There are four basic steps to a smart daily skin-care regime:

Cleansing – Wash with lukewarm (not hot) water using gentle facial cleansers designed for your skin type, as well as mild body washes or soaps.

Exfoliating – Scrub off dead surface cells a few times a week to keep pores open and skin looking fresh.

Moisturizing – Lock moisture into skin by slathering on a product designed specifically for your face and another for your body. Keep in mind that the kind of moisturizer you choose will differ depending on your skin type, the time of day (day cream versus night cream), and the season (summer versus winter).

Sun protection – Year round, use a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher (some dermatologists recommend 30 or higher) to protect skin from the sun’s harmful UVA and UVB rays.