This is the routine I give friends when they ask what to do about their skin. It's simple on purpose. Five minutes a day, done every day, does more than a cabinet full of products you use once in a while.
You don't need to buy anything to start. Most of these steps are about how you wash, not what you wash with.
Wash gently
Turn the water down
Warm, not hot, and keep it to about 5 to 10 minutes. Hot water washes away the natural oils that keep your skin soft.
Soap where you need it
Underarms, groin and feet need soap every day. Arms, legs and back usually do fine with a rinse. Use something gentle that doesn't leave you squeaky.
Hair: roots, not ends
Get your hair really wet, wash your scalp (not the ends), and rinse twice as long as you think you need to.
Lock it in
Pat, don't rub
Press the towel to your skin and leave it a little damp.
Moisturize within 3 minutes
Lotion, cream or body oil, right there in the bathroom, while your skin is still damp. This is the step that makes the biggest difference.
Four simple steps
Cleanse (at night)
Massage an oil cleanser onto a dry face for 30 to 60 seconds to melt off makeup and sunscreen. Wipe it away with a warm, damp washcloth.
Wash
A gentle face wash or face bar and lukewarm water. Your face should feel soft afterward, never tight.
Serum
Pat three drops onto damp skin. Lighter for oily or breakout-prone skin, richer for dry skin.
Moisturize
Seal it all in. In the morning, finish with sunscreen.
If you only remember three things
- Hot water is not your friend. Warm is plenty.
- Moisturize damp skin. Three minutes, every time.
- Simple and consistent wins. Give any change about four weeks.
A few extras that help
- Run a humidifier in the bedroom when the heat is on.
- Change your pillowcase every week.
- Try one new product at a time, so you know what's working.
- If your skin is cracked, bleeding, or something just isn't right, see a dermatologist.
What our family uses
The Routine
Goat’s-milk body bars with no SLS, plus a face bar and a shampoo bar. Handmade on our farm in small batches.
See the Routine →
Lauren Stewart makes Tyme Soap by hand on our family farm in Idaho, with milk from our own goats.
