Lately I have had a lot of questions about skincare and with summer now very solidly upon us, I wanted to touch on it.

There are only really a few basic things that are supremely important to cover with your skin. Probably the most important is Moisture, then Protection, Cleanliness, and Exfoliation.

You don’t need the most expensive products or something that has the latest sea kelp pearl technology, you just need products that will take care of your skin and will not irritate it. The more fragrances and dyes that are added, the more opportunity for irritation there is.

Moisture: Even if you feel like you have oily skin, you should be using a moisturizer. Apply it over your entire face and throat. If you do have oily skin, use one that is oil free. If your skin is dry, use something a little heavier. If you have combination skin, meet in the middle. I have found a lot of success with Cetaphil lotions and there are different options depending on your skin type.

Protection: No matter how dark your skin tone or how well you tan or how quickly and smoothly your skin goes from burned to tan, you NEED to wear sunscreen. Apply over your entire face, neck and décolletage, as well as anywhere else that will be in regular sunlight. Sunscreen can reflect oddly under makeup, though, or change it’s texture so you need to find one that goes well under yours if you wear it. If you have fair skin, use a high SPF that shields from the full spectrum of UVA and UVB rays. If your skin is darker, a moisturizer with SPF may be enough. My skin is very fair and I wear makeup regularly, so I don’t want to reapply and smear it. I love Neutrogena which I use with a moisturizer as well.

Cleanse: If you don’t wear makeup, you can usually get away with simply rinsing your face thoroughly with cool water. If you have a lot of sweat or dirt, a cleanser is probably a better idea. If or when you wear makeup, you must clean your face. Again, Cetaphil is my go-to.

Exfoliation: This is important to slough away dead skin cells and reveal the new ones underneath. This should only be done one to two times a week, no more. Also, you don’t want to damage that skin. The key word here is Gentle. In the past, I have used both the rough apricot type scrubs and currently I am using an every day exfoliating cleanser. Whichever way you go, remember to be VERY gentle when using it on your face. Use the pressure you think is very gentle, then cut that in half. The rougher the scrub, the more likely you are to break tiny capillaries especially on your nose. A warning, though. At home is not the place for microdermabrasion. This is an extremely aggressive technique and should only be used with an esthetician.

There are certainly more steps you can take, but there are the basics. Cleanse and moisturize every day, if you use toner, use after you wash your face and before moisturizer. Use sunscreen every day. Exfoliate GENTLY one or two times a week.