You might have heard it in science class or read it in a blurb from some magazine, but it’s true: your skin is your body’s largest organ. It is our first layer of defense and also our first and most prominent presentation of ourselves to the outside world. While we may use makeup and cosmetics to highlight our natural features and to hide the occasional imperfection, no amount of free makeup tips can take the place of good skincare. It is absolutely paramount to anyone’s beautifying efforts.

Consider your skin to be a canvas upon which you are creating your masterpiece. You would be considered crazy to begin painting on a weather-beaten surface. Therefore, the fresh start you should give to your skin is no different. Even an arsenal of Fifth Avenue’s finest foundations and blushes will wind up looking awful on rough, dirty, or oily skin. A good makeup product’s job is to showcase our positive attributes, but it can’t do all the work on its own.

Luckily good skincare tips include a combination of common sense and low maintenance. Your skin does not need to be scrubbed raw, boiled, or treated to a constant chemical bath to be clean. Keep it simple with a gentle cleanser, a mild exfoliant no more than once daily, and an appropriate moisturizer for your skin type. One fantastic and natural exfoliating tip is to combine a teaspoon of baking soda with your regular cleanser to take care of two skincare steps at once.

Beauty rest is no myth. Make sure to get a proper amount of sleep to keep your skin from looking sallow or puffy. Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water and your skin will glow. And never go to bed with your makeup still applied. Your skin loves to breathe (and needs to!) while you sleep, and besides, your pillowcases and unclogged pores will thank you.