Skin is the largest organ of the human body and the one that forms a protective layer for the rest of your organs. The care of skin is important to overall health care, and while skin care may seem intimidating, it can be boiled down to a few simple objectives. Whether you use a 2 step cleanser and moisturizing routine, or a 12 step Korean skincare routine, the goal is to achieve clean, soft, and moisturized skin.”Soft skin is the best,” Senior Clea Steininger believes.

The first step to any routine is cleansing; for makeup wearers, a double cleanse is often recommended, as makeup wipes alone or just soap and water will not effectively clean your skin from makeup residue.

The ideal cleanser depends on your skin type. To determine your skin type, according to Paula’s Choice, a skincare brand known for their advice, you should wash your face then wait for 2 hours without applying product and see how your skin reacts. Normal skin types will feel soft and supple, dry skin is often dehydrated and flaky, oily skin types will feel slick and are more prone to breakouts, and combination will present as a combination between any or all of the previously mentioned skin types.

For a normal skin type, a gentle non-aggressive cleaner, like Cetaphil’s gentle daily cleanser, is likely the best choice as to not upset the balance of sebum production within the skin.

For a dry skin, a cleansing balm or oil is recommended, as it adds moisture to dry skin while also cleansing it, such as Neutrogena’s Hydro Boosting Hydrating cleansing gel.

Oily skin types should look for cleansers including salicylic acid which helps dissolve stubborn dead skin, according to WebMD, and prevents clogged pores.

The combination skin type should look for a cleanser that is gentle enough for dry patches, but that can effectively clean oily areas, such as the Cerave Foaming Facial Cleanser.

Toners are the next step in a routine. Though not always necessary, they can help with the removal of extra dirt and rebalance the skin’s PH.  Hopefully, the cleanser doesn’t move the PH of the skin far past the acceptable level of 5.5. The ideal toner would be one that is not too harsh and free of skin irritating ingredients like menthol, alcohols, and astringents.

The next addition to a skin care routine could be any supplementary additions, such as serums, vitamins, and acids, that target specific issues. Vitamin C can be used to reduce dark marks, while hyaluronic acid replenishes moisture.

Lactic acid is an alpha-hydroxy-acid, an acid derived from food that is safe to apply to skin and a mild exfoliant; these items should be applied before any moisturizer in order to seal in the effects.

The final step should be a sunscreen for the day, which protects against skin damage from the sun and premature aging, and a moisturizer regardless, to seal in the benefits of the previous skin care items and protect from environmental damage.

“The most important thing to keep in mind for skin care, especially for teens, is that our skin is often a direct reflection of what we put into our bodies,” says Mary O’Brien, the owner and aesthetician of Colorado Springs own facial studio, The Skin Within.