How to Take Care of Your Skin

Your skin is on show all the time so it is very important to take good care of it. An adequate cleansing and moisturizing routine is a must. Soap and water are not the best things to use on your face because the skin is delicate. There are many kinds of lotions and potions on the market and many people have no idea which ones are most suitable for their skin. First of all, you need to find out what type of skin you have –  dry, oily or combination. Dry skin feels dry and can feel papery. Oily shin is prone to spots and grease and is often shiny. Combination skin usually means that you have dry cheeks and an oily "T" Zone (nose, forehead and chin). Most skincare products offer products for each type of skin.

Your skin should ideally be cleansed twice a day. You can get various kinds of cleansers, including gels, bars (like soap), milks and creams. Some are to be washed off with water and others removed with cotton wool. After cleansing, you should tone your skin. This tightens the pores and removes the last traces of the cleanser. Toners are usually liquid. Alcohol-free toners are the kindest, especially if you have dry areas on your face. After toning, you need to moisturize. Generally, moisturizers are creamier and richer if they are designed for anti-aging or older, drier skin. You might like to choose a moisturizer containing sunscreen if you spend a lot of time outdoors because the sun ages your skin quickly. Eye gels and creams are good for moisturizing the eye area because it is more delicate than the rest of the face and some moisturizers will be too rich and make your eyes puffy or sting.

A lot of people like to use exfoliating products or facial masks once or twice a week to revive the skin and remove dead cells to leave you with a brighter complexion. You can find products to suit your skin type or make your own!  If you mix some brown sugar with some liquid glycerin or massage oil, this makes an effective scrub for your body. The glycerin or massage oil makes it easy and comfortable to use and it moisturizes your skin. The sugar sloughs off any dead skin cells. You can add some lavender, vanilla or orange essential oil to make it smell nice and give it some zing! For a face scrub, you can mix 2 tablespoons of ground oats (or grind whole oats in a coffee grinder or blender) with 2 tablespoons of aloe vera, 2 teaspoons of brown sugar and 1 teaspoon of lemon juice. Wet your face with warm water, massage this mixture on to it and rinse away. You can use a banana as a face pack. Simply mash one up (not one with black spots), apply for 20 minutes and wash off. Bananas contain plenty of vitamins and potassium and make your skin soft and smooth.

Do you worry about your skin aging? There are also some very expensive anti-aging creams on the market but often a $20 anti-aging cream competes quite well with a $200 anti-aging cream, so don’t think more expensive is always better! There are some natural ways to prevent wrinkles and make your skin look young. Sleeping with more than one pillow can lead to wrinkling around the neck and a double chin. Many people frown without realizing it. Practice holding your face still. Work on your posture and always try to sit or stand up straight. This means that unnecessary pressure are not put on your face and neck if you slouch to the front or side. The sun can lead to premature aging, as can smoking. The sun dries out your face, sunburn doing permanent damage to the skin structure and smoking deprives your skin of oxygen.

Many people suffer from acne at some time in their lives. Acne is very common and affects up to 80% of people. It can appear as yellow or red spots, whiteheads, blackheads, greasy skin or scars. It typically affects the skin on the face, back, neck, chest and arms and can vary in severity. Acne treatments are designed to treat the spots on the skin and stop new ones from appearing. There is no "instant cure" for acne. The most important thing if you are a sufferer is to keep the affected area scrupulously clean. Wash twice a day with an unperfumed cleanser and don’t pick at your spots or touch your face. If your hair is usually worn over your face, tie it back, because the oils can make the acne on your face worse. You can try over the counter remedies but if your acne is severe, or you have had it longer than 8 weeks, it is time to visit your doctor or a dermatologist for further help.

There are many myths about acne, such as that it is caused by eating too much chocolate or having poor hygiene. This is not true and even non-chocolate eating people with an excellent skincare regimen can suffer from it! Diet is a factor in the condition of your skin and a healthy, balanced diet tends to result in better skin than if you live off junk food. Drinking at least 8 glasses of water each day is important to flush toxins from your system. You can add cordial or fruit juice if you don’t like drinking plain water. Some people swear by natural acne remedies. One such remedy, which is widely available, is aloe vera. It contains 20 amino acids and alkaloids, which soothe and moisturize the skin. Dong Quai helps to bring blood to the dermis and stimulates the circulation. Herba Lamnae inhibits the growth of unwanted bio-cultures and helps to eliminate waste from the skin. Some medications make acne worse. These include anticonvulsants, immunosuppressants, sobriety medications, some birth control pills and anabolic steroids. Tell your doctor if you are taking any of these and have acne and perhaps he can recommend something else to treat the other condition.