Facial Skin Care Tips
Facial skin care is more a matter of discipline than anything else.
It is not as complicated as some think. With the right attitude and discipline, one can actually create a facial skin care routine that will help bring about that healthy glow.
Below are just some top tips for you to start.
1. Never sleep while still wearing make-up
This is perhaps the most cardinal rule when it comes to facial care. Make-up that is left on overnight can clog the pores and trap the dead skin cells inside with the hair follicles.
This may cause blackheads and even acne when not treated early. In addition, chemicals on the skin will prevent the skin from regenerating and breathing while you are asleep.
2. Good Night Sleep
They did not call it beauty sleep for nothing. Having the right amount of sleep can actually help the skin regenerate.
This is also the time when the skin can breathe in from going all day with make-up.
3. Balance Diet
Eating lots of fruits and vegetables can help the skin stay supple and soft. In fact, foods that are rich in Vitamin C and E are good for the skin as it serves as excellent anti-oxidants.
4. Moisturize
The skin on the face needs to be kept moisturize all the time as this is the part of the skin that is often exposed to the sun and the harsh environment.
Moisturizing the skin will help prevent the appearance of wrinkles and lines that may let you appear older than you really are.
5. Always keep your skin clean
Although you would not really know for sure if your skin is clean or not, it is always a good idea to practice a little bit of hygiene just so that you can prevent your skin from the onset of acne.
Although some people may survive with only water as facial wash, most people would use soap or cleansers to help keep their skin clean.
Experts recommend that people use mild cleansers on their faces. Remember that the face is very sensitive to irritations.
Women who wear make-up should also include toners, moisturizers and make-up removers in their regimen. These are essentials in keeping acne and pimples at bay.
Well, very simply, a facial skin care routine can follow the following 4 steps:
Cleansing
Toning
Exfoliating
Moisturizing
Cleansing is the first thing in facial skin care routine. Cleansing helps in removing dust, pollutants, grease and extra oil from your skin, thereby preventing damage to your skin.
Just spot your face and neck with a good cleansing lotion or cream and gently massage it into your skin using upward strokes.
Use a soft face tissue or cotton wool to wipe your face in a gentle patting fashion, do not rub.
Cleansing should be done at least twice a day. It could be in the morning as part of complete facial skin care routine and evening on a standalone basis.
Water soluble cleansers are the best for inclusion in your facial skin care routine.
Toning is the next in a facial skin care routine. However, this is the optional part of the facial skin care routine.
Mostly, proper cleansing can compensate for toning. Toning helps remove all traces of dirt, grease, and excess cleanser.
Instead of making it part of your daily facial skin care routine, you can use toning occasionally such as when you have been exposed to the particularly harsh environment or pollution.
Exfoliation is again, kind of, optional step in everyday routine for facial skin care.
However, exfoliation is necessary at least once a week or twice, depending on the skin type and the environmental conditions.
Exfoliation finds its place in facial skin care routine because of the natural tendency of the skin to replenish the skin cells every 3 or 4 weeks.
As a facial skin care technique, exfoliation helps in removing the dead skin cells that block the pores, thus assisting the skin in the natural process.
Beware, excessive or harsh exfoliation can cause damage to your skin. So, you need to balance it out.
The next thing in facial skin care is moisturizing.
In fact, moisturizing is the most important part of facial skin care routine. Moisturizers prevent your skin from getting dry.
Dry skin is really undesirable since it cause the upper layer skin to break, leading to dead skin cells. Again, use light upward strokes to make the moisturizer more effective.
Moisturizers work the best when applied on the warm and damp skin. So do not try to remove all the moisture in the previous steps of facial skin care routine.
6. Use Sunscreen
The sun’s harmful ways can bring much damage to the skin. In fact, the sun is the number one culprit when it comes to wrinkles and fine lines.
It is also the one responsible for the appearance of brown spots, not only on the face but also on the shoulders and on the back.
The sun can destroy the skin’s natural protection.
It may not be visible when you are young but the effects will definitely be seen in later years.
There is also, of course, the danger of developing skin cancer from direct rays of the sun. As uncommon as it may seem, tumors can actually develop on the face.
This is the reason for putting on sunscreen whether you plan to stay outside for long or not, whether it is summer or winter is highly recommended.
It is important that you put sunscreen every day, even when you are not planning to go to the beach or to go out.
Experts recommend the use of sunscreens that have SPH 15 or higher for all day protection.
Choosing a Facial Skin Care Product
Talking about skin care, ‘facial skin care’ seems to top the chart. There are loads of facial skin care products available in the market.
The most common facial skin care products are the ones that are used as part of daily routine. These include things like cleansers and moisturizers.
Toners and exfoliation ones are well known too but not many people use them as such.
The general classification of facial skin care products is based on the following:
Gender: there are facial skin care products for men and there are facial skin care products for women
Skin Type: facial skin products for oily skin, facial skin care products for dry skin, facial skin care products for normal skin and facial skin care products for sensitive skin
Age: facial skin care products for old and facial skin care products for young
Skin Disorder: i.e. facial skin care products for the treatment of various skin orders like eczema, acne etc.
That is your starting point for choosing a facial skin care product that suits you. A good way to start is by determining your skin type first.
Also, note that the skin type changes with age, so the facial skin product that suits you today, might not suit you forever.
Hence, you need to constantly evaluate the effectiveness of your facial skin care product.
Taking great care of your facial skin is easy once you establish the right routine.
Sticking to a regular cleansing, exfoliating, and moisturizing schedule can help you achieve a flawless, smooth complexion that glows with health.
Every person’s skin is unique, so developing your facial care regimen will be likely to require some trial and error.
Knowing thoroughly what different kinds of products do, and what your skin type needs, can help you create the ultimate skin care plan custom designed for your individual complexion.
The first thing to consider when choosing skin care products and coming up with your treatment plan is your skin type.
If you often notice flaking, find your skin is easily irritated, or feel that you are prone to premature wrinkles, you probably have a dry skin type.
If you are vulnerable to acne and blemishes, or find that you constantly need to powder your nose to keep shine at bay, you have an oily skin type.
If, like many people, you have pimples and grease in some areas and irritation and flaking in others, you have combination skin, which usually requires the most individualized care.
Keep your skin type in mind when buying the four products that will make up your skin care routine.
You will need a cleanser to use twice daily, an exfoliant to use a few times per week, a moisturizer to use as needed, and one intensive treatment for weekly use.
The cleanser should wipe away dirt, makeup, and excess oil, and will keep your pores free of clogs.
The exfoliant will slough away dead skin cells that can cloud your visage, and exfoliating will help keep your skin looking youthful and vibrant.
The moisturizer will tackle dryness, redness, and irritation so that you can maintain a silky smooth texture and a fresh, dewy look.
The intensive treatment should be a commercially available or homemade mask that will tackle your biggest skin problem.
The facial skin care products are available in various forms i.e. creams, lotions, gels, masks, and others.
And a lot of people try to pit one against the other in their discussion on which form is best.
However, one can’t really rate one form as better than another form. What suits you and whatever you are comfortable with is the best form of facial skin care product for you, really.
Nevertheless, it’s important to note that these products work differently for different people.
So, the best thing is to try the facial skin care product on a small patch of skin (e.g. ear lobes) before actually going ahead and using it.
For your cleanser, look for a product free from alcohol or other potentially drying agents, and choose the gentlest product possible.
It should be strong enough to cut through excess grease, but not so strong that it strips your face of the natural oils that keep it resilient.
Your exfoliant should be especially designed for facial skin, the most delicate skin on the body. So, don’t try to make your body scrub do double duty on your face.
The moisturizer you pick must be non-comedogenic to keep your complexion clear, and should be water based for maximum effectiveness. Use your moisturizer only when you notice redness or dryness.
For people with dry skin this may mean applying a thin layer after every cleansing, but for others it might mean occasional spot treatments.
Use a mask treatment once a week for a luxurious, deeply penetrating solution to your skin problems.
You can find a mask recipe or premixed product for any issue under the sun.
Whether you’re dominant skin trouble is acne, dryness, or visible wrinkles, or if your skin is in great shape but could use an infusion of nutrients, you will be able to find a treatment ideal for your skin.
Another important consideration is the state of your skin.
If you are suffering from a skin disorder of any kind, it is best to seek the advice of a dermatologist before you actually make your selection and start using a facial skin care product.
Once you have selected the facial skin care product for yourself, you also need to ensure that you use the facial skin care product in the right way.
Follow correct procedures for application, use the correct quantity and make the facial product a part of your skin care routine.
