A skincare routine should ideally start in pre-teen years and be followed regularly for best results. Also, a healthy balanced diet and an efficient digest-absorb-assimilate cycle inside your body are crucial for vital, healthy skin.

Three simple twice-a-day steps for facial skin:

Ten minutes is all it takes each morning and evening to care for facial skin.

Cleansing: Cleansing not only removes surface grime, make-up and impurities, it also stimulates your skin and preps it for topical nourishment. For face and neck, it's a must-do each morning and night. Choose a non-soap cleanser appropriate for your skin type, or a tridoshic formulation balanced to work on all skin types. If you have dry Vata skin (space or air predominant skin), choose a rich, nourishing cleanser that won't strip natural oils from skin, with ingredients like oatmeal, almond meal and cream. If you have sensitive fire predominant skin, choose a gentle herbal cleanser that will purify without irritating skin. Sandalwood in fine oatmeal with a little cooling milk and rose water makes a gentle Pitta-pacifying cleanser. For oily earth or water predominant skin, a stimulating product that contains oil-balancing herbs such as lavender, lemon, neem and tulsi helps cleanse and clarify.

Prepare your cleanser if you are starting with a dry mix. Then splash your face with lukewarm water to open pores. Never use hot water on your skin; it will cause your skin to literally wilt. Using your fingertips or a soft washcloth, gently apply cleanser to your face and neck in smooth upward strokes. The skin surface should get stimulated without being pulled or stretched. Rinse off with warm water, and finish with a final splash of cool water. If you wear make-up, two cleansings of face at night may be appropriate to make sure all of it is cleansed off.