A Skin Care Regimen for the Woman on the Go  

What is your skin care regimen? We get it, you’re busy, and with the endless variety of products available, it can be challenging to find the right mix for your skin. Stress, hormones, and air pollutants rob skin cells of oxygen, leaving skin dry and dull.

Still, there are skin essentials that should be addressed every day to shield us from damage, like cleansing skin, prioritizing sun protection, and maintaining hydration. These are the building blocks for great skin and will go a long way if you can carve out 10 minutes for them, in the morning and before going to bed at night.

The Basics

The following four steps are the bare minimum necessary to meet the needs of your body’s largest organ, the skin, and some recommended products to use.

Cleanse (A.M. and P.M.)
Even if you don’t wear makeup, there are impurities in the air that end up on your skin and in your pores, so it’s recommended that you cleanse your face daily.

• First Aid Beauty Face Cleanser: This cleanser has a whipped texture, is gentle on the skin, and effectively removes makeup.
• SkinCeuticals Purifying Cleanser: This cleanser is suitable for all skin types, and has glycolic acid to provide gentle exfoliation and brighten skin while it removes dirt and oil particles.

Exfoliate
Flaky skin is your worst enemy and can be the thing that alters your overall appearance the most, leaving your skin dry and dull. Exfoliating two or three times a week can help.

• Kiko Milano Pure Clean Scrub & Peel Wipes: These two-sided wipes (one smooth, one textured) can be used after cleansing to get rid of stubborn, left-over makeup.
• Roc Daily Resurfacing Discs: This dual-textured pad is infused with skin conditioners and is gentle enough to use every day.
• First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads: Another pad gentle enough to use daily, these will help you exfoliate, tone, and brighten your skin to maintain smoothness and a healthy skin tone.

Moisturize (A.M.)
Keep your skin from drying out by applying moisturizer every morning, preferably one with SPF, which will protect your skin from damaging UV rays that can lead to premature aging through loss of elasticity.

• Khiel’s Ultra Facial Cream SPF 30: Formulated with a glycoprotein known to withstand extreme cold, and “Fountain Plant,” which helps the skin maintain its natural moisture reserve, this cream protects your skin and makes a great base for makeup application.
• Josie Maran Argan Daily Moisturizer SPF 47: This all-natural, nongreasy moisturizer offers significant sun protection and is great for light makeup days.

Moisturize (P.M.)
Beauty sleep is a real thing, because nighttime  is the best time to catch up on hydration and re-energize your skin cells.

• Belif The True Cream Moisture Bomb: This Korean cream addresses dryness with     comfrey leaf, a hydrating agent, and also helps increase skin’s firmness and elasticity.
• La Mer Moisturizing Soft Cream: Treat yourself with this ultra-luxurious night cream infused with a nutrient-rich broth derived from the magic of Pacific sea kelp.

The Extras

For days when you have a little more time, you may want to focus on your specific areas of concern, which can make huge difference in your overall appearance. The following products may help:

• Boscia Sake Brightening Hydrogel Eye Masks: Tell your bags to take a hike. These under-eye masks combine sake, antioxidants, peptides, and plant extracts with marine collagen to brighten, firm, and hydrate.
• Obagi Professional-C Eye Brightener: This serum reduces fine lines and boosts your skin’s natural antioxidant defense.
• Neosporin Overnight Renewal Therapy White Petrolatum Lip Protectant: Repairs your lips by moisturizing with vitamins and contains no parabens, preservatives, or artificial flavors.
• Neutrogena Blackhead Eliminating Cleanser/Mask: Apply as a mask, and then wash it off for clearer, brighter skin. It contains salicylic acid for acne-free skin.

These are just some of the top-rated products for a basic skin care routine; there are many others to choose from, so select what works best for you.

And remember, it’s ok to let your skin’s natural oil (sebum) do some of the work. Sebum is a lubricant that protects the skin from losing moisture. It also acts as a barrier to protect skin from bacteria, viruses, and other potential contaminants that might penetrate it.

Finally, remember that drinking lots of water will ensure that your skin cells are well fed, which will leave your skin firm and bright. And never underestimate the power of good sleep, a healthy diet, and reducing stress to give you a glow.