Great skin isn’t only a result of your genes; your everyday behaviors have a significant influence on what you see in the mirror. However, there are a staggering amount of perspectives on everything from how to moisturize to how to protect oneself from Sun exposure, depending on which product reviews you read or physicians you visit. Finally, skin care is a matter of personal preference. Here are some things to take into consideration while you try to make sense of it all.

There are three main steps.
Consider your skin-care routine to be made up of three key steps:

• Washing your face– cleansing.
• Toning is the process of balancing the skin.
• Moisturizing the skin hydrates and softens it.

Any skin-care practice should aim to tune up your complexion so it performs at its best, as well as troubleshoot or target any areas you wish to improve. “Beauty regimens provide a chance to observe changes inside yourself,” says Kristina Holey, a dermatologist in San Francisco. Your products will change as your skin’s needs change as you get older. “It’s not about producing perfection,” she says. Allow these three actions to become a daily routine that strengthens your skin and helps you to stay grounded throughout the day.

Give it some time.

The science behind skin-care products has progressed significantly, but there is still no such thing as an instantaneous solution, according to Dr. Rachel Nazarian of Schweiger Dermatology Group in Manhattan. “The only way to see results is to practice it consistently,” she says. To see a change, try using a product for at least six weeks, once or twice daily.

Apply each skin-care product in order of consistency, starting with the thinnest and working your way up to the thickest. Cleanser, toner (if you use one), serum, and moisturizer, for example.