Your ultimate skin care manual

Revisit your cleanse, tone, moisturise (CTM) routine. The new skincare routine is cleanse, protect, moisturise and exfoliate.
Clean skin thoroughly, protect with a serum, lock in the hydration with a moisturiser and exfoliate twice a week to remove dead skin. Follow this routine (barring the exfoliation) twice a day, morning and night; use a cream cleanser at night.
Stay on top of your skin type. Your skin type as a teenager is not what you'll have for the rest of your life. Weather, hormones, medication and age affect it; as you grow older, skin gets thinner and drier.
Do a blot test to check - First thing in the morning, place a tissue on your face; if it comes away greasy on nose, chin and forehead, you have combination skin. If a larger area of your cheeks is oily, that's your skin type too. Not a spot on the tissue means you have dry skin. "Sensitive" is not a skin type.
Delay ageing - Use sunscreen. Effects of sun exposure include loss of elasticity, thinner skin, wrinkles and spots. Slather on a broad spectrum sunscreen (that protects against UVA and UVB rays) with SPF 25 or more all year round on your body (not just your face). Don't forget the ears, the neck and your lips. Reapply during the day.
The eyes suffer from the first signs of ageing - The eye contour area has the thinnest skin and this is where lines show up first. Invest in a targeted antiageing product. Your other big buy - movie star sunglasses. Get maximum coverage with oversize shades; ensure they have UV protection.
Don't forget your neck and chest as this area is most prone to sun damage. If you're stepping out in the summer, especially between noon and 4pm, wear clothes that cover more.
Night creams are a must - research shows that skin-cell regeneration is faster at night. Choose products with alpha hydroxy acids (AHA), linoleic acid, ceramides, Vitamin B6, retinol or Retin A.