Skincare is difficult and at times, confusing.. The average person can go an entire lifetime without ever figuring out how to truly take care of the body’s largest organ. The Internet doesn’t make things, particularly easier either--there’s simply too much information out there for the average Joe or Jane to make sense of. And not to mention a lot of that information happens to be false or, at the very least, exaggerated.

Consider these four simple and basic rules of skincare to keep your complexion clear and youthful:

1. Moisturizer is the Skin’s Best Friend

One of the most common conditions that the average person could suffer from is dry skin. All kinds of nasty and highly visible symptoms can arise from a failure to keep the skin nice and moisturized --itching, flaking, and when things get really bad, even bleeding.

Moisturizer is common, usually cheap, and absolutely invaluable in maintaining passably healthy skin. For those who want to go the extra mile, brands like Well Within Beauty provide products that come packed with added value: skin protection, antioxidants, and a host of compounds that leave skin even healthier than before.

2. Gentle Touch

Applying excessive pressure to sensitive parts of your body, such as the eyes and temples can lead to the early development of unsightly wrinkles. Using a gentle touch comes highly recommended across the cosmetic profession, and is by far the cheapest way to keep your face clean and youthful.

For those who can’t help but touch their faces, investing in things like stress balls and fidget toys can help break the nasty habit. The bottom line here is discipline: take corrective steps when you catch yourself doing these or any other unhealthy habits.

3. Adopt a Healthy Perspective

On the subject of erasing bad habits, it’s also well-advised to maintain good ones. Half the battle in taking care of any part of your body is in making sure your outlook on life is one that includes health as a priority. This means eating well, sleeping on time, and keeping up a generally healthy lifestyle.

You’ll find that keeping proper eating habits does wonders for the complexion, drinking the right amount of water can prevent skin problems as well as keep your kidneys healthy, and eight hours of sleep a night can leave you looking refreshed at zero cost.

4. Bring in the Professionals

When all else fails, consulting experts in the fields of dermatology and nutrition is your safest, simplest bet towards looking and feeling at your best. Consultation doesn’t always come at a hefty price, and you’ll end up avoiding the cost of suboptimal skincare routines and wasteful products for the cost of a session.

Keep an open mind, but make sure to be critical of their advice and recommendations for the kinds of products you should invest in --there might be more reliable products out there, and the general principle of what you’re after is a great enough take-away from a session.

Ordinary people rarely find the time to devote to daily maintenance routines. With luck, you can find a regimen that works best for you, as well as the motivation to keep it up --after all, if you aren’t going to take care of your complexion, who will?