Next to eating well and exercising, maintaining a healthy complexion is
one of the key ways to look our best. Taking
care of your skin doesn’t
have to be an expensive (or time-consuming) endeavor. These days,
high-quality skincare
products are available at any drugstore,
formulated for oily, normal or dry skin types. While the individual
ingredients of each product may differ depending on what your skin
needs, a basic skin care regime involves four simple steps: cleanse,
tone, moisturize and exfoliate. Whether or not you need all four steps
will depend on your skin type and preferences.CleansingProper
cleansing to remove dirt, makeup and pollution should be the core of
every skin care routine. Try to wash your face twice daily, usually in
the morning and then again before going to bed at night. (If your skin
is dry, you can skip the morning wash and simply use water and a soft
face cloth or a moisturizing, cream-based cleanser.) Use lukewarm water
to keep irritation to a minimum and avoid harsh cleansers, even if your
skin is oily. Strong detergents like sodium
lauryl sulfate, soap, and alcohol strip the moisture barrier from the
skin’s surface, leaving it vulnerable to irritation and damage. Always
use a gentle touch and don’t rub too much.ToningIt is
only necessary to use a toner (or astringent) if you skin is oily and
still feels sticky after cleansing. Alcohol-based toners will strip
away all the oil on the surface, leaving your skin dry and irritated.
This dryness will actually prompt your skin to make even more oil, so
it’s a vicious cycle. If you wish to use a toner, select one for
sensitive skin and use it sparingly.While some companies would
like you to believe that using a toner can change the size of your
pores, this is not true. Pores can appear enlarged because of a buildup
of dirt and oil, but using a toner will not immediately make them
appear smaller. Proper cleansing and exfoliating will help keep your
pores clear, thereby improving their appearance over time.MoisturizingMoisturizing
is an optional step for many people. If you have oily skin, you don’t
need to add any additional moisture. You may decide to moisturize
around your eyes however, but this is a matter of personal choice.
Normal skin can benefit from an oil-free moisturizer that won’t clog
the pores but again, this is up to personal preference. Dry skin
sufferers need to moisturize often however, to soothe tightness and
minimize lines. While no moisturizer can prevent wrinkles and lines, it
can “plump up” the skin and make existing lines less noticeable. Some
moisturizers contain light-diffusing ingredients that soften the
appearance of lines and make them seem to disappear.ExfoliatingYour
skin is constantly renewing itself and shedding off dead cells. As you
age, however, the rate at which your cells turn over slows down,
resulting in a dull, dreary skin tone. Exfoliating, or sloughing,
speeds up the process and produces a brighter, rosier complexion.There
are two basic ways to exfoliate: physical or chemical. Physical
exfoliation involves using a grainy facial scrub or buffer pads. Be
careful when selecting an exfoliating product, as it is very easy to go
overboard and treat the skin too roughly. Stay away from products
containing ground up nut shells or apricot shells, as these have jagged
edges that could damage the skin. Try a product with exfoliating beads
instead, which are round and much gentler. Exfoliate with a scrub or a
buffing pad only once or twice a week.Chemical exfoliation uses
Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA) or Beta Hydroxy Acid (BHA) to loosen and
remove dead skin cells. With chemical exfoliation, less is more. Use
these lotions sparingly, as it is very easy to irritate the skin. If
your skin becomes red and flaky or stings excessively, reduce the
amount of product you’re using or apply it every other day instead of
daily. Alpha hydroxy creams and lotions may help with fine lines,irregular pigmentation and age spots and may improve the appearance of
pores by dissolving dirt and oil. Beta hydroxy acid (or salicylic acid)
tends to be gentler on the skin and also does a good job at improving
texture and skin tone.Don''t Forget to Wear Your VitaminsWhile
scientists once thought that vitamin molecules were too large to be
absorbed by the skin, vitamin-enriched skin care products are now
commonplace.Number one for effectiveness is retinol (a
derivative of Vitamin A), which has a molecular structure small enough
to reach the lower layers of the skin, where collagen and elastin are
produced. Retinol improves skin tone, treats fine lines and wrinkles
and improves texture.Vitamin C is another complexion
powerhouse. It helps minimize fine lines, scars and wrinkles. It has
also been shown to reverse sun damage. Be very choosy when picking a
Vitamin C product for your skin because the vitamin is very unstable
and breaks down when exposed to oxygen, making it useless. Look for one
in opaque packaging to minimize exposure to the elements and close the
bottle tightly after use.A derivative of Niacin called
nicotinamide has been shown to improve the skin’s ability to hold
moisture, while another derivative called niacinamide helps with
hyperpigmentation or excess melanin in the skin. It is useful for
fading age spots and fighting the signs of sun damage.Several
products containing Vitamin K have come to market recently as
treatments for dark circles (or "bags) under the eyes. Vitamin K is
important for blood clotting but it has not yet been decisively proven
to minimize dark circles.Properly caring for your skin care
may take a few extra minutes each day, but the benefits far outweigh
the amount of time you invest. Taking care of your skin is the best way
to fight the signs of aging and you will reap the benefits for years to
come!