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1. Cleanse and Tone

The cleansing phase is an important first step, but skip the soap. The pH of soap can dry your skin. A good cleanser has a pH close to that of the skin and is non-drying. And avoid water-free, leave-on cleansers, which can clog your pores. Follow cleansing with a toner to remove any debris the cleanser missed.

CLEANSER: Look for alpha- and beta-hydroxy acids, which are excellent cleaning agents, and beneficial additions like vitamins C and E.

The key isn't just the ingredients - you rinse them off very quickly - but finding a good cleanser that doesn't leave your skin feeling tight and dry. You should judge your cleanser based on the condition of your skin after you've washed, rinsed, and dried. Your face should feel fresh, clean, and comfortable, not dry or pulled.

TONER: The same criteria apply. An effective toner will have a gentle astringency, yet it should leave your face feeling soft and refreshed, NOT pulled and dry.

2. Exfoliate & Purify

The exfoliating phase is critical if you want flawless skin. Exfoliation stimulates cellular turnover and may improve skin thickness. It also removes dead cells on top of your skin, allowing skin care products to transport key ingredients to their destination. The exfoliating phase provides one final opportunity to open up clogged pores before you move on to the other phases of your skin care routine.

3. Stimulate Cellular Performance

The skin-stimulating phase encourages the skin's own collagen-building machinery and repair mechanism to soften the look of lines and wrinkles. This is ideally done with a thin water-consistency serum, rich in ingredients that easily permeate the skin. This step does not feel particularly moisturizing and it may leave your skin feeling dry and tingly.

4. Build Lipid Barrier

The skin-building phase helps restore skin barrier functions by delivering essential nutrients. This is ideally done with lipid-based serums that contain high concentrations of lipid (fat) soluble vitamins, ceramides, antioxidants, retinol and essential fatty acids.

5. Seal & Maintain

The skin-building phase helps restore skin barrier functions by delivering essential nutrients. This is ideally done with lipid-based serums that contain high concentrations of lipid (fat) soluble vitamins, ceramides, antioxidants, retinol and essential fatty acids.