Cleanse twice a day.
In the morning, cleanse your face in the shower. This is important because skin works over time at night. If your skin is oily, it produces the most oil while you are sleeping. If you put make up on top of oil produced from the night before, bacteria can get trapped in between and cause a bacteria build up. If skin is dry, a moisturizing cleanser helps restore moisture that you lose at night in cold weather or with the air conditioning running all night. If your skin has any grade of acne, cleansing the skin in the morning and before bed is vital. We don't physically feel blemishes growing underneath our skin. It happens overnight or during the day under our make up or sweat we produce. Cleansing the skin in the morning starts the process of combating whatever happened during the night. Cleansing before bed gets rid of make up residue. Men's skin tends to be oilier than women's but doesn't get the make up build up that women do. Women, don't forget to take off eye make up! Men, a good cleanse after a work out is a good rule of thumb.
Use a toner.
There are several reasons to use a toner or a gentle astringent after cleansing the skin. A cleanser does not necessarily get everything off the skin, especially if the cleanser is foamy product. Keep in mind that foam only sits on top of the skin; the cleanser underneath is doing the actual cleaning of the top layer of skin, the epidermis. Toning the skin with a mild product after you cleanse, not only balances your ph, but also helps to get extra dirt, oil and make up off the skin that your cleanser didn't get. Use a cotton pad for best results. A brownish color will usually appear. This is dirt, bacteria, pollution and old make up. Guys should tone their skin too. Toning will steer oil build up around the nose, and larger porous areas on the skin. Toning prepares skin for the next step of your routine whether it's a mask or a moisturizer.
Moisturize.
Think of your skin as a plum. What happens to a plum when it doesn't get any moisture? It turns into a wrinkly prune. This happens to our skin too. Moisture is essential to all living thing and this includes your face and body. All skin types need moisture. There are two types of dry skin. Dry and moisture deficient, being that your skin does not produce the moisture it needs. Both types need a good moisturizer to replenish what is not naturally there. Dry skin that flakes and gets little moisture becomes dehydrated. When your insides become dehydrated, what does it do? It acts out, you get sick. Skin does the same, it acts out, it flakes, it breaks out and becomes irritated or itchy. On the flip side, people who have oily or acneic skin don't think they need moisture. Think again! Your skin is constantly producing oil. When you cleanse, tone and try to get rid of the visible oil, because you think that is what is making you break out, your skin immediately starts to replenish the oil that you have just gotten rid of. An “oily” plum will most certainly still turn into a wrinkly prune, it just might take a little longer. A dab of a very light or gel based moisturizer will keep the skin healthy. It is very important to moisturize after shaving the face or legs. Your skin will thank you in 40 years!
Exfoliate.
We have all heard this term, now do it! It's easy. This goes for the face and body. Once a week is fine, twice a week is better! First, determine what type of skin you have. If your skin is thick and oily, an aggressive scrub will most likely not irritate your skin. If your skin is hyper sensitive, meaning anything you put on your face or body gets a reaction, like redness or itchiness, then a very mild exfoliator is necessary, however once a week use is probably sufficient. Combination skin or dry skin can handle a mild to medium textured scrub. Acenic skin should see a doctor or esthetician before using any harsher products. Wash your hands thoroughly before exfoliating. Put a dime size of the product on the tips of your fingers and use circular motions all over the skin. Don't forget about the creases around your nose, forehead and cheekbones. After a few minutes, rinse with warm water. Exfoliators help slough off dead skin. Dead skin does not immediately fall of the skin, it needs help. Dead skin that sits around eventually compacts making it harder to get all the bacteria out of the skin. Un exfoliated dead skin can also cause in grown hairs. This is why it is extremely important for men to exfoliate their faces before shaving. Exfoliating the skin prepares it for the aggressive razor. Get all of that dead skin out of the way, so the razor can reach the hair easier. Any old, dead skin blocking the hair will certainly cause irritation, bumps, and possible breakouts. For the body, keep a body buffer and body scrub in the shower. There are hundreds of brands to choose from with all types of textured ingredients. Walnut shells, jojoba beads and apricot kernels are very popular ingredients for body scrubs. Try one that suits your skin and your nose!
