Seriously Simple Skin Care Plan

If your skin tends to be dry: You want less soap and more moisturizer. Look for formulations such as creamy lotion or cleansing milk, or even a cold cream cleanser, a cleansing oil, or a balm; they basically all act on the same gentle cleansing principle. Cleanse at the end of the day to remove grime, sweat, makeup, and oil; then, in the morning, just rinse your skin with water.

If your skin tends to be oily or acne-prone: You can use gels, oil-free washes, soap, or synthetic detergents such as sodium lauryl sulfate or sodium laureth sulfate. Two percent salicylic acid dissolves the dead keratin cells plugging the pores and helps prevent acne, while benzoyl peroxide prevents bacteria from overpopulating in the pores, but note that both of these ingredients are extremely drying and should be used only if you truly have oily skin.

If your skin tends to be sensitive: A less-of-everything routine is your best bet for caring for skin that gets red and irritated easily, burns quickly in the sun, or is susceptible to dark spots. Don’t wash your skin more than once per day, and use gentle formulations (cleansing lotions or milks) with anti-inflammatory ingredients such as soy, allantoin, aloe vera, or chamomile to soothe the skin and calm redness.