Repeat after me " Washing my face everyday is one of the most important things I can do for my skin". Now say it again- and again, and again! I say this because so many of us (myself included, until I came to my senses in my 20's) do not take care of our face like we should and we wonder why the breakouts still happen, why our pores are blocked, and why we look like we have pepper sprinkled all over our noses! (which are blocked pores full of dead skin and dirty oils- YUCK!) Whether you're an avid makeup wearer or an au-natural girl, washing our faces when we wake up and before bed is one of the secrets to great skin. But I'm not just talking about soap and water- no, we have to get to the bottom of it all, and by bottom, I mean all the gunk that piles up beneath the top surface of our skin, hiding in the crevices of our pores and seeping through to the second layer of our skin. I'm painting a pretty picture, aren't I? Here are the 5 things you probably aren;t doing and should be doing to take better of your skin now so you'll slow down the hands of time and have your youthful glow for years to come! You're using the wrong facial cleanser: All skin is not created equal, so neither are facial cleansers. An effective face washing routine consists of the appropriate cleanser to tackle the specific skin type and issues that want to be resolved. For those with oily skin, stay away from cleansers that are for dry skin because the extra moisture control can trigger your oil production. For those with acne prone skin, look for cleaners that have salycic acid, an ingredient used to kill the bacteria associated with acne and breakouts. Those with dry skin will want creamy, high moisture cleaners, such as facial bars, to help retain moisture while stripping away oil and dirt. *Quick Tip: you don't need to spend big bucks on your facial cleanser. Choose something simple that meets your skin type needs and save your money for more important products, like face treatments and serums. You're not exfoliating: Washing the face is not enough to really get to the underlying dirt, oil, and bacteria that may still be lingering underneath your skin. An exfoliator is made to remove the top layer of dead skin cells and expose the healthier "new" skin underneath, allowing your face to breathe and giving you that "glow" that we see on healthy skin. Many companies make exfoliating cleansers that are made with gritty ingredients, such as walnut shell, that help with exfoliation. Or you can choose to buy a face exfoliator to use in conjunction with your facial cleanser. A little more expensive, but these little machines pack a powerful punch! You're not using the right face creams/moisturizers: For a face cream to be most effective, apply when face is freshly washed and skin is still slightly damp. Do not rub the face- pat away moisture with a soft towel to prevent tugging the skin and irritating the face. Products are easily absorbed on damp skin, allowing the key ingredients to penetrate the top layer of the skin. Just as with facial cleanser, choosing the correct cream for your specific skin type is crucial. Use face treatments, masks, and patches to address more crucial problem areas: Soap, toners, and creams only go so far, so to tackle problem areas try products for specific needs. Pore strips are great for those who get black heads around the nose area. Clay masks are great at pulling out toxins in our skin and leaving our face with a new "layer" of skin that seems to glow from within. Find your specific skin type, problems areas you want to address, and add them to your face washing beauty regimen. These are not to be done a daily basis- like all things, too much of a good thing can be bad for you, so too many face treatment can strip your skin of natural oils and moisture, which will just cause your skin to grow worse. Once a week a mask is recommended, and 2 times a week using pore strips should be enough. I don't know about you, but after writing this post, i feel like washing my face one more time! Take care of your skin- it's the only one you got! Plus, a clean face equals a better makeup application :)
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When I'm not spending way too much time getting ready or drooling over the newest beauty product, I'm a stay at home mom of a rambunctious 4 year old boy, a sweet baby girl we lovingly call "sissy", and a wife to my high school sweetheart. Archives
August 2014
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