Elaine Sterling's 5-Step Skin Routine for Luminous Skin

Founder of Elaine Sterling Institute and Elaine Sterling Skincare

I believe beautiful skin starts with a great skin care routine to maintain health and radiance at any age.

Related: 3 Steps to Check an Ineffective Skin Care Routine

1. Cleansing products don’t get enough credit, as they can be a game-changer. I use two different cleansers. In the morning, I use a gel cleanser and always cleanse my skin twice. I use a silicone skin brush to massage the cleanser into the skin and then rinse with water. In the evening, I use a cream cleanser to break down the makeup, dirt, debris and pollution from my skin. Then, I follow with a gel cleanser for my second cleanse. I let the cleanser sit on the skin for one to three minutes, so that the cleansers can do their magic.
2. I have two toners, one astringent toner for the evening and a hydrating toner for the morning. I like to spray the toner on my fingertips and press it into the skin like a serum. Because my skin is more sensitive, I find spraying on cotton rounds to be too rough for my skin.
3. I use two serums. First, I use a vitamin C serum and then a hyaluronic acid serum. I love to layer my products. I layer my serums and my moisturizers day and evening due to the fact that I have mature skin that lacks moisture and oil. I must adapt my skin care routine according to the seasonal changes and lifestyle stressors.
4. With my skin being more sensitive, I use an exfoliant once a week in the evening to help remove dead skin cells and even out my complexion. I use a two-step exfoliant that contains vitamin C crystals and an AHA, BHA activator. I combine the two, so I have a mini peel before I apply it to my skin.
5. Sunscreen 365 days a year is a must. I use a daily SPF 30 that is chemical-free. Chemical-free is better for the environment and better for your skin.