Cleansing

The basic purpose of cleansing is to clean away the build up of environmental dirt we face (zing!) every day – think smog, pollution, dust and grime, as well as removing the days makeup. Not only are you cleaning the surface, but you’re prepping it for the other products you are about to apply. Many skin care experts recommend cleansing twice, so the first cleanse removes the surface dirt and the second cleanse does a deep clean.

Something that lathers as you use it, like a gel cleanser, is good for oily or combination skin because it breaks down all the dirt and gunk on your skin. A cream cleanser is good for sensitive, dry or normal skin – it is more gentle on skin than a gel as it doesn’t need to work hard to cut through grease.

Rouge Recommends: Olay Regenerist Crème Cleanser

Cleansing oil is most effective for really dry skin and works best when you apply it to skin and then lather it up with water after a minute. For those who don’t have really dry skin, cleansing oil works well as the first cleanser to remove the surface dirt, followed by either a cream or gel.

Toning

There is debate in beauty circles whether this step is necessary, and it comes down to personal preference. The basic purpose of toner is to balance pH levels of the skin, tighten pores and do an extra clean. Toner rose in popularity when the soap used was thick and heavy, and a toner removed any leftover soap residue. Cleansers have come a long way and if you’re using a decent one and cleaning properly, then toner becomes an unnecessary extra . It would be better to do a double cleanse (as previously mentioned) rather than use a toner, as it can be drying on all but the oiliest of skin. If you still prefer to use a toner, make sure it’s alcohol free.

Moisturising

There are so many moisturisers on the market, from cheap to steep, and each seems to offer some sort of unique selling point – anti-aging, tinted, SPF, anti-acne, scented.

A moisturiser has two functions – putting moisture back into the skin and creating a barrier to stop moisture leaving the skin (called trans epidermal water loss). If you have normal skin, then a non-greasy water based moisturiser should do you nicely – look for ingredients like cyclomethicone. (Rouge recommends Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream 50g).  Dry skin needs an oil based lotion, so look for words like urea or propylene glycol on the label. Oily skin needs water-based ingredients and the packaging should have the term non-comedogenic on it (this means it won’t clog your pores), while sensitive skin should always go for a moisturiser without fragrance or artificial colour. As you get older, you should also look for products with alpha hydroxy acids in them (like glycolic or lactic) as these work to erase fine lines. No matter what you use, make sure you apply it to damp skin (within three minutes of getting out of the shower is a good rule of thumb).

Rouge Recommends: Olay Pro-X Wrinkle Smoothing Cream 50g

Most importantly – the number one essential in skincare is drinking water. There is a difference between dry skin and dehydrated skin – dry skin means skin is lacking in oil, where dehydrated skin is lacking in moisture (water). Even oily skin can be dehydrated, so it’s important to keep well hydrated, particularly over the summer months, to keep skin cells plump and healthy.