Of the following steps, which comes first in a basic facial procedure?

In a basic facial procedure, the first step is to cleanse the face. Cleansing effectively removes dirt, oil, and makeup from the skin's surface, preparing the skin for subsequent treatments. This step is crucial as it ensures that the skin is clean and free from impurities, which helps enhance the effectiveness of other products applied during the facial.

After the skin is cleansed, other steps like exfoliation, toning, and moisturizing can take place. For instance, exfoliation follows cleansing to remove dead skin cells, and toner is applied to balance the skin's pH levels and further cleanse it. Moisturizer is then applied to hydrate and nourish the skin. Without proper cleansing first, the efficacy of these subsequent steps can be compromised.