1. Cleanser: a well-formulated cleanser is completely necessary for healthy skin. Soap will typically dry your face. Choose a cleanser that both removes makeup/oil/dirt, and also treats any skin issues you may have - i.e. a cleanser targeted for oily, dry, acne-prone, or sensitive skin. If you go with a higher-end cleanser, you may get more benefits with less irritation. Cleansers now come in so many options - water-free lotions and oils, foaming, etc.
2. Toner: this is something a lot of people don't use, and while it's not 100% necessary if you have a really good cleanser, I still never go without it if possible. A good toner will serve a few purposes, most notably cleaning off any impurities your cleanser missed, refining pores (making them smaller), and balancing your skin in terms of moisture/oil. I notice a marked difference when I don't use toner (not a difference I like). If you cannot afford well-made toner, you can try witch hazel - it's around $4.00 at drugstores. Most toners come in large bottles and last absolute ages. Worth the money, for sure.
3. Exfoliant: Like toner, you can get away without using an exfoliant, but your skin will be much better while using one. A lot of facial issues are caused by build up of dead skin cells, making your skin appear dull, broken out, etc. BUT - most drugstore brand exfoliants are simple scrubs, meaning they slough off dead skin by scraping it off the skin. Doing this from time to time won't kill you, and it's actually great for your body. But the face is much more sensitive than skin on the rest of your body, and can be easily scraped and irritated by particle scrubs. The better route? Enzyme exfoliants - they use enzymes to dissolve away dead skin, and usually have a tiny bit of grit to help move the skin quicker. These won't irritate sensitive skin nearly as much. The trick is doing your research to be sure you know how an exfoliator works - particles or enzyme.
4. Moisturizer: Like cleanser, this one is not optional! Even if you have oily skin! With a world full of pollutants, chemicals, cosmetics, and not-exactly-pure diets, your skin needs a protective moisture barrier to keep it replenished and healthy. Inexpensive moisturizers aren't always worth the few dollars they cost, because they appear to soothe your skin, but use cheaper ingredients that do not penetrate past your top layer of skin, or DO penetrate, but clog your pores. Like a cleanser, find a moisturizer that is made for your skin type. One with SPF is even better, but that's something you can always add separately (just use a sunscreen formulated for face, not body). A good moisturizer will keep your skin feeling good for 12 hours, in my experience, but your face won't feel greasy.
5. Serum: Similar to toner, you can live without a serum, but I don't recommend it, unless your skin is awesomely perfect. Most of us have one or more things we'd like to correct with our skin (break outs, dullness, dryness, oil, dark spots, sun damage...the list goes on). Serums are one of the best ways to treat your skin. They are typically liquid-y and have more potent ingredients than other products, since their aim is treatment. Many serums are for healthy skin, but do a great job at protecting the skin from aging - and we should all start anti-aging products by age 25! Serums can be worn day and night, after cleansing. I swear by them, personally.
6. Eye Cream: A good eye cream has been necessary for me since I was in college. I have allergies, plus genetic dark under-eye circles. The eye area is so delicate, and while your skin can be oily or dry, sometimes the skin around your eyes can be totally the opposite and typically requires special care. Eye creams are usually for extra hydration, bags and puffiness, circles, and brightening. I have yet to find a cheap one that works well, so I always invest in good stuff for eyes.
7. Masks: These are something I love, but you don't have to use them. A serum treats skin issues on a daily basis, but a mask usually packs a good punch for occasional use. Like serums, they come for all sorts of purposes. I appreciate the very potent ones (with glycolic acid or retinol), or a simple moisturizing/soothing/purifying mask. I try to do one every weekend. Masks can be cheap and even homemade.
After the use of these products, you make your way into cosmetics, which I may do a separate post about, since that routine is important to a lot of us. However, my disclaimer is always this: even though they can cost more, please, always invest in the above skin care products before worrying about cosmetics. If you keep your skin healthy, you won't need nearly as much makeup in the first place, and can often even go without any! We routinely see beautiful women at Dior who have used the skincare line for years and wear almost zero makeup, and they always look much younger than they actually are.
What do you think, ladies? Did I miss anything you can't live without?
