Face Skin Care » Skin Care Regimen

Choosing a Skin Care Regimen That Actually Works

admin — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 11:12:49 +0000

When you’re a teenage girl, you always focus on how you look. You have to have the right outfit, the right hairstyle, the right complexion…basically, the right everything. Something that has seemed to elude the teenage girl for eons now is the fact that no one is perfect. However, teenage girls certainly get an A for effort!

Aside from hair and wardrobe, the thing that girls spend the most time on is skin care. If you were ever a teenage girl (which would be especially interesting if you’re a man reading this) no doubt you spent at least some of your time trying to get rid of your acne with the right skin care regimen.

Walk into any supermarket or drugstore, and you’ll find an entire aisle dedicated to skin care. There are lotions, face masques, and creams all over the place. The only problem is trying to figure out which one actually works, because some of them are just generic brands that don’t do much more than make your skin smell pretty.

If you happen to have horrendous acne, you want to look for something that has salicylic acid in it. Yes, it sounds scary, but that’s the stuff that does wonders for skin care. Those zits you have are caused by bacteria in your epidermal layers. The salicylic acid kills that bacteria, effectively drying out the zit. Of course, one thing that you should always do is wash your face in the morning and at night, because a dirty face equals a messy complexion.

By: Beth Ortiz

Skin Care Tips For Mature Skin

admin — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 08:12:34 +0000

We all know what we want – good looking skin. To achieve that, one cannot afford to be lazy! Many factors contribute to healthy skin. We shall ignore the good genes for now, and look at what we can do instead. One will soon find out, it’s not just the skin care that matters, the diet and other lifestyle habits have a role to play too.

1. Skin Care

The key priority is to protect and revitalize the mature skin. As much as possible, avoid irritation to the skin. Choosing a mild cleanser over deodorant soaps is a good way to start. Avoid alcohol-based toners as well.

The one most important step in a skin care regimen is to MOISTURIZE. I can’t emphasis the importance of moisturizing any more. Applying moisturizer helps to maintain the balance of moisture of the skin (as dry skin tends to mature faster than other skin types). Moisturizing the skin diminishes the appearances of lines and pores, hence giving the skin a supple look.

Moisturizing is not just for the face. It is equally important at the delicate eye area too. Adequate hydration of the eyes helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

If one is heading outdoors, the SUNCREEN is a must. It protects again the harmful ultra-violet (UV) rays of the sun, which can be extremely damaging to the skin. Exposure to UV rays without protection is the main cause of the fine lines, wrinkles and pre-mature aging. Make an effort to apply sunscreen 15 minutes before sun exposure. Choose broad spectrum sunscreen for protection against UVA and UVB rays. Lastly, a SPF factor of at least 30 is suitable for outdoor purposes.

There are many remedies for aging skin, including serums, creams and even medical procedures like collagen injection, skin resurfacing and laser. If one is afraid of going under the needle, the creams are a much safer (and cheaper) option. Choose one according to your needs and budget.

2. Diet

You are what you eat.

Good skin can also be a result of a proper diet. Include a serving of vegetables for every meal, especially the green leafy ones. If the vegetables are not enough, add on a serving of fruits as well. When the skin gets its nutrition, it aids the process of cellular repair, minimizing the damage from the sun or other environmental factors.

Drink plenty of water; at least 8 glasses of water a day. The water helps to keep the body (and skin) hydrated, as well as reducing the amount of toxins that stays in the body.

3. Lifestyle

Relax! Avoid stress and tension as they may increase fine lines and wrinkles. Exercising can be a great way to relax, and improve blood circulation.

For the smoking ladies, this may be a good reason to quit! Smoking has been shown to speed up the aging of the skin. If you want good skin, think twice before you light up!

To find out more, please CLICK HERE.

By: Wendy Tay

Is Black Men Skin Care Different?

admin — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 14:09:51 +0000

There are tons of resources for men skin care available, along with products made for men. Skin care has been part of many men’s daily regimen thanks to the benefits of great, fresh and young looking skin.

But what about men of color? Black men or Hispanic men? The truth is there is only a limited amount of resources that focus on skin care for Black men, which makes us wonder: does darker skin need different care?

The answer is yes. In African-American men skin there tends to be more razor bumps and burn and ingrown hairs. This is due to the different type of facial hair.

Also men of color can suffer from dark spots and hyper pigmentation which causes the skin to have an uneven tone.

So in order to address these issues a couple of companies and sites have created a special section for Black men skin care which is much needed. I’ve also seen a couple of skin care products for Black men available that work wonders.

Products such as Barc and African Male by men essentials are great examples of products made for Black men.

But of course proper skin care is the same for all men. No matter what your skin color or age, men should always follow a skin care regimen to help maintain a young and healthy looking skin.

Especially in for men with darker skin color, using a facial scrub/exfoliate and skin toner is essential to eliminating or keeping away from dark spots and hyper pigmentation.

Using the right shaving cream and after shave will also help reduce and alleviate razor burn and stop razor bumps.

Use the right skin care products for men and you will definitely keep your skin looking healthy, toned, young and overall attractive.

By: Victor Anicama

Home Remedy for Skin Care

admin — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 16:55:02 +0000

Of late home remedy for just about anything is gaining importance for obvious reasons. And home remedy for skin care coming to the center stage is nothing astonishing. People who do not want to try or who are tired of using chemical therapy for skin care are turning to home remedy. After all your skin is the only organ of your body that shows predominantly in the public if you forget your hairdo for a while.

Well, let us come to the point straight away. Keeping your body hygienic assumes utmost importance in skin care regimen. Take bath twice in a day if your routine permits you. (Oh… I hate bathing in a tub as you will have to immerse your body in that dirty water till you get out of the tub. A shower is better). Use mild bath soap without caring for its fragrance. (Fragrances are by additional chemicals).

For washing you face, neck and shoulders you can make yourself a skin cleanser. You will need following herbs.

o Bael tree leaves (Aegle Marmelos)

o Java plum or Black plum leaves (Syzygium Cuminii)

o Betal leaves

o Sandal wood

o Cloves

o Lemon peel

o Tur Daal

o Acacia Sinnata

o Turmeric

o Camphor

Procedure:

1. Take about a kilogram of each of bael tree leaves, black plum leaves, betal leaves. Thoroughly clean them and boil them in twice the volume of water till you get a thick fluid.

2. Beat cloves (about 8-10), powder finely, the sun dried lemon peels (about 25), acacia sinnata, tur daal(2 table spoons), turmeric(1 inch pod) all of them and filter.

3. Okay. But what will you do with the sandal wood? Grind it manually on a grinding stone with a very little water so as to make a paste of it.

4. Mix all these together thoroughly and add to the now cold fluid made above.

Presto! Your own home made skin cleanser is ready for all skin ailment remedy. The liquid can be stored in a convenient, air tight jar or a bottle.

Your brand of this skin cleanser helps you get an odorless, glowing skin. You can literally throw your body deodorant through the window. The betal leaves and cloves help cure acne while bael and black plum leaves keep itches, eczema away. The turmeric and sandal wood will shine your body. The sandal wood and camphor will give a beautiful fragrance to you.

Are you game for this?!

By: Alevoor Rajagopal

Skin Care For Common Skin Problems

admin — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 07:16:38 +0000

Many skin conditions, such as acne and oily skin, can be helped immensely by proper skin care. Taking proper care of your skin is the first step to living a life with radiant skin. Often, when you take care of the outside, your mind and heart are also affected, because you are more confident and self-assured.

First, if you have a skin disease, talk to your doctor about the best skin care regimen for the problem you are dealing with. This skin care is going to have specific steps for you to take that target the problem of your specific disease. The goal is to completely stop the disease and often requires prescription medication.

However, there are many steps you can take to eliminate problems on your own through prevention. If you have the proper skin care routine already in place, it might help to keep any problems from popping up. However, even the best skin care regimen will not prevent all skin diseases and having a disease on your skin does not mean you are dirty or have taken poor care of your skin, no matter what your grandmother told you!

The most common complaint about skin is acne. Most people think that acne is caused by poor cleanliness. This is not true. Acne is often genetic and caused by the oiliness of the skin that is natural. Hormones can also cause breakouts of acne. And, acne does not always occur on the face. It can occur on any area of the skin.

There are many things you can do to help control your acne, keeping it from becoming bad enough to create scarring and other problems. First, if the acne is on an area of your body besides your face, you should avoid wearing clothes that fit tightly to the skin. If your sweat stays on your body, it can aggravate acne. Allow your skin room to breath.

Another important aspect of skin care for acne is to avoid touching the nodules with your hands. If the acne is from an infection, your hands can spread the infection. Finally, do not squeeze your pimples. This causes scars and can also help acne to spread.

Another common skin problem is dry skin, particularly in the winter. The winter is savage on your skin, because the air inside and outside is dry. Proper skin care for dry skin includes plenty of moisturizers! Place hydrating lotion on every area of your body, particularly after taking a shower, because your skin is ready to absorb the moisture at this time.

Another common skin complaint is brown spots. These occur on areas of your body that are exposed for long periods of time to the UV rays from the sun and appear as darkened spots on the skin. This is particularly noticeable on the hands and arms, particularly in women. The best preventative skin care for brown spots is always wearing sunscreen when outdoors, no matter if it is warm and sunny or not. Many forget to wear sunscreen in the winter, but if skin is exposed, you still need it, because the sun is still out! You can also avoid the damage from the sun through wearing clothes that cover your skin.

By: Michael Russell

What skin care product to use for dry skin?

admin — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 02:29:01 +0000

My forehead and nose are ridiculously dry, to the point of peeling. But I have topical acne (Not the deep kind) along my jawline and under my cheek bones. I’m trying to find a good skin care regimen that will treat my acne without drying out my skin even more than it already is. Any suggestions?

By: Danielle M

Acne Skin Care – How to Care for Pimple Prone Skin

admin — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 11:34:56 +0000

If you eat pizza, your face will look like a pizza. Popping those pimples will make them dry up and go away faster. Wash your face and keep your hair off your forehead to keep from getting pimples. Eating chocolate will make your acne worse.

When you consider the number of acne myths circulating, it’s sometimes hard to know what the best acne skin care regimen is. Knowledge of which factors actually cause acne can help you separate acne myths from practices that really help to keep your skin acne free. When it comes to what can really clear your complexion, here are some tips.

First, eating pizza in itself is not enough to give your acne. Although eating a high fat, greasy diet is not good for your health or your skin, your eating habits are not the sole cause of your acne.

For good skin health it is advisable to eat a healthy balanced diet and drink lots of water. When you do eat greasy foods, especially those eaten with the fingers – such as pizza or French fries – but careful not to touch your face with your greasy fingers. In fact, greasy fingers on your face may be more responsible for breakouts than eating the greasy food. Acne skin care tip number one – try to eat a healthy diet and keep greasy fingers off your face.

Popping your pimples does not necessarily make them go away faster. In fact, the squeezing and pinching that goes along with popping pimples can actually damage the skin. These actions can push the bacteria in the pimple further into the pore causing infection and possibly even scarring. Acne skin care tip number two – popping pimples can damage the skin and make acne worse. The best advice is not to pop your pimples.

Washing your face at least twice daily is one thing you can do that will help to improve your acne. Your doctor or dermatologist can suggest an over-the-counter cleaning product or prescribe a prescription cleanser if necessary. Cleaning your face helps to wash away excess oil, dirt, old skin cells and bacteria. Some experts even suggest exfoliating acne prone skin regularly. This is because dead skin cells left on the face can block the pores, causing pimples. Acne skin care tip number three – wash your face at least twice daily to keep dead skin cells, oil, dirt and bacteria from building up.

When planning out your acne skin care regimen, there are things you can do to help prevent breakouts. While what you eat does not entirely decide whether or not you will get acne, it is always best to eat a healthy diet. Don’t make popping your pimples a practice. Popping can actually damage the skin and make acne worse. Washing your face at least twice daily, however, is something you can do that will truly help your skin stay clearer. So, when weighing the myths about acne skin care, remember, keep it clean.

By: Riley Hendersen

Anti-aging – Skin Care for Youthful Skin

admin — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 21:05:44 +0000

Anti-aging is a bit of a misnomer and I’ve yet to meet anyone who has turned back the hands of time. However, as we age our skin becomes depleted of nourishment and hydration which leads to pre-mature skin aging. Antiaging skin care are formulated to renew and reclaim our youthful appearance.

Through a combination of hydration, protection with antioxidants, and anti wrinkle creams, lotions and moisturizers, those of us in the baby-boomer stage of life can add years to aging or damaged skin.

Antiaging skin care begins with several fundamentals we should all follow together with the use of effective skin care. Diet, fitness and health, together with maintaining proper hydration for healthy cell membranes and a bit of scientific “know-how”, allows us to look years younger, slow or halt pre-mature aging, improve suppleness and smoothness, and somewhat “turn back the hands of time”.

Keeping Your Skin Clean

As simple as this may sound, many skin problems result from lack of proper cleansing. Clogged pores can cause skin rashes, rosacea, blackheads and whiteheads, and prevent the proper irrigation of pores. Dermal layers require adequate moisture and circulation; and nutrition can be hampered without proper cleansing.

As part of a daily skin care regimen, using a facial cleanser in the morning and at night before bed is recommended. Avoid cleansers with harsh surfactants that may irritate the skin – this only worsens the problem and my offset gains from products formulated to treat or protect.

Oily or dry skin may need special attention, but a good, deep cleaning, removing makeup and pat drying are the first best steps towards protecting your skin from aging quicker than you would like.

Hydrating Your Skin

You have probably heard by now that our bodies are made-up in large part of water. Water is the primary component of skin cells, so it holds true that proper hydration is important. Moisture content directly effects healthy cell maturation and development, while improving circulation and delivery of nutrients.

Maintaining adequate levels of bodily fluids is a must. As the doctor says, drink plenty of fluids and avoid liquids high in caffeine and sugar. Caffeine is a diuretic that acts to deplete fluids and sugar is known to increase metabolism, both flushing nutrients and reducing fluid levels. It goes without saying diet and regular exercise and stopping smoking (if you do) are hugely helpful.

Anti-Aging Skin Care

Though anti aging covers a broad topic, to keep the conversation succinct and to focus on the most effective products, anti aging skin care can be categorized into a relatively small group:

Wrinkle Treatment

Antioxidants Skin Care

Age Spots

Dry Skin

Enlarged Pores

Body Firming

Spider Veins

Stretch Marks

Granted this is not an all encompassing list, but it covers many of the skin care issues we face as we age. Skin care is fundamentally developed to address symptoms, but effective products can remedy the causes as well. Let’s take a closer look at antiaging skin care and how it can help in our anti aging “quest”.

Wrinkle treatment comes primarily in the form of wrinkle creams formulated to reduce the density and depth of wrinkles. Many provide added hydration that acts to reinforce and provide nutrients to cell membranes – improving the skin’s health, while improving healthy cell rejuvenation.

Argireline and Matrixyl are two of the most commonly used active ingredients. These peptide compounds act similar to BOTOX in that they relax facial tissue – smoothing wrinkled skin and eliminating fine lines. Many are somewhat temporary in nature, though consistent use will aid to further prevent wrinkles.

Common in anti wrinkle eye and face cream, Argireline and Matrixyl are also effective for use on the neck (where my wrinkles started) and on the chest. Hyaluronic Acid is also useful in wrinkle treatment. Hyaluronic Acid is a naturally occurring substance in our bodies. It helps cells retain moisture and acts to plump and smooth. Used as an active ingredient in wrinkle creams, it has a cumulative effect in relaxing and smoothing wrinkles.

Antioxidants skin care should not be overlooked. Free-radicals produced from naturally occurring oxidization destroy cells – and are especially fond of skin cells. Antioxidants are common in many fruits and vegetables – in particular, Green Tea, Idebenone and coffee.

All three have found themselves as popular ingredients in anti aging skin care. Green Tea in particular is promoted in consumables (tea), moisturizers, and topical serum applications. Free-radicals, in a nut shell, lead to pre-mature skin aging and can be accelerated if you smoke or are over exposed to the sun. Using an antioxidant as part of your anti aging program is a great step in the right direction.

I turned 50 last year…mmm…I still feel 30, but I’ve started noticing some things on my skin that I only linked to my grandmother – age spots. As we age melanin pigment in our skin loses its ability to protect from sun damage, thus dark, brown or age spots appear.

Bleaching or skin whitening creams can be effective reducing the appearance of age spots, but should be used with care. Many whitening agents make skin sensitive – and sensitive to the sun. Also, use should be confined to the age spots themselves, unless used in light(er) formulations for overall skin lightening.

Dry skin is the hidden villain of aging. As we age our skin naturally loses moisture, the ability to retain hydration, and this leads to amplifying other skin problems such as, wrinkles, rashes, and psoriasis.

Using a night cream that moisturizes is the best advice. Avoid the sun, drink plenty of fluids, and attempt to eat fruits and raw vegetables if possible. As mentioned, many products utilize Hyaluronic Acid to aid moisture retention. Often found in face applications, it is also used successfully in body lotions and creams.

In the past couple of years, Emu Oil has also become a favorite in anti aging skin care. Emu Oil is known to penetrate into the dermis and subcutaneous skin layers and is super-moisturizer. It also has anti-inflammatory properties as well as being an antibacterial. It has carrier benefits allowing it to “carry” other anti aging ingredients deeper into the skin – improving their effectiveness. Like Hyaluronic Acid, it can be found in body lotions and creams for the eyes and face.

Enlarged pores create havoc on the face. A result of heredity, clogged pores, or excessive oils, enlarged pores accumulated dirt, oil and dead skin cells. Often they lead to rough skin, bacterial infections, blemishes, swelling and irritation, inflammation, or acne and rosacea.

Daily and effective cleansing usually helps reduce pore size and irrigates bacteria-laden pores. Light use of makeup or using mineral makeup that does not irritate the skin and cause inflammation is recommended.

Many skin care products use either Emu oil or Alpha Hydroxy crystals to clean bacteria and reduce pore size. Both are effective active ingredients and when used in concert, help clean and clear your complexion and make skin pores smaller.

Ah…if you’re still with me, there are just a few items to cover – but, they are the top-three on the countdown list. Let’s start by discussing body firming lotions. Again, I know you’re tired of hearing this, as we age our skin loses elasticity and elastin fiber production drops. So?…well, this causes loose skin.

Outside the more obvious causes of lack of exercise and diet, collagen production and elastin development diminishes. Combined with depleted hydration, you get a one-two punch for loose and sagging skin. To get skin tight, body firming lotions use a complex of ingredients that firm and tighten skin, improve hydration, and nourish for optimal cell reproduction.

Many body firming lotions use Collagen III, Emu Oil, a firming peptide complex, and nutrients and amino acids that act together to firm sagging skin. Particularly useful on the arms, stomach, neck, and legs, these lotions tighten skin while adding moisture.

Spider veins are generally the result of several common occurrences – weight gain, pregnancy, having work responsibilities that require you to be on your feet a lot, or often from sun exposure – especially facial spider veins.

Considered a result of damaged or weak veins and capillaries, spider veins occur when damaged valves allow blood flow to get in, but not get out. Weight gain and gravity complicate the problem and in some respects may contribute to the problem. Anti aging skin care focuses on two results.

One, healing or strengthening the vessel walls. There are several active ingredients considered useful in helping the vessels and restoring healthy walls, but Vitamin k is consider the most effective currently. Two, you can cover them up. Repairing spider veins usually requires a spider veins cream or a spider veins treatment.

In fact, I had several facial spider veins removed from below my eyes and at the top of my nose with laser treatment – the result of too many days in the Florida sun growing up, per my dermatologist. But, I have had great success using a cream enriched with Vitamin K and have experienced measurable and noticeable clearing since use.

But, back to covering them up. Many folks have begun using spray-on pantyhose (men and women) to add some tint and color to their legs as the warmer seasons approach. Many spray-ons are formulated to not run when wet or to give you a weird coloring. Often available in a variety of shades, they can be chosen to give you a hint of color that matches your body without being noticeable.

Finally, whew, stretch marks. Though not necessarily at the top of the anti aging list, they are a common problem that folks like to address, especially as they age and become more “aware” of their bodies or pass through the child-bearing age.

Stretch marks are often result from childbirth, pregnancy, weight loss and gain, and are common among body builders. Simply, stretch marks are just that, marks created when the skin stretches faster that the skin can keep-up. Elastin and collagen are not able to reproduce quickly enough to counteract the stretching and the result is scarred and torn tissue.

Underlying the obvious, stretch marks core issue is elasticity and hydration. There’s that word again. True, though. If you are experiencing weight gain or are pregnant, using a stretch mark cream developed to add moisture and hydration has been shown to significantly reduce or even prevent stretch marks. If you already have them, as the title of this article suggests, there are several options.

Again, a stretch marks and scar creams help increase collagen and elastin fiber production. If used with ingredients that stimulate healthy cell reproduction, consistent, disciplined use can often marks and scars.

An alternative is to use an in-home, soft light laser. Low-level lasers emit light waves in oscillations that have been shown to stimulate cell growth and increase circulation. Used for many applications such as scars, burns, sores, and blemishes, low level “soft light” lasers have been shown effective.

Anti aging is a goal we all have and can be effectively dealt with using anti aging skin care. The reduction or elimination of wrinkles, smoother, softer clear skin, protection with antioxidant products, a firmer, tighter body and the elimination or fading of spider veins and stretch marks is possible with the right skin care products.

Though it’s a lot to consider, a skin care regimen focused on cleansing, moisturizing, and treating will to give you substantial short-term and long-term benefits.

By: Tim Faber

Natural Skin Care – Brighten Your Skin With Facials

admin — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 15:50:52 +0000

Everything we do everyday exposes our skin to the elements. The hot sun, city pollution, dead skin–all these combine and steal the young life-glow we all have. This maybe so, but there’s hope. An all natural skin care regimen using facials can help rejuvenate our skin.

A facial, done once in every 7 days, cleanses, deeply massages, and even steams your face. For extra skin nourishment apply a face pack afterwards.

Cleansing

In facial skin care, you need to pay attention to the cleansing part. It’s important because you have to worry about the facemask, which you can only put on deeply cleansed skin. If you want to do your own facial at home, it’s advised to use natural skin care products like cleansing milk or cream.

If your skin is oily, try a mild soap with water that’s lukewarm; these will remove the oily layer on your skin. For dry skin, put some facial cream on a cotton swab and wipe your face.

Facial Massage

What melts away your tension, soothes, and unclenches your tense muscles, is the facial massage. When massaging, use oils or some talcum powder and do not massage inflamed skin or bruised areas. Before choosing a natural skin care massage cream, you need to know your skin type and whether it’s dry, oily, or combination.

Use an upward motion when you massage, from the inner side into the outer side, with little pressure when massaging around your eyes. For maximum results, keep massaging for 15 minutes and, afterwards, wipe the cream off with a cotton swab.

Steaming

Steaming opens up your skin’s pores, which allows it to benefit from the face mask. Boil some water in a wide-mouth pot; put a towel over your head and let your own skin soak up the steam from the pot. Be sure to add in the pot some rose-petals, peppermint, and marigold. Cover the edges of the pot with your towel, so your face gets all the steam; pat dry after 5 minutes.

Applying Face Mask

The last step in a facial is applying the facemask. You can make your own facemask or buy it from a store. A facemask often includes natural skin care ingredients such as lemon juice, orange peel, cucumber, and curds. If you wish to use a commercial facemask, make sure to follow the instructions.

When applying the mask, avoid the area around your eyes, just let the mask touch your neck and face. On your eyes, place cotton swabs previously dipped in some rose water; this will feel refreshing.

Lie down or sit in a comfortable position and relax. After the mask has dried, wash your face with lukewarm water, peel the mask off, and apply moisturizer or cream to your face.

Always remember that the crucial part of a facial is the facemask. The facemask reinvigorates your skin, takes out dead skin cells, loosens blackheads, takes away dirt and allows your pores to breath. So go ahead and make facials a part of your natural skin care routine.

By: Rebecca Dalmat

Skin Care Tips for Oily Skin to Prevent Acne

admin — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 14:25:27 +0000

Maintaining a proper skin care routine is important to keeping your skin clear, free of impurities and oil, and moisturized so it remains healthy, acne-free, and radiant. Your basic skin care regimen should include cleansing of the skin, applying an alcohol-free toner, and finish with a moisturizer + sunscreen.

Face cleansing is the core of skin care regimen. You should wash your skin with a gentle cleanser at least twice a day to remove the oil, dead skin cells, dry skin. These are substances that can clog the pores. It is important for the pores of your skin to remain bacteria free as the presence of bacteria is something which contributes substantially to the growth of pimples. If you have overall cleanliness of the skin, you can lessen the chance of pimples. Before you apply all those cosmetics or medications for your acne, experts always tell you to wash your face. Here are several tips on proper skin care for your oily acne skin and how to properly wash your face.

1. First, remove every trace of make-up/cosmetic on your face. Use cotton ball and moisturizing cream to avoid damaging your skin.

2.Use lukewarm water to wash your face. This will also open the pores for deeper cleansing. Avoid washing your face with water that is too hot or too cold as it can dry out your skin. .

3.Avoid strong or harsh soaps/ cleansers. Strong soaps can dry your skin and strip off natural lipids. Choose soap that are mild if you prefer soap, or you can always choose cleansers that are soap-free, non- comedogenic (won’t clog pores), and mild like Cetaphil, Burt Bee’s or Neutrogena. Even better, you should use natural skin care products such as Dermalise since they are more gentle to your skin.

4.For people who have acne-prone skin, you should use cleansing products that contain salicylic acid. Salicylic Acid is a naturally occurring organic acid and a gentle, effective exfoliator. It is very effective for acne and oily skin and helps to unclog pores by removing dead skin cells, loosen and remove blackheads and whiteheads, and prevent future outbreaks. Products should contain 1-2% concentration of salicylic acid in order for it to be effective. For sensitive skin types, a 1% concentration would be suitable and for stubborn acne, 2% concentration is recommended.

Note that Salicylic Acid also makes skin sensitive to the sun. Sunscreen should therefore be used while applying Salicylic Acid. Also, sunscreen protects your skin from harmful UV rays of the sun and helps prevent wrinkles.

5.Massage face gently in an upward motion using using your fingers. Do not do hard rubbing as it will actually do more harm than good.

6.Rinse face well to remove all residue of soap or cleanser. Residues left behind can actually clog your pores. Facial cleansers can leave an invisible residue behind which can clog your pores. Rinse three times, then rinse again.

7.Pat dry with soft, non-abrasive towel. Never ever rub your face.

8.Use an alcohol-free toner on your face. Toning your skin restores skin pH back to it’s normal range and it closes the pores to your skin and prevent dust and other air borne particles from settling in your pores. Again, it is recommended to use products with natural and organic ingredients. It should make your face feel smooth and refreshed. Astringents and toners with glycolic or alpha hydroxy acids work the best for toning the face. These acids actually can reduce the pore size, and help avoid ingrown hairs. They are aggressive and have quick results. Remember to look for a product that is not photosensitive (sensitive to light).

9.Finish your routine by using a moisturizer to replenish the natural oils that have been lost. Moisturizing is a necessity step. Again, the product that uses natural ingredients (i.e. Dermalise) and with the least amount of chemical additives is the best. Always use a light moisturizer on your face after cleansing. For an intensive moisture treatment use pure vitamin E, or aloe vera oil. It is available in liquid form, or just break open a capsule and apply the oil directly to the skin.

10.Use a sunscreen throughout the day (min SPF15) to protect your skin from harmful UV rays. Long term exposure to UV radiation may result in harmful effects such as sunburn, skin cancer, and acceleration of skin aging process.

11.If you have oily hair, you should wash and shampoo your hair daily to prevent the oil from touching and clogging the pores on your forehead.

12.Also, it is also important to not to touch your skin with your fingers. Our hands and fingers normally carry a multitude of various germs. When these germs make contact with the pimples, it can make the pimples worse.

The above 12 essential skin care for your oily acne skin steps would help you keep your face clean, clear and beautiful. However, for some of us unfortunate acne victims, our acne problems are more serious. Therefore, tougher measures must be taken. In addition to following the above recommendations, it is recommended to use an acne curing system that fights acne bacteria both from inside the body as well as outside the body. Most over the counter acne products in the market such as Clearsil, Oxy-10, ProActiv only address acne problems at the skin level and that is not enough to effectively fight acne.

If your acne problem still persists after following the above skin care regimen, you should use an anti-acne system that employs the proven principle of fighting acne both from the outside and the inside the body. The system should include an oil-free, SD Alcohol and Salicylic Acid solutions based facial & body wash and herbal pills. The facial/body wash will help you fight acne on your face, back, chest and arms by unclogging your pores and expelling all the bacteria and oil that cause pimples and other blemishes. The herbal pills effectively fight acne-causing bacteria from the inside. Together, they are very potent in getting rid of acne fast and preventing acne from occurring again. See our website for more information and for recommendation of a proven anti-acne system guaranteed to stop acne fast!

By: Susan Bienize