With the summer behind us and the cold weather approaching, it may be time for a reset for your skin. While it seems there are a never-ending number of recommendations and products to try, the reality is that too many options can be overwhelming. The question then becomes, what are the basics essential for your skin, especially as your skin ages along with the rest of your body?

NPR recently ran a comprehensive story on how to get back to basics when it comes to skincare. While consumer spending on beauty products has skyrocketed in recent years, the reality is that skincare, like all aspects of healthy aging, boils down to some common-sense recommendations that center around cleansing, treatment, and protection. While there are an array of cleansers to consider, the protection element involves one major effort: avoid direct sunlight and always wear sunscreen (even in the winter), both to lower your risk of skin cancer and minimize the aging damage that can accompany sun exposure. Treatment depends upon what your skincare goals are: Do you want to prevent skin aging? Keep skin from getting too dry or itchy in the winter? Clear up signs of adult acne (which a recent New York Times article from Jane Brody addresses in great detail)? NPR advises that patience and consistency are critical to seeing progress in your skincare goals. In fact, they suggest you give products at least 3 months before determining whether a product works for you, and for simplicity’s sake, look for products that combine active ingredients, so you lessen the number of products you use (for example, your moisturizer can also include sunscreen).

What else is essential for healthy skin as you age? Tufts University reminds us that the best way to care for your skin- which is the body’s largest organ- is to stick to a healthy diet. As their Health and Nutrition Newsletter reminds us, “The things we take into our body play a role in collagen production, wound healing and helping promote cell turnover…Food also provides antioxidants that help against photo-aging, wrinkles, even skin cancer.” For some good ideas about the types of healthy food your skin deserves, check out the recently published Tufts University Food Compass.

And if you’re in the market for new products to fall in love with, there’s never a shortage of suggestions. Medical News Today gives you guidance about how to choose the best products, and what ingredients to look for, depending upon your skin type. And understanding ingredients is essential for specific skincare problems. For some extra help, Allure gives you some insights into how to understand the clinical evidence beneath the claims that different products make. Finally, for some tried and true recommendations from the personal medicine cabinet of a 47-year-old dermatologist, clear your bathroom counter and click here.