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The following basic skincare routine steps should be done twice daily, morning and evening:

CLEANSING
Cleansing the face is the first step in taking care of your skin. Cleansing helps remove any excess skin oils or dirt that has accumulated throughout the day or night. The best cleansers are effective, yet gentle enough to not disturb the skin’s natural moisture balance. They help to maintain a healthy complexion and are an essential step in your facial care routine.

Select a cleanser suited to your skin type. Place a small amount of cleanser into the hands and emulsify with lukewarm water. Apply to the face in a circular motion, covering the face for about 30 seconds. Remove from the skin with warm water, while gently scrubbing with a face cloth or sponge. Rinse thoroughly with warm and cool water. This action will remove dirt and impurities from the skin’s surface and prepare it for the next step.

TONING
Toners, or toniques, are important to use after cleansing to return your skin to its proper pH balance. This is valuable because it can take your skin up to six hours to return to its proper pH level without the help of a toner. Keeping the skin at its natural pH allows it to function at its optimum level. Apply toner using a cotton pad or spray once or twice, over the entire face and leave on. Your skin will feel fresh and rejuvenated.

SERUM
After using the toner, it is time to treat specific skin care concerns, such as acne, rosacea, or lack of firmness with a specific serum. This is an optional step but once you experience the clarifying and age-defying benefits of this step you will want to continue to include this in your regime. Wait 2-3 minutes after applying the serum before applying moisturizer.

MOISTURIZING
Moisturizing is the final step to complete the daily skin care routine. Even oily skin needs a light moisturizer to keep skin soft and supple. Soften and hydrate the skin with a moisturizer suited to your skin type. Apply over the entire face and neck area and leave on. For a lighter application, emulsify a small amount of moisturizer in your hand with a few drops of water. You may then very gently apply a small amount of eye cream or gel around the eyes.

We all know the basics of skin care – cleansing, toning, and moisturizing. But why should we also exfoliate and use a masque? These are skin care treatments that should be integrated into a weekly maintenance plan.

EXFOLIATING
Why Exfoliate? Exfoliation is the key to vibrant skin. It is important to exfoliate your skin at least once or twice per week. Exfoliating should be done after cleansing. Facial exfoliators, or scrubs, are essential to keep skin soft and glowing. They help slough off dead skin cells and keep pores clear. This sloughing action also smoothes and clarifies the face’s complexion. An exfoliator is a great pick-me-up for tired, dull skin. This is also a good way to deal with rough or flaky skin. Apply the exfoliant suited to your skin type and allow it to dry for 5-10 minutes. Use a face cloth moistened with lukewarm water to gently scrub off the dried exfoliant using a circular motion while scrubbing. Rinse thoroughly with water and apply toner and moisturizer.

MASQUES
Why use Masques? Using a facial masque once or twice a week will dramatically increase the elasticity and health of your skin. Choose a masque suited to your skin type or the condition that you are treating. Emulsify a small amount of the masque in your hand with a few drops of water and apply evenly over the entire face, neck and décolleté areas. Avoid the eye area. Allow the masque to dry for 5-10 minutes while breathing in the soothing scents. Use a face cloth moistened with lukewarm water to gently scrub off the masque using circular motions while scrubbing. Rinse thoroughly with water and apply toner and moisturizer.