Skin
Care
If you're like
most people, a weekly facial does not fit in your
budget. But healthy, glowing skin doesn't have
to be the exclusive possession of those who can
afford professional skin care. Developing a routine
that keeps your particular skin clean, hydrated,
and protected can help you look your best. A good
daily skin care routine shouldn't take more than
10 minutes a day.
Following is a list of some steps you should incorporate
into your daily skin care routine that will help
to keep your skin looking and feeling healthy,
clear and youthful.
Determine
Your Skin Type and Pick Appropriate Products
Step 1 - Cleansing
Step 2 - Toning
Step 3 - Moisturizing
Step 4 - Protection
Feeding the Skin
Normal:
Skin is velvety, with small pores and no visible
acne.
Oily: Skin has enlarged pores with shiny patches.
Frequent breakouts may occur on the face, back,
arms and possibly the chest.
Dry:
Skin has very small, invisible pores with possible
dry and itchy patches. The cheeks, arms, legs,
chest and belly may be particularly dry.
Combination:
Skin is dry across the cheeks and oily on the
forehead, chin and nose. Arms may be dry and back
may be oily.
Sensitive:
Skin is either oily or dry with irritated and
itchy patches. Skin may also be blotchy and reddened
with frequent breakouts.
If you're not sure what type of skin you have,
ask your dermatologist or a skin care professional.
Note that skin on the body may be a different
type than facial skin.
Once
your skin is classified, you should choose products
formulated for your skin type and use them in
your daily routine. The four steps in your daily
skin care routine should be cleansing, toning,
moisturising and protecting.
Step
1 - Cleansing
For the face, any type of soap works fine to remove
dirt but may not work as well to remove make-up.
Instead, choose a facial cleansing agent in cream,
water-based emulsion, lotion, or gel form that's
formulated for your particular skin type. There
are many different products on the market so you
may want to try a few brands before you settle
down on one that works best for you. Those with
drier skin may want to choose cream or lotion
products; those with oilier skin may want to use
gel or water-based products. Those prone to breakouts
may wish to use medicated soaps or lotions designed
to reduce breakouts.
First,
splash your face with warm water to open the pores.
Apply your cleansing product to the skin in gentle
upward strokes (to avoid stretching the skin and
aggravating wrinkles), rinsing thoroughly with
warm water for several minutes. If you use a product
that must be applied with cotton balls or a cleansing
towel, again, use gentle upward strokes and rinse
thoroughly with warm water. Finish with a splash
or two of cold water to close the pores.
This
routine is same for the body. Cleanse your skin
in the bath and shower with a cleansing product
formulated for the body. Rinse with warm water
and finish up with a dip or splash of cold.
Step
2 - Toning
Follow-up your cleansing routine with a facial
toner, which removes any residual greasiness still
left on the skin from your make-up or your cleansing
product. It also closes the pores, stimulates
circulation, and gives the skin a porcelain-like
quality. There are a variety of toners on the
market so try to choose one that's formulated
for your skin type. Apply the toner with a cotton
ball, using the same gentle, upward strokes that
you used to apply your cleanser.
Only
those with very oily skin need to use a toner
on the body. If you have oily skin and breakouts
on areas of your body, try using a toner formulated
for use on the body. Otherwise, skip to moisturising.
Step
3 - Moisturising
All skin types, even oily skin, need a moisturiser
everyday. But like toners and cleansers, there
are different types of moisturisers for different
types of skin. If you have dry skin you should
choose a moisturiser containing oil (such as petrolatum);
if you have oily skin you should choose water-based
creams and oil-free formulations. You may also
wish to choose different moisturisers for the
face and body; facial moisturisers tend to be
more expensive and complex for your most delicate
skin.
Many
moisturising creams contain alpha-hydroxyl acids
(AHAs), which are fruit- and milk-based acids
that help to remove the dull layer of surface
skin and expose fresh skin below. AHAs can reduce
the appearance of pores and fine wrinkles. If
you have sensitive skin, you may wish to avoid
these products since they can cause breakouts.
If
you have sensitive skin you should look for hypoallergenic
products, which are usually free of perfumes and
dyes that can cause skin irritation. If you go
out in the sun daily, it's a good idea to choose
a moisturiser containing a sunscreen.
The
moisturiser should be applied to the face in upward
strokes. Apply to the body in gentle strokes,
applying the most moisturiser to your belly, chest,
calves, thighs, and forearms.
(Continued
on next week)
Source:
YahooHealth |