With skincare, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the endless options on the market. Here at KINS we use ZO Skin Health, a medical-grade skincare brand created by world-renowned dermatologist Dr. Zein Obagi.

ZO cuts through the noise with a structured approach that actually works. At the heart of the ZO philosophy is something called “The Fundamental 5”, a simple yet powerful system designed to restore and maintain healthy skin.
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Dr Louise Smyth

Cleanse

Cleansing is the first and most basic step in any skincare routine. It removes oil, dirt, makeup, and impurities that build up on your skin throughout the day or while you sleep. ZO cleansers are tailored to different skin types, whether you’re oily, dry, or sensitive and are designed to thoroughly clean the skin without stripping it or causing irritation.

Clean skin is the foundation for everything else. Without proper cleansing, the rest of your products won’t work as effectively.

Exfoliate

Exfoliation helps to remove dead skin cells that can clog pores and make your skin look dull. Our skin cycle slows down as we age and we want to keep it working as efficiently as possible. ZO exfoliators are gentle yet effective, promoting cell turnover and keeping the skin smooth, bright, and ready to absorb treatment products.

Removing dead skin regularly helps prevent breakouts, improves texture, and boosts radiance. It also allows your active ingredients to penetrate better.

3. Tone

Toning in ZO isn’t just about balancing pH it’s about oil control, calming the skin, and prepping it for active ingredients. Using ZO Pads or calming toner, is a way to gently exfoliate old dead skin cells and manage oil on our skin. This is often achieved with ingredients like salicylic acid or glycolic acid and other AHA’s BHA’s. With ZO’s emphasis on exfoliation/toning we maintain radiant, fresh skin with this step.

Prevent and Correct

This is where the real skin transformation begins. Then ZO’s Prevent + Correct step includes treatments targeted at specific concerns like acne, hyperpigmentation, fine lines, and sun damage. These products contain powerful ingredients like retinol, antioxidants, and peptides, all aimed at improving skin function and appearance over time. Arguably most importantly with products like daily power defense or illuminating AOX serum, and then adding other products to treat your specific skin concerns.

Whether you’re targeting breakouts, signs of aging, or uneven tone, this step helps correct issues and prevent future damage.

Protect

The final step is all about sun protection. Every skincare routine should end with sunscreen no matter the weather. ZO offers advanced sunscreens that not only protect from UVA and UVB rays but also blue light and infrared damage. Daily sun protection is key to maintaining your results and preventing long-term skin damage, even if you’re indoors most of the day.

The Fundamental 5 in ZO Skin Health isn’t just a routine, it’s a philosophy built around the idea that healthy skin comes from consistency, science, and simplicity. Whether you’re looking to treat acne, aging, dullness, or just want to improve your overall skin health, starting with The Fundamental 5 can give you noticeable, lasting results.

Dr Louise Smyth