Cleanse- Wash your skin thoroughly on a daily basis to remove the dirt, debris,
pollutants, and perspiration that has accumulated. Avoid bar soaps as they
tend to dry out the skin. Consider a creamy cleanser for dry skin or a clear
cleanser for oily skin. For normal to oily skin wash with a gentle cleanser. After
you have found a cleanser that works well with your skin type stick to it as much
as possible. If you have dry or sensitive skin, use only warm water to wash your
skin and use a mild natural cleanser every few days. Brushing your teeth before
washing your face is a good practice because toothpaste residue can irritate
sensitive facial skin. Be careful though, not to cleanse too often and remember
to wash at night before going to bed. Most women prefer the water method:
Use warm water to loosen dirt and clogged pores. Use a dime-sized bit of
cleanser, and then rinse with cool or lukewarm water. You'll also want to take
off your makeup with a proper makeup remover.
In the morning, a splash of lukewarm water is all you need (we find it's great for removing excess oils from your nightly moisturizing). Never wash your face with hot or cold water (both can cause broken capillaries). Also be careful about over cleansing skin, see signs you are over cleansing your skin.
Exfoliate- This is a great part of any good skin care routine because the results are immediate when done properly. Most people skip this step in their weekly skincare routine. Scrubs work by removing the top layer of dead skin cells that tend to dull your complexion. Make sure you use a gentle scrub with tiny grains. Big grains in cheap scrubs can tear skin and cause more harm than good. Where the skin is not exfoliated on a daily or weekly basis, dead skin cells build up causing your skin to look dull and older. Some experts recommend exfoliating in the morning, since the skin repairs itself at night, when the dead skin cells can be scrubbed away.
For best results scrub once or twice a week, rubbing in a circular motion for 30 sec. then rinse with lukewarm water. Proper exfoliation means that your foundation will smooth out more cleanly and your moisturizer will soak in more completely.
Moisturize- Unless you have very oily skin it is important that you moisturize every day to keep your skin hydrated and healthy. Your skin needs moisturizer all year long as both the indoor winter heat, and summer sun can be equally damaging to your skin.
Protect- Use a natural sunscreen when possible, regardless of whether or not you plan on spending much time in the sun. Our skin needs sunlight every day but over exposure can have adverse effects. Experts recommend a natural sunscreen or a moisturizer that contains sunscreen with at least an SPF of 15, every day. The sun’s most beneficial rays occur at sunrise and sunset. The skincare experts agree that sunscreen is the most important part of any skincare regimen.
