First thing's first, skin care is not only for women. Men need as much facial care as women. In our early age, we must consider caring for it while it's not damaged yet.
For months, I hear people reprimand young girls, saying that putting makeup can ruin their face. That is somehow right and wrong. Wearing makeup is temporary; it only sits on top of the face. Products that absorb the face are the ones you should worry about.
Listed below are some of the most important things you must remember in order to have a clear and healthy skin.
1. Cleanse
As simple as it sounds, it has great influences on your skin. I haven't met a single person that do not wash their skin. The first step to a healthy skin is a clean skin. Choosing a good cleanser is important. If you have oily skin, facial foams work best. I recommend buying products that are tested by dermatologists, they know what's good. Also, know what you're allergic to, and check the ingredients. Avoid touching your face as well, our hands might have some dirt that you got from touching things like your phone. But do not splurge too much on cleanser, because if all the good ingredients are in there, it won't help as much since it will only be washed away.
2. Tone
Use a facial toner to bring your skin's acidity back to normal. Also, some toners will deeply clean your skin and remove excess residue that might be trapped on your skin. Be careful, though, some contain alcohol which can dry out the skin. I personally use a toner with alcohol and it made my skin feel dry even if my skin is oily. Again, check the ingredients. And buy a small bottle just to try if it suits your skin. If not, try another one. Seek help from friends who use such products, maybe they know a product that you'll love.
3. Moisturize
We need moisturizers. Without moisturizer, your skin would be dry. Even if your face is oily, you still need to moisturize it in order to acquire that healthy skin we all want. There are different types of moisturizer, water-based ones suit people with oily skin. Sometimes, moisturizers have different ingredients as well. Try to experiment which product will suit you. Buy a small pot of a moisturizer that people usually (or highly) recommend, then try it out for yourself. Find a moisturizer that contains good ingredients. It's either you go for a 3 in 1 moisturizer or buy a separate sunscreen, anti-wrinkle, or a separate serum.
4. Sunscreen
It is very important to apply a high factor sunscreen because the sun has harmful rays which can cause wrinkles and quick aging of the skin. The factor of the sunscreen will tell you how long the protecting factor will last. I recommend an SPF 30 sunscreen on a regular basis, and an SPF 50 if you're going out for a long walk under the sun. Do not neglect this step, as harmful UV rays may also cause skin cancer and instant aging of the skin. Although, some study claims that a very high SPF is not recommended since it will only lead people to misuse the product and not reapply sunblock. Also, they have a higher level of concentrated chemicals that may lead to tissue damage or hormones disruption.
5. Exfoliate
Exfoliating your skin will remove dead skin cells, and help rejuvenate the skin. Removing dead skin cells will renew the skin and bring out new and healthy skin. But be careful, do not exfoliate too much or else it will irritate the skin or cause rashes and too much redness to the skin. It is recommended to exfoliate at least twice a week for your body. Exfoliating can be done by using scrubs or with natural ingredients. I like to use green tea leaves when I have the luxury of time. Simply dip the green tea bag in a very hot water for 2-3 minutes and remove the bag from the water. Enjoy your tea, then remove the leaves from the bag. Mix it with natural honey and use it as a light scrub on your elbows, knees, or underarms. There are also exfoliants which do not need to be rubbed in the face since the ingredients itself will deeply exfoliate the skin. AHA and BHA exfoliant is needed, depending on your skin type. BHA for oily to combination skin, AHA for normal to dry skin.
6. Face masks
There are many forms of a face mask, either creams or sheet masks, they will help and rejuvenate the skin. Putting a face mask also helps in relaxing. Some face masks have certain ingredients that make them really special. Cream face masks are more convenient and more affordable. Clay masks, however, helps purify the skin and is suitable for oily skin. When buying a face mask, know what you need. Find a clay mask with glycerin, kaolin, or salicylic acid. For face mask sheets, I recommend using something with collagen. Collagen is a very important ingredient for a tighter skin. It also helps tighten up pores.
7. Your food choices
Too much sugar and salt intake are bad for the skin. Drink more green tea! Opt for more veggies and fruits, especially the ones that have vitamin E. Eating healthy will not only help improve the skin, it will also keep your body fit and healthy. Even if your hormone or gene is the main reason of blackheads, there is no doubt that eating too many oily foods will help promote acne.
8. Natural remedies
I'm a sucker for natural remedies. I used to treat my skin with natural stuff when I have the time. Listed below are lists of natural ingredients that have benefits for your skin. Please be mindful of your allergies.
Green tea- Either you use the green tea leaves, or wash your face with green tea water, it is both beneficial. Green tea has a lot of benefits: it contains antioxidants and vitamins which will help the skin.
Tomato juice- Squeeze tomato to get the essence out of it. It contains vitamins which are beneficial for the skin. Eating it will also clear your skin and give it a healthy glow.
Avocado- Mashed avocado can be used as a facial mask. Avocado face mask is usually used at a spa because it contains vitamin E, which we all know is important. Also suits people with dry skin.
Turmeric with yogurt (or milk)- Turmeric helps face acne scars and dark circles. It is also known to brighten the face and prevent facial hair from growing.
(Note: yellow stain can be removed by using makeup remover or toner)
Banana- Mashed banana will help prevent acne and contains vitamins as well. It suits oily skin. Banana skin also helps remove skin tags or warts. Apply the inner part and seal it with a tape overnight.
ACV (Apple Cider Vinegar)- ACV is antiseptic, and can be used as a toner (just dilute with rose water). It can also help decrease pimples and melt warts. Shake the bottle first, then dip a cotton ball to get just enough ACV as you need.
Olive oil or coconut oil- I use olive or coconut oil as my makeup remover. It works great and really removes the makeup. Plus, it brings moisture to the skin. But be careful, as it may be too oily for some people. I love applying it on my eyelash as well since it helps make it grow longer.
Egg white- Helps shrink pores and lessen blackheads and whiteheads. This also helps tighten the skin.
9. Korean facial care products
I recommend Korean products because almost every skin care product they have are good. As you can see, Koreans have clear, fair and glowing skin. Some might say that it looks greasy, but there's a fine line between greasy and moist glowing skin. And I'd rather have that healthy looking skin, than a very matte skin. I usually go for matte makeup, but I realized it did not help improve my skin at all. With my new regimen of using more Korean products, I lessen the use of mattifying powder, and my skin feels soft and supple.
10. Lotion
Don't neglect your lotions. At night, the colder temperature will make your skin drier. Apply lotion on your skin to bring the moisture it needs. It will also help if you apply lotion on a cracked heel then wear socks. Apply lotion on damp skin to lock in moisture. I use a lotion with a little SPF to protect me from UV rays for a while. Hand creams are also helpful during the day.
Other tips:
- Be gentle to your skin! Do not over scrub. And stop picking on your skin.
- Do not pop your pimple, or a blackhead. Seek professional help if in case your skin got worse.
- Do facial exercises. It will help to lessen wrinkles and fine lines.
- Keep your environment clean. Especially your bed.
- Don't stick to just one product. For example, I own 2 types of facial moisturizer because the other one suits really warm weather since it is water based, while the other one is dewier. We need different solutions for different problems.
- Facial massage. You can do this yourself, as long as it's relaxing. Use any non-comedogenic oil and massage your face lightly.
- Rub ice on your face. It will relieve tired under eyes. It also feels good on the skin! Be careful, though, I recommend using a facial towel then wrap it around the ice, then lightly tap it on your skin. Extreme temperature is bad for the skin.
- Lastly, don't believe everything you read. This serves as a warning since I've fallen into that trap.
Also, please be patient when trying products. It doesn't take overnight to heal your skin, or know if a product is working for your skin. But sometimes, it's easy to know if it irritates your skin. If you feel a tingling sensation or a slight stinging when using the product, stop using the product, it's a sign that your skin is being irritated.
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