Now that summer is over, it’s time to get serious about caring for your skin. September means back to school and back to work, making it a perfect time to establish a routine for good skin care habits. Here are a few of the most important habits to start incorporating into your day:

Cleansing: A building block for healthy skin is a daily cleansing routine.  The number one rule is to cleanse at night, removing make up, dirt and oil buildup from your day.  In the morning, depending on your skin type, you should wash again or simply splash with water.

Add in some modern technology for a truly deep clean: Clarisonic Sonic Skin Cleansing removes six times more make up and two times more dirt and oil than manual cleansing alone.  Removing these impurities has been shown to allow a 61% better absorption of Vitamin C and other skin care products.  This month, Clarisonic Sonic Cleansers are on sale at Jinsei. Both the Pro, regularly $195, and the Mia, regularly $149, are both on sale for $130.

Exfoliating: An often overlooked part of a skin care routine, regular exfoliation sloughs away dead skin, leaving a gorgeous glow.  How often you exfoliate will depend on your skin type, but a good rule of thumb is once a week.

Be careful when choosing an exfoliator: skip those with crushed walnut shells, which can make micro lacerations on the skin.  Also, any manual exfoliator can irritate the skin if applied with too much pressure or for too long.  A good exfoliator should do the work without needing pressure when you apply it.

Exercise: You may be wondering what that Zumba class has anything to do with your skin. By promoting healthy blood circulation, exercise helps nourish skin cells.  Regular workouts can also ease stress, thereby reducing some skin conditions exacerbated by stress, like acne and eczema.

Nutrition: You’ve heard the phrase “you are what you eat.”  That saying most definitely applies to your skin.  Many foods help promote healthy skin.  Salmon, walnuts and flax seed, for instance, deliver essential fatty acids, which are responsible for healthy cell membranes. The stronger the membrane, the better your skin cells can hold in moisture, which translates into plumper, younger looking skin.  Other skin care stars: berries, low-fat dairy, green tea, tuna fish and avocados.

Sun Protection: Come autumn, it’s easy to think you can slack on the amount of sunscreen you apply. But even on cloudy days, it’s important to protect your skin from the sun’s rays.  Have two moisturizers on hand: one with UV protection for the day and another without it for nighttime.

Here are two more September Specials at Jinsei that are all about helping you take care of your skin:

Blemish Blaster Facial: Includes a salicylic peel to ease inflammation and decongest skin.  1 hour facial for $90, plus free samples of X-Trap Cleanser, Immaculate Mist and Fixzit Blemish Drying Serum.

Age Arrester: A banana and rice peel smooths away dull, dry skin  and replenishes with firming peptides.  1 hour facial for $100, plus free samples of X-Trap Cleanser, Molecular Mist and Sircuit Addict Firming Anti-Aging Serum.