The Better Skin Co 4-Piece Blockbuster Skincare Set

Why Exfoliate?
Exfoliation is a very important yet often overlooked step in the beauty regimen. It is the key to loosen and remove a dead layer of skin cells, while speeding up the skin's process of shedding (which slows with aging or mature skin). Exfoliation also helps to stimulate the blood circulation, brighten the complexion by improving color and texture, smooth fine lines and wrinkles, and prevent build-up that can lead to break outs.
Without exfoliation, skin can take on an uneven tone, looking dull, patchy or even ashy. After exfoliation, skin serums and moisturizers are able to penetrate more effectively, allowing the active ingredients to penetrate more successfully and thus leading to better beauty product results.
As a general rule, you will want to exfoliate at least once per week. You can adjust your schedule according to your needs. The texture of the exfoliant may also factor in the frequency of usage. A finer grained exfoliator might be tolerated well and could be used more often if desired. If your skin becomes irritated or flaky, reduce the frequency of exfoliating or switch to one with finer texture.
Sometimes exfoliating ingredients are added to toners or also come in the form of masks. These products provide more options to incorporate exfoliating ingredients into your regimen.

How to Choose an Exfoliator
Choose an appropriate exfoliator for your skin type. Sensitive, fine or aging skin will need a finer abrasive ingredient than other types of skin. The best way to select one is to read the label description to determine the item's abrasiveness or strength. Salt, sugar, plant fiber, nut hulls, jojoba beads, apricot seeds, kernels, oatmeal, and bamboo beads are all common ingredients used in abrasive exfoliators.
Enzymes, retinols, alpha hydroxy acid, lactic acid, glycolic acid and salycilic acid preparations are referred to as chemical exfoliators. They are typically available in varying strengths in the form of a gel or serum. They can also be used once per week, or as desired after cleansing and before moisturizing to attain the same effect. They exfoliate with less irritation, and are especially recommended if your skin is on the sensitive side.

How to Exfoliate
After cleansing and rinsing the face, apply the exfoliator to your wet face. Using your fingers or a soft cloth, scrub using gentle circular motions. You will want to avoid the delicate eye area and scrub gently on the areas bordering it like the cheek bones and temple area outside of the eyes. Rinse your face and softly pat it dry.

Why Moisturize?
Everyone can benefit from using a moisturizer after cleansing. The key is finding the appropriate moisturizer based on your skin type. Moisturizers seal moisture into the skin, so the effect is hydrating while also inhibiting evaporation. Many moisturizers contain active ingredients that deliver vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and skin supporting compounds to provide therapeutic benefits that sooth, protect and ultimately delay the onset of early aging.
Eye creams are optional, but may be desirable for those with dry or aging skin as a welcome addendum to a moisturizer. Some individuals have very delicate eye areas that are more susceptible to wrinkling, dark circles and puffiness. An eye cream can help address these specific concerns with intense moisture and a high concentration of active ingredients.

How to Choose a Moisturizer
The oilier your complexion, the lighter and more liquid your moisturizer should be. Some moisturizers even have oil free ingredients that still serve to moisturize the skin without adding oil. Conversely, dry or aging skin requires a more moisturizing-nourishing preparation. Use a moisturizer labeled with your skin type or specific skin concern. If you live in a particularly harsh climate, consider wearing a more moisturizing face cream during the winter and switch to a lighter formula during warmer months.
Night creams tend to be thicker and more moisturizing than day creams. It is generally recommended to have separate moisturizers simply for the fact that you will want a day cream with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF). This will provide you with added protection from sun damage that ultimately leads to premature aging.
Based on the amount of time you spend outside on any particular day, you might want to wear a moisturizer designed for outdoor use with a significantly higher SPF. You must also factor in how easily your skin burns and take precautions to protect your skin with a sufficient SPF. As a general rule, it is recommended that your day moisturizer should have at least 15-20 SPF, and if you spend more time outdoors, consider a moisturizer with 30+ SPF.

How to Use Moisturizer
After you wash your face and apply toner or a serum (optional), scoop out enough moisturizer to comfortably cover your face and neck area. Using your finger tips, rub it in using upward strokes, making sure to moisturize the neck, décolletage and earlobes. In order to prevent streaks, allow your moisturizer to penetrate before applying foundation.

When skin ages, its collagen and elastin are produced more slowly. This causes gradual changes like hyperpigmentation, discoloration, dryness, sagging, wrinkles, crepe-like folds, loss of muscle tone, textural unevenness and loss of elasticity.

The topical application of key skin firming ingredients works synergistically to protect and strengthen the skin. Skin care products should have a combination of naturally occurring active ingredients. They will contain compounds to protect which will likely be in the form of extracts containing antioxidants. Another set of ingredients will firm the skin by penetrating through its seven layers to support the collagen process at a cellular level.

Skin firming creams are usually formulated as night creams. They tend to be richer, thicker and more emollient and should be able to stay on long enough to absorb for maximum benefits. In general, face creams are designed to minimize lines/wrinkles, improve skin density, firm, plump and decrease puffiness (especially in the eye area).

Many manufacturers describe their product as a "cocktail" of ingredients that work together to decrease the effects of aging. Skin firming and anti-aging ingredients often include antioxidants, minerals, seaweed, herb extracts and different kinds of oils like Vitamins A and E. Other ingredients attributed to having a firming effect on the skin include green tea, aloe vera, beech bud extract, alpha lipoic acids, shea butter, hyaluronic acid and the very exotic sounding emu oil. Some firming and anti-aging products also contain light reflecting pigments, such as mica, to enhance the glow and make the skin look radiant.

What is a Serum?
Deciding to use a serum can depend on various factors including skin type, age or degree of damage. They are able to effectively absorb onto the skin, delivering active ingredients for maximum benefit. Depending on ingredients, serums contain anti-aging properties that help to firm, tighten, provide anti-oxidants, re-texturize, or address the signs of aging. If you decide to use a serum with your moisturizer, select one with the ingredients or benefits associated with the concerns you wish to address.

Why Cleanse?
When you cleanse your face, you can help control the clarity, suppleness and condition of your skin. Cleansing rids your skin of excess facial oil, dust, bacteria, dirt and dead skin cells. This process helps keep the pores unclogged, improves circulation, and prepares your skin for the next step in your cleansing ritual. Quite possibly the most fundamental step in the beauty routine, cleansing is integral to maintaining a balanced complexion.
Cleansing is recommended twice per day for most skin types, once in the morning and once in the evening. Any more than that, the natural oils become stripped, while any less and your skin can become susceptible to congestion and eruptions.

How to Choose a Cleanser
Choose a cleanser that is appropriate for your skin and is specifically formulated for the face. Dry skin types will need to use a creamy based cleanser, while oilier types will need a gel based or foaming type cleanser. Sensitive skin needs a fragrance-free formulation, most likely labeled as gentle and non-irritating.

How to Cleanse
Make sure to start with clean hands. Splash your face with warm or tepid water to open up your pores. Never use too hot or too cold water. Too hot and your skin can dry out, while water that is too cold will not remove the surface oils sufficiently. You can use a washcloth, sponge, exfoliation puff, facial brush or your fingers for cleansing - It all depends on your preference.
Use approximately a dime to nickel sized amount of cleanser, follow product packaging instructions. You can apply the cleanser with your fingertips or washcloth. Depending on the cleanser type, you might want to work up a lather in your hands first.
Use gentle upward circular strokes moving around the face, paying attention to the crevices of the nose area and hair line while extending down your neck and around the ear area. Take extra care to use a gentle touch around the eyes. Do not over-scrub or scrub too hard, as your facial skin is susceptible to become easily irritated.
Once the cleansing is completed, rinse liberally with tepid water. Make sure all areas are rinsed including the neck, hairline and eye area. Cool water may be used, as it helps to close the pores. Finish by blotting your face gently with a towel using a patting technique.

How To Use

Lava Magik: As a Daily Cleanser: Use pea sized amount mixed with water, apply to skin. As a Scrub: Twice weekly, apply to wet skin, massage desired areas in circular motion for 30 to 60 seconds. As a Mask: Once or twice weekly. Leave on 5 to 10 minutes. For additional exfoliation, moisten finger tips and massage in a circular motion while removing. Adjust product to water ratio based on skin type. Slightly more product for combination or normal to oily skin and less product for dry, sensitive skin. Rinse thoroughly with warm water. Pat dry. Average days of supply: 30.

Vitamin C Serum: Use morning and night before your moisturizer or as a stand-alone serum. Apply two to three drops in the palm of your hand and massage into face, neck and decollate. Safe for under the eye area. Average days of supply: 60.

Mirakle Cream: Apply as frequently as needed, morning, noon and night to your face, neck, and body. Average days of supply: Depends on use.

Amazebalm: Use as needed, when needed. Apply to face and neck and anywhere extra moisture is needed. Average days of supply: Depends on use.

Ingredients

Lava Magik: Water/Aqua/Eau, Pumice, Glycerin, Stearic Acid, Stearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Glyceryl Stearate SE, Xanthan Gum, Potassium Sorbate, Iron Oxides (CI 77491), Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Carum Petroselinum (Parsley) Extract, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract.

Vitamin C Serum: Water/Aqua/Eau, Glycerin, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate (Vitamin C), Polysorbate 20, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Camellia Sinesis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Humulus Lupulus (Hops) Extract, Marrubium Vulgare Extract, Leontopodium Alpinum (Edelweiss ) Callus Culture Extract, Xanthan Gum, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Sodium Citrate, Allantoin, Panthenol, Borago Officinalis Seed (Starflower) Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Brassica Campestris (Rapeseed)/Aleurites Fordi (Tung) Oil Copolymer, Hippophae Rhamnoides (Sea Buckthorn) Oil, Phenoxyethanol (and) Ethylhexylglycerin, Citrus Limon (Lemon) Oil.

Mirakle Cream: Water/Aqua/Eau, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Stearic Acid, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Cellulose Gum, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Ordenone, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Hydroxide, Glycerin, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Humulus Lupulus (Hops) Strobile, Panthenol, Undariada (Algae) Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Pisum Sativum (Pea) Peptide, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter, Hippophae Rhamnoides (Sea Buckthorn) Seed Oil, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil.

Amazebalm: Water/Aqua/Eau, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Lanolin, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Cetyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Stearyl Alcohol, Humulus Lupulus (Hops) Extract, Oenothera Biennis (Evening Primrose) Oil, Hippophae Rhamnoides (Sea Buckthorn) Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter, Beeswax/Cera Alba/Cire d'abeille, Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Peel Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin.