Cleanse:
It’s important that you cleanse your skin twice a day. Avoid using soap on the face. Soap often contains ingredients that are harsh and dry. Your skin has a pH value of 5. Most soaps contain a pH value of anywhere from 7 to 10 and this can damage your skin. Instead, choose a product that will cleanse your skin without stripping it of its natural and necessary oils. Avoid products with alcohol, unless your skin is extremely oily.
A cleansing routine is very important. Use your fingertips to lightly spread the cleanser over the face and neck, and then rinse thoroughly. Blot your skin lightly with a soft towel, leaving it slightly damp.
Tone
A toner restores the skin’s pH balance as well as removes traces of make-up and dirt. It closes pores and helps to protect the skin. It also tightens the skin. Avoid toners with alcohol as alcohol can trap molecules in between pores.
Essential oils make excellent toners. Rose water is the best choice for normal, dry or sensitive skin. Witch hazel is also a good choice. Use a small wad of clean cotton to apply the toner or use a spray bottle and lightly mist your face and neck. If your skin is extremely dry, you may want to skip the toner to avoid stripping it of all natural oils. Move on to moisturising while your skin is still damp from the toner.
Moisturise
Most moisturisers work by retaining moisture rather than creating it, so always apply moisturiser while the skin is damp. Use a light moisturiser in the morning before applying make up and, if your skin is dry, use a heavier moisturising cream at night before bed.
Exfoliate
You should exfoliate your face once a week if you have dry or sensitive skin and up to four times a week if you have oily or normal skin. Use a gentle exfoliating facial scrub. Wet your face, and then, using your fingers, rub the cleanser in a circular motion. Avoid the area under the eyes. Rinse with lukewarm water. Follow up by applying moisturiser.
Sun protection
Wear sunscreen every day. A face moisturiser with sunscreen is your greatest defense against ultraviolet rays. Sun damage can age you at a rapid pace. The sun’ s rays can create wrinkles, dark spots and skin darkening. Use a sunscreen with a high SPF factor of at least 15. Wear a hat and sunglasses when you step out.
Mask
You may also want to use a facial mask that is specific to your skin type, once a week. Masks can add moisture to dry skin or reduce excess the oil content in oily skin. You should use a mask after your normal cleansing routine. Again, avoid the eye s. Leave the mask on for 10-15 minutes, and then rinse thoroughly with warm water.
Diet
Your diet should be rich in vitamin E. Take a vitamin E supplement to help maintain your skin’s glow, elasticity and ability to heal. This is very important, especially if you have problems with acne, blemishes like blackheads or cysts.
Sleep
Your skin revives itself when you sleep. Eight hours every night, if possible 10, is ideal. You cannot convert this into five hours on some nights and 11 on the others!
Massage
Massage is an important part of skincare. It helps to keep skin pores healthy and increases the action of the excretory glands, actually helping your skin to cleanse itself. Massage wakes up tissues, perks up every little cell, and creates a nice feeling of calm and well-being.
Elimination
Toxins that are not flushed out of the system show up as poor colour, dark circles under the eyes or skin blemishes. An excellent antidote to constipation is an early-morning drink of lemon juice andwarm water, or a teaspoon of malt vinegar and a tablespoon of honey stirred into glass of hot water.
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