Facial Skin Care Routines
Facial skin care is simply the matter of getting into a routine and sticking to it. Anything new can seem hard to get used to until so making the commitment to it is the most important part. Before you know it, this simple routine will be as second nature as getting in and out of bed is. Daily steps are cleansing and moisturizing but in an effective manner. Toning and exfoliating are steps that are occasional depending on need.
Your first step in your facial skin routine is cleansing. Washing your face removes dirt, irritants, dead cells, oil build up, makeup and any other pollutants. These culprits are waiting to attack your pores clogging them up and creating pimples or acne. You may be wondering what the big deal is since you probably scrub your face in the shower with any old bar soap but in reality that is not the proper way. The wrong soap will lead to dry skin and scrubbing too hard can damage your skin and aid in creating wrinkles. Cleansing should be done in a gentle manner with a mild cleanser that is right for your face type. It’s best to wash your face twice a day for normal, combination or oily skin with lukewarm water. For dry skin rinse in the morning with cool water but cleanse at night with lukewarm water and cleanser. Use upward strokes massaging the cleanser in with your fingers and rinse. Pat dry your face with a clean towel leaving slightly damp instead of rubbing your face completely dry.
Moisturizing is important and most effectively applied just after washing and while skin is still slightly damp. This allows the moisturizer to penetrate deeper into your layers of skin fighting dryness. Your skin will be hydrated aiding the elasticity which in turn fights the battle against wrinkles. Look for a good moisturizer specific to your skin type and one with SPF to fight UV effects. Once again when applying, use gentle upward strokes. We want to work against gravity not help it.
Exfoliation helps us to remove the layer of dead skin cells that occur as a natural process of our skin replenishing itself. You want to remove these dead skin cells so that they don’t clog up your pores. This also helps to keep your skin balanced and helps encourage cell turnover. Exfoliating should be done once a week but can be done twice a week for most skin types. If you have sensitive skin or oily/acne prone skin you should avoid exfoliating as this can be too abrasive or make acne worse. Harsh or over exfoliating will damage your skin so as with all other steps be gentle and don’t over do it. Using a simple wash cloth is sufficient in effectively exfoliating.
Toning should only be used by those with extremely oily skin as they produce excessive amounts of oil. Toners can be too harsh and remove too much of your natural oil that is needed on other skin types and cause dryness. Remember that moisturizers are always applied after washing, exfoliating or toning even at night. You are helping retain balance in your skin with proper hydration.