There are some tenets to skincare that are universal—those do’s and don’ts that act as guideposts for people of every age and skin type. They’re easy to remember, and just as simple to execute. And surprisingly, many of these tips remain unknown to a large percentage of people.

Perhaps you’re starting a skincare regimen now, or looking to take a more serious approach to your existing one. Regardless of your skincare expertise or experience, you should read up on some of the core commandments that build a foundation of any routine. Below are the skincare do’s and don’ts that we think are most imperative throughout your entire skincare journey.

You can, of course, add a layer of SPF over top of the hydrator (better yet, find yourself a double duty solution like our SPF moisturizer that combines replenishing hydration with lightweight UV protection).

Routine exfoliation is imperative for maintaining smooth, even-toned skin, as well as for keeping pores clear. The process buffs away or dissolves dead skin cells, depending on whether you choose a physical or chemical exfoliant. The means is a matter of preference, but one thing that is universal is how frequently you should exfoliate. If you use a heavy duty product, then twice a week should suffice; your skin cells cannot regenerate any faster than that, so you’d be wasting product and possibly even irritating skin if you attempt anything further. Some gentle recipes (which will be labeled as such) will allow for more frequent use due to their intentionally lightweight lift, but only if directed.

Are you oily all over? Or just across the brow and down the nose? Or, are you dry all over the face? Perhaps you’re none of the above, and are fortunate enough to enjoy harmonized oil production on the regular. (The industry even calls this condition “normal” despite the fact that most of us are aspiring towards it while navigating oiliness or dryness.) Regardless of your situation, you need to pick products and build a regimen that works with your skin to achieve “normalcy” without overdrying and irritating skin, or without aggravating more oil accumulation and clogging pores. These aren’t the only conditions of note, either: Acne-prone skin is very much a thing, as is sensitive skin.

You can be susceptible to hyperpigmentation, ingrown hairs, and so much more. But the point remains the same: Understand your skin, and build a regimen that makes your life easier and gives you real results. In the meantime, read Cardon’s skincare guides for Oily Skin and Dry/Sensitive Skin.

One thing your dermatologist will advise is daily SPF use—and so we’ll advise the same here and now. The baseline is SPF30, applied whenever you are about to experience sun exposure (even in winter, even when sitting by the window). UV rays work their evil year round, penetrating cloud cover and glass, and they’re also the biggest culprits behind “visibly aged skin” (rough or splotchy texture, loss of resilience and firmness, wrinkling, hyperpigmentation, etc). Daily SPF might seem excessive each morning, but it will be something you appreciate decades down the road, when you’ve still got the firmest, brightest complexion of all your contemporaries. It’s especially easy to get via a lightweight SPF-packed moisturizer in your morning regimen.

We often expect overnight miracles with our skincare regimen, as if a single application of moisturizer will give us the best skin of our life. On the contrary: While many products offer immediate benefits (like sun protection, or momentary lifting and firming effects), the truth is that you are actually playing a long game. You do all of this in order to practice “skincare fitness”. It’s like maintaining a healthy lifestyle overall, instead of eating a salad between major binges, simply to feel better about ourselves. The most effective regimen is one built on sustainability and longevity. The people who adhere to that will see the biggest, brightest fruits of their labor—for all of their days.

If you can see or feel a pimple on your skin, then it’s immediately time to act. Don’t touch it let alone squeeze it, please. Instead, treat it with a salicylic acid spot treatment (either a spot cream or a pimple patch). The ingredient will seep into the skin and break apart whatever gunk is clogging the pore, thus healing it from the inside and hopefully preventing you from having to stare at a volcano on your face—as well as the dark spot it leaves behind for the next few months. If you act fast, you really can experience an overnight miracle with these products, and wake up to clear, smooth complexion yet again.