- Cleanser: a gentle, sulfate-free face wash free
- Moisturizer: a simple fragrance-free formula that can be used twice a day
- Sunscreen: a mineral- or chemical-based sunscreen with at least SPF 30
Step 1: Cleanse
Please, for the love of the beauty gods, remove your makeup and wash your face before slathering on your products. For ingredients to absorb properly, you need clean skin that’s totally free of oil and grime. This means if you want to do things right, skip the makeup wipes (they leave behind a layer of gunky residue that can break you out and irritate your face) and opt for a cleansing oil, which dissolves all makeup without stripping your skin. Then follow up with a gentle, creamy cleanser (especially if you have acne-prone skin).How to Choose the Best Cleanser for Your Skin Type
- Dry skin: The best type of face wash for dry skin should be creamy, non-foaming face washes with barrier-boosting ingredients like ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and glycerin.
- Oily skin: Avoid too-stripping formulas (like charcoal-, sulfate-, and clay-based cleansers) and look instead for gel-based face washes or gentle foaming cleansers for oily skin.
- Acne-prone skin: As with oily skin, acne-prone skin should avoid harsh cleansers and look instead for gentle, creamy cleansers—yes, really—to minimize inflammation (dry, irritated skin = more acne breakouts).