Amidst the hullabaloo in the glossy magazines or fantasy TV ads you see on caring for the skin, the best skincare is nothing more than a 5-step regimen: cleansing, exfoliating, toning, moisturizing, and sunscreen.

Cleansing
Cleansing is your first must-do for the best daily skincare regimen. For those who have oily skin, a more frequent cleaning is needed. There are many advices on how to cleanse properly but the rule of the thumb in cleansing skin is to use warm water to loosen dirt and unclog pores. Use a dime-sized bit of cleanser, then you can rinse with cool or lukewarm water. Never wash your face with too hot or too cold water because either can cause broken capillaries. Remember before anything else, always wash your hands clean first to prevent the transfer of bacteria to your face. Also, avoid bar soaps, as they tend to make skin dry skin because of its high pH. There are several alternatives to soap and water cleansing, including creams, milks, lotions, foams, oils, gels, and liquids.

Exfoliation
The best skincare cannot be without exfoliation, the process of removing dead skin cells, which cause the face to look dull. This is perhaps the most skipped step in people's skincare routine. You might notice that men's skin looks more youthful than women’s do; this is because men tend to exfoliate daily when they shave. By shaving, the razor removes the top layer of dead cells every day. There are several ways to exfoliate skin, the most popular of which is by using scrubs. They work by removing the top layer of dead skin cells that tend to dull your complexion. However, do make sure that you use a gentle scrub with tiny grains in them for big grains in cheap scrubs can tear skin and cause more harm than good.

Toning
Toners are your best skincare regimen's way of removing all remaining traces of oil, makeup, and dirt. Although a good cleaning may do all these, chances are, your skin could always need help in removing any residual cleanser or make-up that may have been left behind. Apart form that, a toner also helps restore the natural pH level of the skin, leaving your skin clean, clear and ready to be hydrated. More importantly, toning closes the pores, tightens the skin, and keeps it from being exposed to many of the toxins that are floating in the air or other pollutants. However, stop using a toner the moment that you feel any discomfort in your skin, toners should make your skin feel smooth and soothed after application.

Moisturizing
Moisturizing is the fourth basic step of your best skincare regimen. Everyone, no matter what her skin type is, should moisturize. Even those with oily skin can benefit from a good moisturizer, although they would have to use it a little more sparingly. Moisturizers seal moisture into skin, something that not even your natural oils can do. When it comes to moisturizing, trust your skin to tell you how much it needs. When your skin is tight, it is crying out for moisture. Be careful though not to over moisturize for you will end up with clogged pores and blackheads. Do not forget also that your neck and lips are very delicate and can dry out easily; they also need to be moisturized too.

Sunscreen
The last but perhaps, the single most effective step in you best skincare routine is sunscreen. This step is so important that they even made a song out of it - Wear Sunscreen. Why is it so important? Most of the skin problems we have are caused by too much exposure to the sun. The foremost cause of wrinkles is sun damage, so it is important to use sunscreen even from your early years and on even in winter and on cloudy days. When choosing a sunscreen, make sure it contains at least one of the three ingredients as an 'active ingredient': titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, or Parsol 1789 (avobenzene). However the necessity for sunscreen, do not overdo it, such as wearing sunscreen even at night. The ingredients in sunscreen are not meant to be used 24/7 and can badly aggravate your skin.