Now more than ever before, the desire to have the perfect face, with flawless skin is something everyone seems to want. With the influx of makeup products on the market -foundations, blushes, bronzers, concealers, highlighters – and the amount of influencers pushing them, even your every day woman feels the pressure. Even those of us who spend most of our time either between work and home, have more makeup than we can ever use. Although it’s fun to have all sorts of new goodies to experiment with, some find that after regular and repeated use, the skin underneath their look begins to break out. Breakouts, in turn, ruin the possibility of any products looking flawless. The key, then, to the perfect makeup look is a perfect skin. Or as perfect as we can get it.

It is true that many factors can contribute to facial breakouts and flare ups. Water intake, diet, hereditary and environmental factors are just a few things that can effect the quality of our skin. In spite of all these things, a consistent skincare regiment is vital to looking your very best, with and without a full face. Even if you have naturally “good” skin, a skincare regiment can help it stay that way. What does this entail?

Everyone ‘s skin is different, so it’s important to start your journey into skincare by discovering what kind of skin you have. Does your skin tend to produce large amounts of oil, so that even halfway through the day you look shiny or greasy? Or is your skin prone to dryness, soaking up any oils or moisturizers you use in the morning, and occasional flakes and patches? How about a combination of the two, where certain parts are dry and others are shiny? Allow the answers to questions like these guide your search for the right products to treat your skin. The amount of skin treatments you can find on the market are endless, however, your search for a basic skin care regiment should, at the very least, include products in the following categories:

Cleansers

It goes without saying that cleaning our skin daily is important. Every day when we leave the house, we are exposed to all sorts of invisible particles of dust in germs in the air, and are coming in contact with the chemicals that everyone we come in contact has exhaled. Even if we stay indoors, our skin produces oils that we want to remove at days end. If you were wearing any sort of makeup during the day, you especially want to ensure that you’ve thoroughly removed every particle.

Tip: Los Angeles-based esthetician, Nai (better known as “LaBeautyologist” on social media) suggests circulating cleanser on the face gently for no less than 60 seconds in order to deeply cleanse the face.

Exfoliants

Exfoliating is a step that many skip, but is essential to having a smooth complexion. Have you ever started applying your foundation to your forehead and as you look closely, you see a bunch of flakes? Regular exfoliation is the solution to this problem. American Board of Dermatology- approved dermatologist, Dr. Cynthia Bailey, explains it this way:

The top layer of your skin is composed of compacted, dead skin cells. These can build up to create rough and dull skin. This build-up increases with age and sun damage. Lack of friction will allow dead cells to build-up, too. Help the built-up dead cells to slough off, and you will reveal the brighter cells laying below. Skin will be more luminous and smoother to the touch, too .

-Dr. Cynthia Bailey

Tip: Exfoliate skin at least twice a week for the best results.

Toners

For some reason applying toner is one of my favorite parts of my skin care process. A good toner refreshes the skin and usually has an astringent to help remove all traces of oil from the skin. I love how I can literally feel the oil dissolving on my face. Some toners can also hydrate, minimize the visibility of pores and plump the skin. By removing all the oils, toner preps the skin to soak in whatever skin treatment is coming next.

Tip: For beginners, try an alcohol-free or natural toner first. After your skin is used to the routine, you may choose to carefully try other, stronger toners.

Serums

Serums are to skin what a good deep conditioner is to your hair. Knowing your skin and the individual problems you face comes in handy when choosing the right set of serums to use. If you’re suffering with dull, tired looking skin, try a serum that focuses on brightening and contains Vitamin C. For textured skin, try something containing a retinoid. For dark spots, treatments containing lactic acid or turmeric have proven effective. Applying your serums at night is the best way to let them really get to work on your skin, while your body is restoring itself.

Tip: Doing your research and consulting with an expert can never hurt. Before purchasing or trying any products, read reviews and if possible, talk to a dermatologist. Certain chemicals in some serums should not be mixed, hence the importance of being educated. There are many options on the market, but trying one at a time is the best way to ensure you don’t damage your skin while searching for your best treatment.

Moisturizers

After all that cleaning and removing of oils from the skin, we need something to bring some life back into the skin. Many serums have moisturizing and hydrating properties, but moisturizer is an integral last step after cleansing – both in the AM and the PM. If your skin is prone to oiliness, look for an oil-free or mattifying moisturizer to help with oil control. For dryer skin, try something with oil retentive properties.

Tip: Apply moisturizer, a drop at a time, in circular motions across the face and neck to help cover every inch.

See more beauty post by Sierra, HERE.