The Only Four Products Your Skin Really Needs

I’ve given thousands of facials, shaped thousands of brows and designed products with many of the finest cosmetic chemists in the world. I’m a skincare expert and I earned it through 100,000 hours of study and hard work.

I know how skin functions and what it needs to function well. I understand cosmetic ingredients and what they can and cannot do. Every day I help women achieve optimal skin health and I can help you, too.   

What Your Skin Really Needs

My company uses the tagline Fewer Products, Better Beauty™.  Ninety-nine percent of the clients at my studio get better skin from doing less, not more. And I can tell you with utmost certainty that all you need for healthy, glowing skin is a simple routine using just these four products: 

• Cleanser

• Moisturizer

• Sunscreen

• Exfoliator

Find a product in each category that you like, one that fits in your budget, and stick with it. It’s called a routine for a reason. Your skin prefers predictability.

Cleanser

Go with gentle. Harsh, astringent cleansers and mechanical brushes or other tools cause dryness, flaking and irritation. The best cleansing tools are your hands and a comfy washcloth.  

I prefer oil cleansers for their soft, supple, non-drying qualities. My go-to oil does double duty as my makeup remover and cleanser. I always double cleanse. The first pass dispatches my makeup and the second cleans my skin. 

Moisturizer

Hydration is essential for proper skin function and a healthy, radiant appearance. Your skin is a vital organ with a 24/7 list of tasks. It is the first line of defense against UV light and airborne viruses, bacteria, pollutants and nuisances. It is our largest sensory organ and plays a starring role in regulating body temperature and withstanding trauma.   

Your skin is a complex semi-permeable barrier with a demanding job. And it needs a little help. Moisturized skin works better and looks better. A good moisturizer boosts your skin’s water content and helps it defend against water loss. And nothing minimizes fine lines and wrinkles like a healthy dose of hydration. I moisturize morning and night. Whether you prefer creams, fluids, serums, ampules or some combination look for products with hyaluronic acid which is clinically proven to attract and bind H2O. 

Sunscreen

Sun damage is real. It is the top cause of skin aging. If you use only one product make it a sunscreen. Practice avoidance whenever possible and wear sunscreen every day in any kind of daylight. I recommend a broad-spectrum SPF of 30 or higher.

Exfoliation

As we age our cell-rate turnover slows. A build-up of dead surface cells dulls the complexion and exaggerates fine lines and wrinkles. Exfoliation removes the oldest layers of retired skin cells to reveal their younger, more radiant replacements. Exfoliating also boosts the efficiency of moisturizers. 

I like to exfoliate two or three times a week. I favor mild alpha and beta hydroxies (AHAs and BHAs) and Retinols over mechanical scrubs. One caveat: these exfoliants make your skin more vulnerable to UV rays so extra vigilance against sun damage is mandatory. 

Now that you know what your skin really needs you’re ready to be a boss beauty consumer. Cleanser. Moisturizer. Sunscreen. Perhaps an exfoliant. Make a simple habit out of it and I guarantee your skin will respond. The kicker is you’ll invest less time, money and fuss into looking your best.