Achieve Radiant Flawless Skin
I thought I have my routine down. What am I doing wrong?
Aimee Huang
Issue date: 11/23/09 Section: Health
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Flawless skin needs a flawless routine
Image Credit: Yodle.com
Healthy skin is the key to beauty. Skin is one of the most curtail organs of a human body. It protects the inner organs from our environment such as sun, rain, pollution and other potentially harmful environmental conditions. Thus we should all treat our skin with special care. Having a good daily skin care routine is vital to the health of your skin and an essential step towards having a good complexion. Everyone have their own skin care routines and regimens. However, are we doing it right?
Although there are many other products that might be necessary for different skin types, the basic essentials everyone should have in their daily routines should include a cleanser, toner, moisturizer, and sunscreen. "You can't have healthy skin if you don't clean it well and keep it hydrated. Protecting yourself from the harmful rays of the sun by putting on sunscreen every day is the first step for having great skin. I always tell my clients that they can't be cheap about the products that they buy because essentially it's what would help them in the long run" says Johnny Chen, the manager of ECB Beauty International Trading Inc.
The first step to any skin care routine is cleansing. If you wear makeup then this step would include makeup removing. "Using a good qualitied cleanser such as Boscia Soothing Cleansing Cream or even the drugstore brand of Clean & Clear Blackhead Facial Wash will help remove any remaining traces of makeup and residue." Says Mr.Chen. Just make sure that the cleanser is one designed for your skin type because the wrong kind would cause as many problems for your skin as it solves. "For the most effective makeup remover, I recommend an oil-based one. There are tons of good ones on the market so you don't need to spend a lot on it," Says major skin care and makeup guru Michelle Phan, also the founder of IQQU Makeup Line. The next step in the routine should be toning. Toners are designed to remove any last traces of makeup and cleanser, and it will also restore the natural PH balance to your skin. Toners can also help with reducing the size of pores and ingrown hair on the face. Toners that Michelle recommend are the Origins Oil Refiner Skin Purifying Tonic and the Clinique Clarifying Toner.
After Toning your face, the last step is to moisturize. Michelle says "Keeping your skin hydrated is very very critical. It is the second most important product next to the cleanser. Don't be cheap with it and purchase one that's right for your skin type. I recommend the Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream. It does wonders for dry skin especially during the winter months." Moisturizers also act as a barrier between your skin and the surrounding environment. However, if you are going outside, make sure you have sunscreen on with at least SPF 15.
Besides these steps, Johnny also suggests that we exfoliate our face and use facial masks at least once a week. As a skin care technique, exfoliation helps in removing the dead skin cells that block the pores, therefore assisting the skin in the natural
process. However, excessive exfoliation can cause damage to your skin so make sure it's only once or twice a week.
This is a good skin regimen you should follow but never forget to drink plenty of water, excercise regularly, and get a good nights sleep. Taking good care of your skin will reward you with younger and healthier looking skin for many years.
For more information on tips to get younger looking skin, please visit the article "Youthful Looking Skin ---- Hydration is Key."