Where good skin starts

Good skin rarely starts with the product everyone is talking about. It starts with the barrier, the thin outer layer that decides how much water stays in and how much irritation gets through.

The barrier does the quiet work

When the barrier is intact, skin holds water, tolerates actives and calms down quickly after a flare. When it is compromised, everything you apply stings more and works less. Most people who think they have sensitive skin actually have a barrier that has been over-worked.

• Cleanse once, gently, and only as long as you need to.

• Leave skin slightly damp before the next step.

• Keep the routine short enough that you would repeat it on a bad day.

What to change first

Before adding anything, take one thing away. A week without your strongest active tells you more about your skin than a month of layering. Reintroduce slowly and watch how it responds.

If a routine only works when your skin is behaving, it is not a routine. It is a good week.

Barrier first, actives second. Everything else is a preference, not a rule.