Indispensable Products Women Need In Their Skincare Procedure

woman smiling touching cheek

I have always assumed that my successful, independent, knowledgeable friends have their skincare program organised and a set routine safely in place. In much the same way that they seem to have every other aspect of their lives organized. So, imagine my surprise when I found out that most did not seem to know what were the most Indispensable products women need in their skincare procedure!

Skincare Or Nightmare!

Indispensable Products Women Need In Their Skincare Procedure

But, to my surprise, the answer is they have not got everything in place! At a recent gathering of friends, talk turned to self-care and then skincare routine, the biggest concern seemed to be, “I have no idea what to use on my face.” A comparable look was exchanged amongst us before one friend said: “I cleanse my face, but after that, I don’t really know what I should apply next!” They needed to know what the ‘Indispensable Products Women Need In Their Skincare Procedure.’

Despite being around the thirty years age bracket, most had a vague skincare routine. Still, they were uncertain if it worked for them, others chopped and changed at the first sign of trouble. “I have a routine, but as soon as I get a spot, I’ll switch and turn to the next new craze,” admitted one friend. So, it seems, when it comes to taking care of our precious skin, there is a lot of confusion going on!

So, without being too harsh on people, skincare is an unnecessarily baffling area. The advice out there, and there’s no shortage of it – is often conflicting and overwhelming. To exfoliate or not to exfoliate? Should I be using a cleanser? A drop of serum? Face oil every evening? What about daily sheet masks? An infinite amount of confusion!

These are the million-dollar questions we continuously ask ourselves. With brands bringing out new ‘miracle’ ingredients or ‘necessary’ extra steps on an almost daily basis, it’s especially tricky to know which ones are deserving of a place in your stockpile of ‘glamour-producing’ products and those that don’t make the cut.

To clear things up, we have decided to run through the items every woman must not ignore and should have in her skincare routine and the reasons why.


Indispensable Products Women Need In Their Skincare Procedure

The Indispensables:

These are the absolute essentials for even the most basic skincare routine.

Cleansing The Face:

girl cleansing face

Cleansing is a prerequisite for an effective skincare routine. If you cleanse, double cleanse or even decide too triple cleanse – cleansing not only removes microbes, pollution, and makeup from the skin. It allows for better infiltration of skincare products that are applied afterward.

You should be cleaning your skin twice a day, but if you feel that more is needed on occasions, that is your choice but not a necessity. We do need to be sensible about cleansing as over-washing can lead to dryness, sensitivity, and irritation.

As for the choice of cleaner, I like to opt for a gentle option that can effectively remove eye makeup, such as ‘micellar water‘ or cleansing oil.

If you then feel you need something more thorough, follow with an exfoliating cleanser. Either using an AHA like glycolic acid or lactic acid to assist the skin in sloughing old skin cells and so brighten the complexion.

Micellar water – is gentle but also hugely effective at removing dirt, makeup. Also, if you have an oily skin tone, it helps clear your pores out while toning the skin. Another plus is that it’s free of alcohol and may help promote skin hydration while reducing irritation and inflammation, keeping your skin soft, supple, and smooth.

If you suffer from sensitive skin, you should consider seeking out an enzyme cleanser with papaya or pineapple extract.

They work a little differently from other exfoliants, giving you another weapon against rough, dull areas. When the undesirable skin is removed, it minimizes the appearance of pores and gives off a radiant, natural glow.

Most importantly, though, enzyme exfoliants tend to be gentler. The enzyme extracts typically have some anti-inflammatory properties, which can make them particularly useful for people with sensitive skin.

As for controlling oiliness, it is recommended a cleanser with salicylic acid to help decongest the pores. If you decide to use a cleanser that also exfoliates, you can save a little time by doing two jobs in one.


Hydrate:

woman applying moisturiser to face

Next up, it’s imperative to keep your skin hydrated regardless of whether your skin feels dry or oily. Using a simple moisturizer containing ceramide and essential fatty acids forms a lightweight, protective barrier on the skin’s surface to prevent moisture loss. Plus, when you apply follow-up products, this will help them to work more effectively on hydrated skin.

Of course, you know your skin texture, and it’s essential to find a texture and thickness to suit you. I would be inclined to moisturise with something which has a serum-gel feel and is light on the skin if my skin tended to be oily.

I do like to use Estée Lauder Nutritious Micro-Algae as my skin has a more combination feel to it or even if it were dry. So it’s always worth having a play around to find what you (and your skin) like best. One ingredient that’s worth looking out for to boost hydration levels is hyaluronic acid.


Protect Your Skin In The Morning – Sunscreen with SPF:

Sunscreen is an absolute must-have. There is such a variety of sunscreen available on the market now to suit all skin types. When you are diligent with your skincare [such as exfoliating acids, retinol, and vitamin C], this can increase photo sensitivity.

Photosensitivity is when the skin is susceptible to ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun and other light sources. Most people are vulnerable to developing sunburn during prolonged exposure to sunlight.

So using a good sunscreen is imperative as it defends against this and the premature aging of fine lines, wrinkles, and control pigmentation of the skin.

For maximum protection, sunscreen should be applied directly onto the skin, underneath any makeup, other moisturizers, or skincare products.

Start by applying the sunscreen smoothly and equally to your face and neck. Then, give it 3-5 minutes to absorb before beginning your makeup routine.


Read – Sun Care For The Face 


The Ones To Consider:

woman looking confused

What we have outlined so far is the basics; we can then add further products depending on your skin concerns and skin type.

For example, black skin, the issue is usually pigmentation. You might experience anything from acne to dry, dull, or lack of firmness. Targeted serums can be used to deal with these conditions.

Serums are usually lighter (they have a lower molecular weight), which is why they work better under ‘richer’ products like a moisturiser. A good starting point is:

Vitamin C – Best Applied In The Morning:

Start your skincare process with Vitamin-C, and you should apply this before your moisturiser and sunscreen. I recommend using a sunscreen with a high SPF. Loaded with antioxidants, it helps reduce redness and even out your skin tone. Vitamin-C has shown to treat a wide variety of inflammatory skin conditions, and It negates free radicals in pollution – which can accelerate aging and give skin a healthy glow. It’s especially useful for city people.

Retinol – Best Applied In The Evening:

I highly recommend retinol (which you should use at night after cleansing). Introduce this into your skincare once you hit your late 20s and is an effective ingredient that addresses many concerns in one go. For instance, it can help to build up collagen, reduce hyperpigmentation, smooth the appearance of the skin, and balance oil.


Key Guidance And Management Advice:

You Don’t Have To Go All In!

It is my experience that the vast majority of women don’t want nor have the time for a complicated skincare routine. Those multi-step regimes create considerable bewilderment both for the individual and for the skin. Eventually, it gets pushed to the side, so simplicity is best when dealing with all things skincare. The skin is brilliant and balances itself as required, so using a lavish amount of products can be a waste of money and time.

I believe in the premise that less is more. There is always a risk of applying too many active ingredients to your skin. In doing this, it can set off allergies, sensitivity, or irritation. It is much better to find one or two skincare problems and find products to focus on these. It’s very tempting when you see so many ‘wonder’ treatments appear on the market to want to try them all. I think it’s about selecting ingredients carefully that have multipurpose functions.


Expensive Doesn’t Mean Superior:

 

Expensive or Cheap

Make sure you don’t get drawn into believing that the cost of a product is a measure of its effectiveness. Many affordable brands have impressive results and correct skincare issues. If you’re uncertain of which brands offer quality at a reasonable price, it’s always worth looking towards France. French pharmacy brands such as Bioderma, La Roche Posay, and Vichy are an excellent starting point. In contrast, brands like The Ordinary and Facetheory offer proven ingredients at reasonable prices.


Select Your Skincare On Proof, Not Marketing!

 

To 10 face day creams

My skincare routine changes very little because I know the ‘Indispensable Products Women Need In There Skincare Procedure.’ It’s so easy to start following trends or something that is ‘all the rage.’ I like to be confident that I am using evidence-based ingredients. It’s more important the product can back up its claims with clinical trials rather than using a famous celeb to ‘front’ it or beautiful packaging.


Conclusion:

Have you considered your skincare routine and the ‘Indispensable Products Women Need In There Skincare Procedure.’ What are the problems you have encountered when trying to perfect your daily skincare regime? Have you found the advice offered here to be helpful? Will you be making any changes to how you care for your skin? Please leave any comments or questions below, and I will be happy to discuss them with you.



 

Clinique’s City Block Purifying™ Charcoal Clay Mask + Scrub Review

Clinique Grey

Clinique Pink

Clinique’s City Block Purifying Charcoal Clay Mask + Scrub

 

Clinique City Block Purifying Charcoal Clay Mask + Scrub

See On – luxplus.co.uk

What It Is:

A 5-minute dual-action detoxifying – exfoliating clay mask. Rejuvenate your complexion with the City Block Purifying Charcoal Mask and Scrub from Clinique. Specially formulated by dermatologists to combat the harsh effects of city lifestyles, the dual-action treatment works to purify and polish skin in a revitalising deep cleansing process whether used as a mask or scrub.

Skin Types:

All skin types, especially suited to Oily Skin.

What It Does:

Purifies and polishes your skin. This dual-purpose exfoliator gives a delightful deep-clean treatment.

Natural bamboo charcoal and kaolin clay help to remove pollution and impurities, while natural silica beads gently refine texture.

Suitable for extra cleansing; if you have oily skin that can benefit from the use of a clay mask; City Block Purifying Charcoal Clay Mask + Scrub is for ideal for you. This highly absorbent and fragrance-free product helps make skin look smooth and refined in just five minutes.

Once applied this clay mask/scrub hybrid goes on as a medium gray shade that turns light blue as it dries, indicating its time to rinse.

You’ll feel the clay become progressively tighter as it dries, but once you rinse, the skin doesn’t feel taut or overly dry. This clay mask product would not be suitable for someone with dry, dehydrated skin.

Ingredients: Click To SeeWater, Kaolin, Butylene Glycol, Silica, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Charcoal Powder, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Gentiana Lutea (Gentian) Root Extract, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Acetyl Glucosamine, Sucrose, Caprylyl Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Iron Oxides, Titanium Dioxide.

How To Use: City Block Purifying Charcoal Clay Mask + Scrub

Use 1-2 times per week.

Leave on for five minutes or until mask turns pale blue.


Read – Best Way to Exfoliate Your Face


Conclusion: City Block Purifying Charcoal Clay Mask + Scrub

Combines cleansing of a scrub with the oil absorption of a clay mask.

It will help reduce pore size and clear blackheads.

Leaves skin refined and matte, not tight or dry.

Works in five minutes and rinses off easily.

Contains gentle, plant-based soothing agents.

Fragrance-free.

Not only will it remove dead skin, but it also removes impurities and pollution from your skin. This allows for the new skin to appear with a healthy, glowing appearance to it.

When you are washing the mask off, you gently work it into the skin and get the scrub effect but without the harshness of some ‘scrub’ exfoliants, this is perfect as we don’t want to be ‘tearing’ at our face to achieve good results! The other thing I like about this mask is that it doesn’t leave your skin feeling too dry or tight.

It’s not a deep clean, but it helps to keep skin looking good, and it is an important part of your skin management program when applied twice a week.

The reviews for this product have been excellent.

I like that this product has a clean ingredient list, no added fragrance or irritants.

I would recommend this product.

Have you used any Clinique Products? Please leave any comments or questions below, and I will be happy to discuss them with you.

jo@yourskincarehelp.com



 

Face Moisturiser – Guide to choosing whats right for you

face moisturizer

Walk down the Cosmetic isle in any large store and look at their range of Face Moisturiser and I would not blame you for being confused! The selection is enormous and the Pro’s and Con’s for each product equally confusing! Let us try to take the mystery out of moisturisers!

Face Moisturiser – Why You Need One:

One of the most significant contributing factors, and possibly the main reason why you need to apply Face Moisturiser is due to the damage made to your skin by the weather! Hot or Cold, the impact it has on your face are enormous, if its too hot or to dry outside your skin will let you know it is suffering from the effects of the climate. Watch for the warning signs that your facial skin is having trouble coping with what the weather is doing to it. People tend to think their skin remains the same the whole year round; it doesn’t, the complexion of your facial skin will change with the seasons.

Face Moisturiser

With the winter comes cold icy winds that can irritate delicate facial skin, this has a drying effect on the skin surface that removes the natural moisture from the facial skin, this can lead to itchy red patches and excess dead skin cells. We go indoors to escape the cold and turn up the central heating, great for warming the body but not doing that dry red skin any favors! All of this leads to the skin dehydrating from the dry air outside and inside.

So, with the problems our skin has suffered from the winter weather, we start to look forward to the warm, summer days in the hope it will help with the dry, irritated skin, not a chance! With the onset of summer, this brings some very different skin complications.

Summer Breakouts!

For some people acne seems to come alive in the hotter more humid days, this could be due to the increase in sweat and oil (sebum) by the sebaceous glands that clogs the pores so leading to spots and gives your skin a glaring, shiny appearance. We go indoors to escape the heat and cool down, hoping to alleviate the agitated spots brought on by the heat and sweat and turn up the air con, great for cooling down your hot face and body, but this dries out the skin and so irritates it even more!

We are in a constant battle to try to combat what the weather is doing to us when we are outdoors and create comfortable conditions our body likes and wants when we go indoors, and all the time remain kind to our facial skin.
It isn’t always easy to find a solution to help with this problem, but the one thing we have to relieve our tired, irritated facial skin is Moisturiser.


Read – Is Your Skin Sensitive or Sensitised? Do You Know The Difference?


What Day Moisturizer should I use?

Well as we have seen each season brings its unique problems, add to this the different skin types people have, and this goes part of the way to explaining why stores are so full with many kinds of Face Moisturizer.

WinterGirl In Winter SnowDry Skin. Look for an Occlusive moisturizer, an emollient-rich formulation. Your skin will be dehydrated, so you need to retain as much water in it as possible. An Occlusive moisturizer gives your skin a chance to re-hydrate.

Other ingredients you should look out for are:

  • Ceramides – Jojoba oil
  • Mineral Oil – Paraffinium liquidum
  • Silicons – Cyclometicone
  • Essential Fatty Acids
  • Hyaluronice Acid

Important -Important – Any Moisturiser you buy to apply in the winter should have SPF30 or higher. Just because its winter, do not fall into the trap of thinking those harmful UVA and UVB rays are not causing skin damage. UV rays can cause fine lines, wrinkles and premature aging. SPF Moisturizers will protect delicate facial skin.


Summersummer moisturizerOily Skin/Combination Skin/Acne Prone – Although you have oily skin you may think applying a moisturiser will make this worse, but it is essential to keep your skin hydrated. Look for a lightweight liquid consistency; this will help with the Sebaceous gland secretion and not block those pores, and help to prevent those skin breakouts that you are more prone to get in the summer months. Also consider oil-free, water.based makeup.

  • Water Based
  • Non-Comedogenic (won’t clog pores)
  • Non-Acnegenic (prevent acne)
  • Oil-free
  • Look for ingredients like Glycerin

Important – Any Day Moisturizer should have SPF30 or higher for the summer. UVA and UVB rays cause skin damage. Moisturisers with Sun Protection Factor will protect delicate facial skin.


Dermalogica Skin Hydrating Booster will hydrate, smooth and minimise fine lines, restoring your skin’s moisture balance.

Dermalogica Skin Hydrating Booster 30mlSign saying 'Dermatologist Recommended'Dermalogica Daily Skin Health Hydrating Booster 30ml


Night Moisturiser:

It is essential to have a different Night Moisturiser, one that doesn’t contain SPF that your day moisturizer MUST have. Look for a Night Moisturiser that suits your skin type. Your night moisturizer will have skin-repairing ingredients that will work through the night and will create a softer, better-hydrated skin. It repairs the skin barrier that has been damaged by what the weather has thrown at it all day!

It will be working through the night to help make your skin look healthier and radiant the next day. Most night moisturizers are suitable to use around the eye area. Most people end their day with a relaxing bath or shower, so by applying a night moisturizer, it helps to replenish the moisture that has removed throughout the day. Using your night moisturizer should be the last step in your daily skincare routine.

What Suits You?

Finding what is best for you will take a bit of time and research. Knowing what your skin-type is it will indeed narrow things down a bit. Visiting some of the larger stores can help as they will have samples on display for you to try. It will allow you to feel the texture of different brands, find out if you prefer Gels or Liquids, everyone is different and what suits one person someone else simply couldn’t bear to have it on his or her skin!

Moisturizer

Another good place to find out about different brands and products is on review pages on the internet. There is a very well known brand that is only available online; it is not possible to go and try any samples in any shop. By going to their website and reading reviews and feedback from customers, this will provide you with a lot of information and assistance to decide if the product would be suitable for you.

Moisturizer Mayhem!

The world of Face Moisturizers is humongous, too many to cover in one article that’s for sure! You can go organic, natural, tinted, tanning, gel, lotion, liquid and so on! All I can say is that it is imperative that you do use one in your daily defense against the elements. To find your perfect match may require a little trial and error. Good luck finding the one that suits you the best!

 

How do you choose your face moisturizer? Please leave any comments or questions below, and I will be happy to discuss them with you.

jo@yourskincarehelp.com


 

Best Way to Exfoliate Your Face

Exfoliate Face

 

Exfoliating your face is something that can bring that ‘sparkle’ back to your complexion, it removes all the leftovers that your daily facial wash doesn’t lift and will leave your skin looking refreshed and glowing with that all-important youthful appearance. Find the Best Way to Exfoliate Your Face.

Why Exfoliate Your Face?

You Exfoliate your face to get rid of ‘dead’ skin cells and to cleanse pores that become clogged up with all the moisturizers and makeup you apply on a daily basis. Yes, your daily face wash and cleansing will help remove some of this but only to a certain degree, to get deep down into the skin this is when slightly stronger products that you use when exfoliating are required.

Moisturiser is applied daily and is an integral part of the process to protect the skin from ageing. When used on the face it moistens the skin, those slightly dry areas soak it up and don’t look so flaky or scaly anymore, this gives the skin a radiant, youthful appearance. The problem this then creates is the ‘dead’ skin cells that are ready to leave your face have also soaked up the moisturizer and so prevents them from falling, which in turn prevents the new ‘fresher’ looking skin from appearing.

Clarisonic Mia2 side
Clarisonic Mia2 Facial Cleanser Review

With the dead skin getting thicker with moisturiser it will eventually start to become dull looking and maybe even a little rough and uneven. As a result, this will make it difficult for you to get your make up on in that smooth, silky look you desire.

For people who suffer from acne, the worst thing they can do is leave dead skin cells on their face. The dead skin is the perfect place for bacteria to build up which in turn is the ideal breeding ground for spots! P.acnes bacteria in your skin will lead to more and more spots. It is essential for people with acne to exfoliate to remove dead skin cells and eliminate the bacteria from forming.

Also, it is imperative to keep those skin pores from getting clogged up with dead skin and pollutants, the more of it we leave on our face, the bigger the pores will begin to look, as dirt and grime begin to collect so the appearance of ‘blackheads’ arrives. Exfoliation keeps those pores free from build up!

Can Exfoliating Prevent Wrinkles?

Now that is a headline that gets plenty of attention! Of course, people will say if exfoliating my skin can prevent wrinkles why  smooth faceam I paying xx amount of dollars on expensive anti-aging creams? Well as mentioned moisturisers and anti-aging creams are very important, but they do stop the dead skin cells from falling this, in turn, prevents the younger smoother and better-nourished skin beneath from appearing. The old skins cells become dull and a ‘bit tired’ these need to be removed through exfoliating and allow new skin to come through. New skin will have a more youthful appearance so, to answer the question, yes to a certain extent exfoliating removes the tired, dead skin that would lead to wrinkles.

Skin Types & Exfoliants:

Before you begin exfoliating your face, it is important to know exactly what your skin type is. Exfoliates come in many formulas, so it is essential to use the one that matches your skin type. Generally, there are five skin types:

Normal – Dry – Oily – A Combination of the previous three – Sensitive

Using a product that doesn’t match your skin, you will end up doing more damage than good. All Skin types will benefit significantly from exfoliation, but it is imperative that you use the product that matches your skin type.

Suitable Products To Exfoliate Face:

ScrubNormal to Dry Skin – Review

ScrubOily Skin – Review

Peel  –   Normal to Dry Skin & Sun Damaged – Review

Peel  –  Combination to Oily Skin – Review

The Difference Between Scrubs and Peels:

So, do we ‘Scrub‘ or ‘Peel‘?

Choosing to ‘Scrub’ exfoliate, is deemed as a ‘mechanical scrub.’ The solution that  you are using will have tiny particles in it; these can be made up from micro-grains of sugar or a finer exfoliating powder like rice grain or even salt. It is these particles that act as the ‘scrub’ on your face. You would either use a brush by hand or a hand-held motorised device to work the solution into your face and almost polish the surface. Now, this way of exfoliating can be deemed to be quite harsh on the skin, and even create tiny micro tears. I would be less inclined to use this type of exfoliation if you have sensitive skin as it can be severe and cause much irritation. Some benefits of using a ‘Scrub’ exfoliant

  • Deep Cleansing of the Face
  • Remove Blackheads
  • Toning the Face
  • Removes Dead Skin Cells
  • Unclog Pores

Opting to ‘Peel‘ exfoliate, which is also known as a chemical peel. The solution has acid in it which is the active ingredient that peels away the dead skin. It is generally thought to be less harsh on the skin as it doesn’t contain the abrasive particles like the scrubs have in them. Though more gentle on the surface it effectively removes rough, scaly skin. There are two types of solution to choose from

  • AHA (Glycolic Acid/Latic Acid) or
  • BHA (Salicylic Acid)

AHA and BHA are both suitable for daily use, but again caution is recommended, if you have hyper-sensitive skin this might not be appropriate, see how your skin reacts to using either of these products and act accordingly. Both types of Peel can are available in differing degrees of strength so maybe go for a lower strength solution if you feel that you want to apply it on a daily basis.

Helping you to choose between the two types of exfoliants. For skin prone to all forms of breakouts (including blackheads), BHA is preferred over AHA. This is due to the main difference between AHA and BHA.

The BHA ingredients enable it to penetrate into the pore (AHA’s do not do this), and this allows it exfoliate deep inside the pore, and exfoliate the surface of the skin. AHA solutions only exfoliate skin cells on the surface of the skin.

The AHA is more suitable for Dry, Sun Damaged Skin.

The BHA is more suited to Oily Skin and Sensitive Skin types.

Some benefits of using a ‘Peel’ exfoliant:

BHA Salicylic Acid

  • Deep cleansing of the face
  • Help unblock pores
  • Even out skin tone
  • Removing rough scaly patches

Biologique Lotion P50V

Exfoliate Lotion P50V Biologique

See on – Libertylondon.com

Lotion P50V is an exfoliating acid toner from French clinical skincare brand, Biologique Recherche – suitable for stronger and more mature skin types.

Founded over 40 years ago with a vision of developing formulations for skincare professionals, Biologique Recherche has a reputation for impressive results based on a clinical approach. Offering a range of four different P50 Lotions, each providing the same core benefit but with slight changes dependent on your skin type, these acid toners gently exfoliate the skin.

Lotion P50V contains antioxidant ingredients, making it suitable for more mature and devitalised skin types. Formulated with added vitamin and walnut extracts that protect from the ageing process and nourish the epidermis, the chemical exfoliation works to regenerate and maintain pH levels. Gently renewing the skin over 50 days – hence P50, ‘peeling’ in ‘50’ days – this lotion will leave skin smooth, clear and radiant.


Read – Japanese Skin Care Secrets


How often should you Exfoliate your face?

I can only recommend or suggest what I feel comfortable doing myself. Every solution you buy will have clear directions for use on the packaging that you should read very carefully. I am a little apprehensive to recommend exfoliating your facial skin on a daily basis, especially if using a scrub, I feel it is much too harsh on the skin surface – unless you have skin like an elephant!

Maybe when you are starting out using exfoliators, and you are looking to remove a lot of damaged, dead skin, you could exfoliate more regularly, 3-4 times a week to begin with if using a scrub. See how your skin copes with this amount of cleansing and cut back or stop if you see any reaction. Exfoliating using the chemical peel solution, you can use it daily, but first, try using milder solution to see how your skin copes with the chemicals and to this amount of exfoliating, and act accordingly.

Perfect Steps:

  1. Always Cleanse your Skin before Exfoliating
  2. Exfoliate
  3. Important! After you Exfoliate your face always apply a moisturiser, and if you are going out during the day after Exfoliating you must use a Moisturizer with (Sun Protection Factor) SPF 30 or above.

 

What method do you prefer too use to exfoliate your face? Please leave any comments or questions below, and I will be happy to discuss them with you.

jo@yourskincarehelp.com



 

HydraFacial

Skin Management – Learning Good Habits

Learning good habits

We all pick up bad habits in our daily routine. We stay in bed that extra 10 or 15 minutes, not allowing enough time in the morning to pamper our skin or eat a healthy breakfast. So, getting up a little earlier can improve all of these things, it is important to allow enough time to give your skin the attention it needs and deserves, after all, we all want to look our best as we face our daily routine, don’t we? Its’ all about ‘Skin Management – Learning Good Habits.’

Washing your face:face wash

The type of soap or cleansers you use on your face is so important for delicate facial skin, and this is where Skin Management is essential, everyone has a different skin type, and you have to find the product that is best suited to your skin. If you use soap that is too harsh you will remove essential oils from the skin that is going to lead to a lot of skin irritation!


Read – Alcohol and Skin Care Products – The Facts


When to wash your face:

This advice isn’t here to try to teach anyone how to suck eggs, but how many people do we know who do not follow the simple rules of facial hygiene? If we are honest, probably we all know someone!

Wash your face in the morning, when you wake up its so refreshing to gently cleanse your face, what better way to start your day, and it will leave your skin looking its best.

During the day you might have to do something very physical, causing you to sweat a lot or you may have a particularly dirty job to do. Even just walking around the city can you imagine how much dirt, grime, and smog cover your face, and the build-up of harmful facial bacteria would amaze you, so if you have a chance its always good to wash your face during the day.

Before going to bed, don’t just rely on having a shower being enough to remove all the pollutants that build up throughout the day. We need to wash our face separately using a facial soap/cleanser, do not just say “the shampoo will do it as it runs down my face” that’s not good enough! The use of hair shampoo is not suitable to be used as a face cleanser, this is where proper Skin Management comes into your daily routine, shampoo is much too harsh and as mentioned earlier will strip out all the essentials oils our face has and needs.

Also, never leave make-up or sunblock on overnight, this is a definite No! Your skin might forgive you doing it once but if you do this on a daily basis you risk the pores getting clogged up, which in turn will lead to skin problems and acne, also makeup will drain the skin of any oils and moisture it has and this in, turn will lead to dry skin and early aging! Do you want this?

How to wash your face – Be Kind To Your Skin:

Only use lukewarm water, never use hot water on your face, also keep this in mind when having a bath or shower as this will remove those essential oils from the face and body. Apply a mild face cleanser and using your fingertips to work the cleanser in a circular motion working from the forehead down across the bridge of the nose, cheeks, and chin.

Do not scrub your skin clean. If you have been sweating or working in a dusty environment you may feel the urge to give your face a good old scrub in the belief it is doing some good; it isn’t! DO NOT! Scrubbing the face will profoundly irritate your skin and if you do have any existing skin conditions will only make them worse.

Rinse your face thoroughly with lukewarm water to remove any cleanser and dry by gently patting/dabbing action with a clean towel, do not then drag the towel over your face, we want the skin to retain some moisture not leaving the skin feeling too dry or tight.

Shaving is something that is very severe on facial skin, again use lukewarm water to wet the area to be shaved, lubricate the surface using a suitable shaving foam, lotion or gel, I always use foams or gels for sensitive skin as they seem to irritate the skin less when shaving. A blade should only be used for 5 ‘shaves’ maximum, I know they are expensive but do not be inclined to overuse a razor as blunt blades will irritate the skin and can cause nasty ‘skin rash,’ and you do not get a close shave! Always shave in the direction that the hair grows so as not to razor burn or ingrown hair follicles.


Get that Peace, Quiet and Relaxation You Deserve

Spabreaks.com

Pamper Yourself – Spabreaks.com


Exfoliate your face: skin management

Exfoliating is an extremely vast topic, and many people will have different views on when, why, with what or how to exfoliate your skin. It is something that we will be looking into in greater detail in due course, but we do feel it is a significant part of your Skin Management program.

To begin with I would not suggest exfoliating your face on a daily basis, most people to some degree have sensitive skin and if you do exfoliate daily it can lead to irritation and redness and if you do have a skin condition (acne or dry skin) this will lead to inflammation of the skin and the dreaded accelerated aging!

Making our skin angry is not what we want from our daily skin maintenance. I would suggest aim for exfoliating 2 or 3 times a week using a ‘mechanical scrub’ if you have what we call ‘normal’ skin or ‘combination’ skin type. If you have sensitive or hypersensitive maybe consider using ‘chemical peel’ as they are not so harsh on the skin, some of the milder solutions are okay to use on a daily basis.

What we are looking to achieve when exfoliating our face is to remove dead skin cells that can block the pores and remove the daily build up of pollutants that give the skin a dull, unhealthy appearance. Your daily wash program that we have been talking about will help to avoid this to a certain degree but when you exfoliate your face that you are giving it a thorough deep cleansing.


For a more in-depth look at Exfoliating your face, you may like to read:

Read – Best Way To Exfoliate Your Face


Skin Management – Its Important!

I hope this shows you why it is so important to get into a good daily face cleansing routine, once you have grasped each task they will fit seamlessly into your day, and as we say “practice makes perfect” and your skin will appreciate it! You will grow in confidence as your skin appearance improves you will face your daily tasks looking your best 🙂

What is your daily skin care routine? Please leave any comments or questions below, and I will be happy to discuss them with you.

jo@yourskincarehelp.com



 

Your Skin Care Help

skin care help

WE ARE  ALL ALIKE

The one thing everyone in the world has in common is our ‘skin’… What we don’t have in common is the way we look after, take care, and treat our skin. Many people take for granted that it is there, in perfect condition, and always will be; and apart from washing do very little to look after and protect their skin, few people appreciate how fragile it really is.

THE GREAT OUTDOORS!

skin care helpI have always been an outdoors person, from my work to most of my hobbies you would rarely catch me indoors, no matter what time of the year it was or what the weather was doing.

If it was raining or cold not a problem, make sure you had enough clothes on not to feel the chill, if it was warm and sunny then that was great, stay out for hours on end and soak it all up.

I’m outdoors, enjoying life, staying healthy… or so I thought. I was giving little or no consideration as to what the weather was doing to my skin.


Read – Skin Management – Learning Good Habits


MY SKIN ISN’T DAMAGED!

How many people who are reading this have ever had a UV picture taken of their face?

Maybe like me, the answer is never. I went to my doctor because I had a tiny area of skin on my forehead that always seemed a little dry, I thought nothing much of it until it very gradually started to increase in size, but again kept on telling myself its just a small area of dry skin, it will clear itself.

To cut to the chase, I eventually went to see a Dermatologist who sat me down in front of a camera and showed me a UV photo of my face, and I was horrified. The damage to my skin shocked me! Never did I realise how my so-called healthy lifestyle was causing so much damage to the skin on my face due mainly too my lack of knowledge of how sensitive our skin is, and how harsh the weather can be on our face and body.


Swiss Clinic Skin Roller

 

Swiss Clinic Skin Roller

Maximised Skin Care With Microneedling – This Swiss Clinic Skin Roller works by gently stimulating the skin’s healing process & accelerating skin cell renewal.


CHERISH YOUR SKIN – PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE

Dream Stuff Your Skin Care HelpWe take many things for granted in our lives and thankfully, most won’t have life-changing consequences.

Taking the correct steps morning and evening to take care of your skin can prevent a lot of heartache and regret.

On this website, we will show you the correct routine, and what products are best to protect your skin.

If you ever need advice or have any questions, please feel free to leave comments below, and I will be more than happy to discuss them with you.

Please leave any comments or questions below, and I will be happy to discuss them with you.

All the best.

jo@yourskincarehelp.com