Four Basic steps for skin care regimen

Who doesn’t want to have a healthy and glowing skin? While many sites bombard you with information and tips on how to maintain your skin, here are four basic things that you need to know about your skin maintenance. Follow these and rock at your summer party.

Cleansing : means to free from dirt, purify. Simple is key here. You need to find a good cleanser that your skin responds well to, and stick with it. Avoid bar soaps as they tend to dry out the skin. soap should only ever touch your skin from the neck down. Cleansers contain oil, water and "surfactants." The oil dissolves oil on your face, surfactants dissolve dirt and makeup and the water washes it all away. The secret is finding the right mix of oil. (Makes sense to us). Too much on your skin will clog pores, while too little will dry it out. This is why you need to know your skin type.
Use warm water to loosen dirt and clogged pores. Use a dime-sized bit of cleanser, then rinse with cool or lukewarm water. You'll also want to take off your makeup with a proper makeup remover.

Exfoliation is the step most people skip in their weekly skincare routine. If you start properly exfoliating your skin, you will notice an almost immediate difference. According to Berg, one of the reasons men's skin looks more youthful than women's is because men tend to exfoliate daily when they shave. There are several ways to exfoliate skin: Microdermabrasion, chemical peels and retinoids.

Toning: Some people swear by toners, but many beauty experts do not (I once read a skincare expert claim, 'toners are only for copy machines'). Toners are meant to remove all remaining traces of oil, makeup and dirt, but a good cleanser should do this. I firmly believe it's up to you. If you like the way your skin feels with a toner. Buy it. Use it. Enjoy it.

Moisturizing: Though many beauty editors swear skin doesn't need moisturizer, basically everyone else disagrees. A basic law of beauty is that everyone, no matter her skin type, should moisturize. Even if your skin is oily, it will benefit from moisturizers. Why? Moisturizers seal moisture into skin. So how much should you moisturize? Your skin will tell you. When your skin is tight, it's crying out for moisture. Be careful not to over moisturize -- this can cause clogged pores. Check out your skin type.

Apply sunscreen 'O' magazine ran an article in November 2006 featuring interviews with several top skin care experts and dermatologists (check it out here). Every single one of them said sunscreen was the most important part of your skincare regimen. It was the secret they would pass on to their daughters.
Another important key towards skin care is the skincare products or the beauty products you choose. Be extremely cautious and careful while buying them. Do not compromise. Certain good products might burn your purse but not you skin. You can even shop online for best shopping deals. Some good products might offer special shopping deals.
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