Skincare doesn't have to be complicated. In its most essential form, an effective skincare ritual rests on three pillars: cleansing, moisturizing, and protecting. Everything else — serums, eye creams, masks — are additional layers that amplify these three fundamental steps.
Step 1: Cleansing — the starting point of everything
Cleansing is the most underestimated step in skincare. Well-cleansed skin absorbs subsequent products better and prevents the buildup of impurities that, over time, clog pores and dull the complexion.
What you should look for in a cleanser:
- Dry or sensitive skin: Cleansing milk or gentle foam that doesn't strip the skin barrier.
- Oily or combination skin: Cleansing gel or foam that controls excess sebum without drying it out.
- Normal skin: Almost any gentle cleanser will work.
A good cleanser doesn't leave skin feeling tight or shiny: it simply leaves it clean and comfortable.
Step 2: Moisturizing — not optional for any skin type
One of the most widespread myths in skincare is that oily skin doesn't need hydration. It is quite the opposite: when the skin doesn't receive enough moisture, it compensates by producing more sebum. Hydration is essential for all skin types; what changes is the texture of the product.
- Dry skin: Creams rich in fatty acids and ceramides, such as the Ultra Rich with AmbroSea from La Forêt, which deeply nourishes and reinforces the skin barrier.
- Oily or combination skin: Lightweight, oil-free textures, such as the Oil Free SPF 15 from La Forêt, which hydrates without leaving a greasy feeling.
- Normal skin: A medium-texture cream that maintains balance.
Step 3: Sun protection — the most powerful anti-aging tool
UV radiation is responsible for up to 80% of visible skin aging: spots, wrinkles, loss of firmness. And it is present every day, even when it is cloudy.
Look for an SPF of at least 30 for daily use. Ideally, choose one that also hydrates — this way you simplify your ritual without sacrificing protection.
And does the order matter?
Yes. Always from the lightest to the densest texture:
- Cleansing
- Toner (optional, but helps balance pH)
- Serum (if you use one)
- Moisturizer
- Sunscreen (always last in the morning)
With these three steps well-chosen and applied consistently, your skin changes. Not in a week, but in a few weeks. Effective skincare is not a sprint — it is a ritual.