Most people want to have beautiful skin since it’s the part of the body that’s most visible to the rest of the world. Women buy products like Beauty by Earth in order to feel better about their skin. When we’re young, our skin is youthful and vibrant so we don’t need to take care of it every night. However, at a certain age, the skin starts to age or become dry and dull so it’s important to maintain a nightly routine.

If it’s your first time to learn about skin care and you want to know more about it, then the first thing you need to remember is that the most important part of skin care is removing makeup, oil, and dirt. Cosmetics, pollution and the oil that allows them to slip into your pores have to be removed before going to bed. Sleeping with dirt on your face would end up creating breakouts and acne, which is why basic skin care routines should be done before bedtime.

If you’re just beginning your own skincare routine, it’s advisable to just start with the four basic ones: cleansing, toning, moisturizing and sunscreen. At night, you only need the 3 unless you’re planning to replace the sunscreen or sunblock with night cream. Some people use a day cream with SPF protection instead of just sunscreen, and night cream before bedtime. It’s important to know the distinction between the day and night cream since the day creams are supposed to be washed off and the night creams are supposed to stay on until the next morning.

Another thing to remember is that your skin care routine should be dependent on what age you start. If you’re planning to start in your 20’s then the basic 4-step routine would do; if you’re in your 30’s then you need to start applying serums; and when you’re in your 40’s, you’d need to add wrinkle removers and target correctors to your routine.

Here are the 4 basic skin care steps to start on your routine:

1. Cleansing

The first step in your skin care routine should be cleansing. There are a variety of makeup removers and cleansers at your disposal. Most people use more than one type of cleanser to make sure that all dirt, cosmetics, and oil are removed before you put anything else on your face. Once you make sure that everything is clean, you can move on to the next step of your routine.

2. Toning

The second step is toning your face. Some toners act as astringents or cleansers, removing the rest of the substances in preparation for your moisturizer. It acts as one final cleanup and hydration before you cover your pores with a moisturizing cream. The toner also prepares your skin for other products such as essences, serums, and masks, should you decide to add those to your routine in the long run.

3. Moisturizing

The third step is moisturizing and making sure your skin is hydrated. Having soft and supple skin is important before applying makeup or getting to bed. The moisturizer allows your skin to relax after being subjected to harsh acids from the cleansers and toners. When your skin is relaxed, it becomes easier to heal and upkeep.

4. Final Cream

The last step is the finishing touches on your skin care, either a day or night cream. If you’re doing skin care on the daytime then you should add SPF or sunblock, or choose a day cream with sunscreen. If you’re treating your skin at night then you can apply night cream and skip the sunblock.

If it’s your first time then it’s important to remember that skin care is a process. You’re not going to get a perfect skin on the first week or so, and sometimes the change in your skin won’t be evident until months of diligent daily and nightly application of toners and creams. However, you’ll quickly notice the difference between the skin you neglected and the current skin that you’re taking care of. Eventually, you’ll need to move past the basics and add a few more products into your routine until you accomplish the goals you have set for your skin. Also check out this Japanese Skincare Routine.