| Many people take their skin for granted. The skin has several basic needs. First, it needs to be kept as clean as possible. Second, the skin needs to be protected from sunlight and other environmental insults. The skin of the face needs even more attention than the rest of the body because the face has more oil glands, especially the central forehead, eye areas, nose and chin. Skin needs tender loving care no matter what age it is. The better you treat it, the better it'll look and the longer it will last.
A poor diet can aggravate skin problems. If you’ve been ignoring your fruits and veggies in favor of cookies and chips, you can’t expect a smooth clear skin. If you start making changes in your diet, you should begin to see results in just a few weeks. While foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, Vitamin A, and Vitamin E have been scientifically proven to promote healthy skin, any food that’s good for your
body will be good for your skin. The human body is over 75 percent water, so dehydration can visibly affect the appearance of your skin. When asked for their favorite skin care tips, most experts recommend drinking 64 ounces of water each day. However, active people may need even more fluids to prevent dehydration. Unfortunately, drinking sodas or other caffeinated beverages doesn’t offer the same benefits as increasing your water consumption. If you can’t stomach the taste of plain tap water, try adding a splash of lemon or lime.
Contrary to popular belief, not all skin care products are created equal. To care for your skin, you need to choose products designed for your skin type. There are three basic skin types: oily, dry and normal. If your skin is oily, using a product made for people with dry skin will only aggravate your skin care problems by adding excess moisture to your skin. Most of us know that sun exposure has immediate positive and
negative effects on the skin. The positive effects include a sense of warmth and pleasure and Vitamin D production. The medium and longer term effects are negative.
The basic face care requires just simple three steps which are Cleansing, Toning and Moisturizing. Below are some information regarding each of these steps.
Cleanse your face with a gentle, creamy liquid cleanser. Bar soap is not only drying, but it's not hygienic. The dirt that comes off your hands ends up on your face. Put your liquid cleanser on a ball of cotton and then apply it to your skin. Make sure you rinse with lukewarm water because hot water can aggravate the skin and inflame capillaries.
In the old days, toner was analogous to harsh. But there are a multitude of toners on the market today that are gentle and formulated to balance the skin. Use a gentle toner over your face and neck after you have rinsed thoroughly. This removes the last traces of your cleanser and restores the pH balance of the skin so it won't over-secrete or under-secrete oil. For oily or combination skin, you can use a toner that is more astringent. For oily skin, look for ingredients like witch hazel. It's true they are drying, but oily complexions may need this drying effect. Toners remove all traces of dirt, make-up or cleanser that remain after cleansing.
Regularly moisturizing your skin is critical to maintaining young and healthy looking skin. Another very important reason to wear a daily moisturizer is for protection against the sun's damaging rays. Moisturizers should be used every morning and every night for maximum results. Nighttime is the best time to apply repairing treatments such as anti-aging or anti-wrinkle creams. During the day, make sure you use a moisturizer that contains an SPF of at least 15. Without moisture, the skin will not remain smooth and supple. The face is exposed to the drying effect of the weather, so moisturizers -- which form a film over the skin -- contain and augment the natural moisture. |
