To achieve the most flawless-looking skin possible, your daily routine is more important than the occasional salon treatment, says esthetician and makeup artist Susie Galvez, author of The Thrifty Girl’s Guide to Glamour (Polka Dot Press).

“Using a gentle cleanser, toner and moisturizer twice a day can do more for your skin than going to a spa,” says Galvez. Here’s her three-step routine for shrinking pores and protecting your skin from the effects of makeup and environmental grime.

Clean and exfoliate. A gentle facial cleanser removes excess dead skin cells, body oils and dirt. Applying it with a clean, warm, wet washcloth will help to add a bit of gentle exfoliation and help clear accumulated oil and dirt from pores.

Tone. Follow cleansing with a toner to help the skin resume a natural pH balance and tighten the pores.

Moisturize. Finish with a hydrating moisturizer to put a protective barrier on the skin; that keeps it supple and helps makeup stay on the surface of the skin — where it belongs — instead of settling into those freshly cleaned pores.

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Member Comments

1. Posted 11/12/2008 at 08:49 AM by jeannie

   I do this every day and it helps the skin to stay moisturized.

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