Saturday, October 18, 2008

Skin Care

The first step to skin care is to identify your skin type and then follow the prescribed medication and method to care for it.

If you desire a good skin, you really need to make a concerted effort towards the same. It should become a habit. Besides a healthy diet, composed of cereals, fruits and vegetables along with exercise and adequate sleep is essential for a healthy skin.

Do avoid going out in the sun and if you need to, begin using a sunscreen to protect your skin from getting damaged.

Drink 8-10 glasses of water daily, to keep your skin hydrated.

As a guideline your skin needs two staples: Cleanser and Moisturizer.

Other products might include-toner, exfoliator and eye cream or gels.

Avoid using more than three or four products daily to protect your skin from breaking out and reacting. Simplify your routine (it should not take more than 10 minutes to do twice a day) and use basic formulas.

TONING

Always follow the cleansing routine with toning done with a mild skin freshener, rose water or skin tonics. Toning removes the greasiness remaining from cleansing preparations, closes open pores refines the skin giving it a smooth clean texture.

Toning stimulates the blood supply of the skin and give it a fresh look the best toner is in fact cold water, other skin tonics are generally composed of infusions of herbs, flowers, vinegar, rose-water and witch-hazel. Avoid using strong skin tonics or astringents as they might dry the skin. Basically they are suitable for oily-skin type.

Toners improves skin textures.

MOISTURIZING

All skin types need some type of moisturizing. Ideally used water based creams or emulsions if your skin breaks out a lot, try a lighter, oil-free moisturizer.

The best choice of a moisturizer is that which has a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 15. Petrolatum, an ingredient used in many lotions and creams is an excellent moisturizer, because it helps seal in the skin's natural moisture. Because moisturizers contain different ingredients, no particular product is best for everyone. You may have to try several before you find one that is most effective for you.

A light moisturizing emulsion is the most suitable type for young skin

Moisturizers work best only if they are applied everyday. Many moisturizing creams contain alpha-hydroxy acid (also present in milk, fruits and sugar) which might help diminish wrinkles.

To sum up begin by practicing these guidelines to keep your skin healthy and prevent it from becoming dry.

· Use warm (not hot) water for washing and bathing.

· Use mild soaps.

· Do not bathe for longer than is necessary to get your skin clean.

· Apply moisturizer immediately after bathing to prevent water loss from the skin.

· In winters, cover your hands and face by wearing gloves and scarf to keep in the moisture and protect against cold.

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