> Molvar, Kari. *How to Build a Skin Care Routine*. <https://www.nytimes.com/guides/tmagazine/skincare-routine>. Accessed 21 Aug. 2023. # How to Build a Skin Care Routine > Great skin is not simply a matter of DNA — your daily habits, in fact, have a big impact on what you see in the mirror. - Three main steps: 1. Cleansing — Washing your face 2. Toning — Balancing the skin 3. Moisturizing — Hydrating and softening the skin - You need time to reap the benefits - ==**Apply from thinnest to thickest**== (cleanser, toner, serum, moisturizer) ## Cleansing - Wash twice a day, morning and night - Exfoliating scrubs: no more than once a week - Avoid crush walnut shells and abrasive ingredients - Dry skin: cream or lotion - ==**Fewer ingredients is better**== - How to wash your face: 1. Rinse with warm water 2. Massage the clenaser into your skin, slowly add warm water 3. Begin with nose and cheekbones, moving outward 4. Rinse your hands in runing water, follow the same pattern to remove the cleanser 5. Pat dry with a soft towel ## Toning - Optional - Apply with clean hands ## Serums - Do not mix a serum into a moisturizer ## Moisturizing - Use year-round - Dry skin: (soft) cream ## Sunscreen - Most crucial skin-care product