TotalBeauty.com readers always grill me on two things: How to treat acne and how to fight the signs of aging. Let's get this straight for the record.

If you have acne-prone skin, the simple act of maintaining the right regimen will stop the breakout cycle. That means continuing to use the products after your skin has cleared up. Too often, women think they're cured and stop treatment, which starts the breakout cycle again. So find a system of products you like and buy a lifetime supply.

If aging is your main concern, a routine actually trains your skin to act younger. Here's what you need to use for day: cleanser, antioxidant serum, eye cream and moisturizer with SPF 30 or greater. At night, use cleanser, retinoid, eye cream and moisturizer. If you're like me, you add a few extra products -- like a skin oil, beauty lotion and brightening serum -- to the mix. Regardless, consistency is the secret ingredient; it's like a personal trainer for your face.

Alright, so you're using sunscreen, but your skin can also be damaged by pollution. That's where an antioxidant serum comes in.

On especially cloudy days or days when you're not outside, an antioxidant might be more important than sunscreen. Layer your antioxidant under moisturizer and it will protect you from free radicals, which break down collagen -- the stuff that keeps babies' cheeks so pinch-able.

Just because your best friend, mom or hundreds of reviewers on a website say a product is good doesn't mean it will work for you. I test a lot of products for my job and it doesn't matter how much I want to like something -- if it doesn't work for me, I stop using it. That means I either toss it or give it to a friend to keep myself from reusing it in three months, when the memory of my skin's bad reaction has dimmed.

This is why speaking to a beauty advisor before purchasing helps; they can help you identify whether it's right for your skin type. If you're an online shopper, many websites offer live chats where you can talk to an expert while you shop. And if you're product-obsessed, plan to do a purge at the start of every season. You'll cut down on clutter, simplify your routine and make space for a whole new batch of beauty buys.

If you don't exfoliate regularly, your skin care products can't penetrate your skin and do their best work.

In recent years, scrubs have felt too harsh on my skin. Now, I use a gentle cleansing brush or washcloth to gently exfoliate while I cleanse. Since you're washing your face, anyway, exfoliating isn't really an extra step, it's just something you need to remember to do regularly.

If you don't have the time to go to an actual spa, set aside 30 minutes to do a treatment at home. Apply a face mask to give your skin extra moisture or brightness. It's as much about the emotional experience as the skin-care benefits, since relaxation is a powerful anti-ager.