likely tear at her skin. When choosing an exfoliation method, remember you want to treat your skin gently. Micro-tears are not good for the skin. Salt scrubs are indeed popular, but choose tiny crystals like the ones in a basic table salt.
Here are your typical exfoliation options:
A facial scrub
You can buy a great scrub or make your own. Because many facial scrubs contain microbeads, which are bad for the environment (they are plastic and clog up our waterways), I prefer sugar scrubs. See my list of the best facial scrubs or try out a recipe using brown sugar and coconut oil in Make a Face & Body Scrub With Sugar and Oil.
A washcloth
Put a dab of cleanser and a sprinkle of white refined sugar on a damp washcloth and massage skin in a circular motion. After a quick rinse, any sign of dead skin is erased. If you have dry skin, try extra virgin coconut oil. Find out what washcloths work best in my article, The Best Washcloths for Exfoliating Your Face.
Microdermabrasion
You can buy microdermabrasion kits. I have and found quite a few I like. See my list of the best facial scrubs and microdermabrasion kits.
Chemical peels
Chemical peels. In the hour it takes to get a chemical peel, you can take a year 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 Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta Peel
\Retinoids
Retinoids 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.
In my article, How to Exfoliate, I share all my tips and tricks to proper exfoliation. Including why you should throw out the loofah.
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 rule of beauty is that if you have dry skin, you should invest in a basic moisturizer.
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.
See my list of the best moisturizers on the market.
For you natural girls, nothing beats a good oil for your skin. You can use extra virgin coconut oil, olive oil, sweet almond oil or jojoba oil. Learn more in Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil as Overall Body Moisturizer.
Apply Sunscreen:
The cause of wrinkles is sun damage, so it's important to use a sunscreen of at least 30 SPF 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 or Helioplex, found in Neutrogena products.
Should You Use a Toner?
Many beauty experts say you don't need them because toners are meant to remove all remaining traces of oil, makeup and dirt and a good cleanser should do this. That said, toners of today are not your mother's toners of a couple decades ago. They are much more gentle, full of antioxidants and skin brighteners and can make even the driest skin look vibrant. I firmly believe it's up to you. If you like the way your skin feels with a toner.
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 claim your daily lotion works around the eyes just as well.
My Best Anti-Aging Tips
Here are a few of my favorite anti-aging tips:
Read any magazine article about skincare past age 50 and it's downright depressing. The list of things that happen to us as we age may make you want to shun the beauty sections of magazines forever. In this article, 20 Skincare Tips Every Woman Over 50 Should Know, I talk about Botox, a miracle cream I swear by and all sorts of other goodies.
