Skincare is a very personal thing. Some people have elaborate routines that involve ten or more steps and an entire arsenal of products, while others are happy to just wash their face with soap. Whicher type of person you are, here are five skincare habits that everyone should practice for better skin:

Cleanse Gently

Cleansing is a basic and essential part of any skincare routine, but it’s all too easy to get it wrong. Many people make the mistake of cleansing their skin too aggressively, thinking that the harder you scrub and the harsher products you use, the cleaner you can get your skin. The truth is that doing this can damage your skin barrier, making it lose its natural moisture and weakening it against bad bacteria. Cleanse your skin gently by using the double cleansing method and natural beauty products by Well Within Beauty.

The double cleansing method involves first using an oil-based cleanser to remove sunscreen and, if you wear it, makeup. Well Within Beauty’s natural makeup remover is made from the finest plant oils and botanical ingredients, and can effectively remove all traces of sunscreen and makeup, even long-wearing foundation and waterproof makeup. Follow up with a gentle, pH-balanced water-based cleanser to get rid of any remaining residue, dirt and oil.

Steer clear of rough scrubs and cleansers that contain alcohol or sulfates—these can be very harsh and drying on your skin. Healthy, happy skin should feel fresh, plump and bouncy after cleansing, not tight or squeaky clean.

Moisturize

Moisturizing is another important step in your skincare routine. When skin is well-moisturized and hydrated, it can do an impressive job of taking care of itself. Hydration is key for healthy, balanced skin.

Choose a lightweight, non-greasy moisturizer with great hydrating ingredients like glycerin and hyaluronic acid. If you have oily skin, you can get away with moisturizing only once a day before going to bed or using an oil-free moisturizer. If you have dry skin, consider adding a hydrating toner to your routine for more layers of moisture.

Exfoliate Regularly

Skin cells naturally shed and renew themselves about once a month, but this process tends to slow down as we age. This may lead to a build-up of dead skin cells on the surface of our skin, which in turn results in a dull, ashy or flaky complexion. Keep your skin looking bright and youthful by exfoliating once or twice a week with a chemical exfoliator like glycolic acid or lactic acid.

Chemical exfoliation may sound intimidating, but it’s actually more foolproof than physically exfoliating with a rough scrub. Choose an exfoliator that suits your skin type, and practice this step consistently for a few weeks to see results.

Never Skip Sunscreen

Sunscreen is probably the single most effective anti-aging product you can buy. The sun’s harmful rays can cause a host of skin problems including sunburn, uneven skin tone, dark spots, fine lines, wrinkles, and even skin cancer. Protect yourself and keep your skin healthy by wearing sunscreen everyday. Choose a sunscreen with broad spectrum protection and an SPF of at least 30, and don’t scrimp on the application.

Clean up Your Diet

What you put into your body can have more of an effect on your skin than you may realize. Diets that are heavy on junk food, processed food, sugar, unhealthy fats and dairy products can result in excessively oily, breakout-prone skin. Clear your skin by cleaning up your diet—eat more fresh fruits and vegetables, and cut out sugary drinks like sodas and juices. If you can’t give up dairy completely, at least try to cut back to make both your body and your skin less prone to inflammation.

As you can see, none of these steps are very time-consuming. You can easily go through this entire skincare routine in ten minutes or less. The key is to treat your skin gently and be mindful of what you feed it, both inside and out. Try these tips out for at least a month, and you should soon see a difference in your skin.