It’s possible that I may have tried every beauty product known to man once. Maybe even twice. I can spend hours in Sephora or Ulta or even the makeup and skincare aisles at my local Walgreens. Been there, done that doesn’t even begin to cover it. Along the way I think I’ve learned a thing or two about what works and what absolutely does not, and I’d love to share it with you.

Here is what I know for sure: Healthy, glowing skin is the number one beauty must-have. Period. No amount of makeup, no matter how you put it on, can hide skin that is not in good shape.

Sometimes good skin just happens, but usually not if you’re past puberty. It takes a bit of effort, but probably less than you think. I have three basic rules for skincare-they’ve worked for me; chances are they’ll work for you.

3 Basic Rules For Skincare

Rule 1: The sun is not your friend.

A tan might look good now, but the damage it will do will not look good later (neither does skin cancer). Skip the sunbathing, use a sunscreen daily (SPF 15 minimum) and ramp up the SPF if you’ll be outdoors for an extended period. If you must have a tan, today’s sunless tanners do an excellent job of looking like the real thing.

Rule 2: Work from the inside out.

The three best things you can do for your skin (aside from staying out of the sun) are to eat properly, drink enough water and get enough sleep. Your skin needs nourishment, hydration and time to repair itself. A healthy diet will enhance your complexion. Water keeps it supple. And most of body’s repair and rejuvenation happens during sleep. Your skin is like an early warning system: If you’re not taking care of yourself that’s the first place it will show.

Rule 3: Keep it simple.

The ideal skincare routine:
1. Remove makeup
2. Cleanse
3. Moisturize
4. Exfoliate
5. Treat problems (if necessary)

That’s it. Nothing fancy, nothing complicated. It works for every skin type, every age, every budget.  If whatever they’re trying to sell you doesn’t fit into one of these categories, you probably don’t need it.

Well-maintained skin is a perfect canvas for a great makeup look. The bonus is that you won’t need as much foundation or concealer, which saves you time and money. And best of all, you’ll be able to go without makeup once in while. If you dare.

Finn is a natural beauty, but is an avid consumer of beauty products because it stimulates the economy. She writes about everything but makeup on her blog.

Sources: Photo 1 Photo 2