‘Facial skin care’ is more a matter of discipline than anything else. A facial skin care routine is what you need (and you need to follow the facial skin care routine with complete seriousness). So let’s check what comprises an effective facial skin care routine. Well, very simply, a facial skin care routine can follow the following 4 steps:
* Cleansing
* Toning
* Exfoliating
* Moisturising

Cleansing is the first thing in facial skin care routine. Cleansing helps in removing dust, pollutants, grease and extra oil from your skin, thereby preventing damage to your skin. Just spot your face and neck with a good cleansing lotion or cream and gently massage it into your skin using upward strokes. Use a soft face tissue or cotton wool to wipe your face in a gentle patting fashion (do not rub).  Cleansing should be done at least twice a day i.e. morning (as part of complete facial skin care routine) and evening (on a standalone basis). Water soluble cleansers are the best for inclusion in your facial skin care routine.

Toning is the next in a facial skin care routine. However, this is the optional part of the facial skin care routine. Mostly, proper cleansing can compensate for toning. Toning helps remove all traces of dirt, grease and excess cleanser. Instead of making it part of your daily facial skin care routine, you can using toning occasionally i.e. when you have been exposed to particularly harsh environment/pollution.

Exfoliation is again, kind of, optional step in everyday routine for facial skin care. However, exfoliation is necessary at least once a week (or twice, depending on the skin type and the environmental conditions). Exfoliation finds its place in facial skin care routine because of the natural tendency of skin to replenish the skin cells every 3 or 4 weeks. As a facial skin care technique, exfoliation helps in removing the dead skin cells that block the pores, thus assisting the skin in the natural process. However, excessive or harsh exfoliation can cause damage to your skin; so you need to balance it out.

The next thing in facial skin care is moisturising. In fact, moisturising is the most important part of facial skin care routine. Moisturisers prevent your skin from getting dry. Dry skin is really undesirable since it cause the upper layer skin to break, leading to dead skin cells. Again, use light upward strokes to make the moisturiser more effective. Moisturisers work the best when applied on warm and damp skin. So do not try to remove all the moisture in the previous steps of facial skin care routine.
 
Besides the normal facial skin care routine, you should also exercise the following for facial skin care:

* Use proper make-up remover instead of just washing it away
* Pay heed to your skin type and the environment, when choosing facial skin care products.
* Before you start using a new facial skin care product, test it by applying it on a short patch of skin e.g. ear lobes.
* Never rub your skin too hard.
* Use sunscreen lotions for protection against sun.

Technorati Tags: moisturiser, Skin Care

Acne is a menace. However, it’s not something that cannot be tackled. There are loads of acne skin care products around. We can classify acne skin care products into 3 broad categories –
* Preventive or general acne skin care products
* Over-the-counter, specialised acne skin care products
* On-prescription acne skin care products.

The general acne skin care products are the ones that are used as acne-prevention measure. These include cleansers, make-up removers and similar products that help prevent acne. In the real sense, these acne skin care products are just those that should anyway be part of your daily routine. However, some of these are more oriented to act like an acne skin care product. These acne skin care products act against the causes of acne e.g. limiting the production of sebum/oil and preventing clogging of skin pores. Basically, these acne skin care products prevent the oil from getting trapped in pores and hence hamper the growth of bacteria that lead to acne. The general acne skin care products also include exfoliation products like skin peels. These work towards removing dead skin cells, hence reducing the possibility of pore-clogging and bacteria development.

Then there are specialised acne skin care products that are available over-the-counter i.e. without the need of a prescription. These include products like vanishing creams which extract the extra oil from the skin. Most of these acne skin care products are based on benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid, both of which are the enemies of bacteria (and hence acne). You should start with a product that has lower concentration of benzoyl peroxide (e.g. 5%) and see how your skin responds to it.  Alpha-hydroxy-acid based moisturizers are also popular as acne skin care products. You might have to try a few, before you zero-in on the acne skin care product that is effective for you. If nothing seems to work, you should contact a dermatologist.

On-prescription acne skin care products are the ones that are prescribed by a dermatologist. This can include ointments that can be applied on the affected area or oral antibiotics or just any topical treatment. Dermatologist could also suggest a minor surgical procedure to remove the contents of pustules.  However, never try to squeeze or do this by yourself, it can lead to permanent damage of your skin.  Your doctor could also prescribe a hormone-based treatment (since hormonal changes are also known to cause acne). Such acne skin care products are known to be very effective in some cases.
So, with all those acne skin care products, tackling acne is not that difficult.

Skin care is not a topic of recent times; it has been in practice since ancient times, when herbal skin care was probably the only way to take care of skin. However, skin care has transformed in a big way. Herbal skin care routines have been replaced by synthetic/chemical-based skin care routines. The herbal skin care recipes which once used to be common place are not so popular today (and even unknown to a large population). This transformation from herbal skin care to synthetic, can probably be attributed to two things – our laziness (or just the fast pace of lives) and the commercialisation of skin care. Even herbal skin care products have been commercialised. These commercial herbal skin care products have to be mixed with preservatives in order to increase their shelf-life, hence making them less effective than the fresh ones made at home. However, it seems that things are changing fast and more people are now opting for natural and herbal skin care routines. But still, none want to make them at home and hence the commercial market of herbal skin care products is on the rise.

So what are these herbs or herbal skin care mechanisms?

Aloe vera, which is an extract from Aloe plant, is one of the best examples of herbal skin care product. Freshly extracted aloe vera is a natural hydrant that helps in soothing skin. It also helps in healing cuts and treating sun burns. 

A number of herbs are known to possess cleansing properties. Dandelion, chamomile, lime flowers and rosemary herbs, are a few examples of such cleansers. Their herbal skin care properties get invoked when they are combined with other herbs like tea.

Antiseptics are another important part of Herbal skin care. Lavender, marigold, thyme and fennel are good examples of herbs that are known to possess antiseptic properties. Lavender water and rose water also form good toners. 

Tea plays an important part in herbal skin care.  Tea extracts are used for treatment of skin that has been damaged by UV radiation.

Oils prepared from herbal extracts present another means of herbal skin care.  Tea tree oil, Lavender oil, borage oil and primrose oil are some popular oils used in herbal skin care.  Some fruit oils (e.g. extracts from fruits like banana, apple and melon) find use in shower gels (as a hydrating mix)

Homeopathic treatments and aromatherapies also come under the umbrella of herbal skin care remedies.

Herbal skin care is good not only for the routine nourishing of skin but also for treatment of skin disorders like Eczema and psorasis. Most herbal skin care products don’t have any side effects (the most important reason for preferring them over synthetic products) Moreover, herbal skin care products can be easily made at home, hence making them even more attractive. So, herbal skin care is the way to go. However, this does not mean that you totally discard the synthetic products. Some people go to the extent of debating with their dermatologist, if he/she suggests a synthetic product. You should accept the fact that some skin orders might need usage of clinically proven non-herbal skin care products.

Technorati Tags: herbal skin care, Skin Care

Put simply, ‘natural skin care’ is caring for your skin in a natural and chemical-free way. ‘Natural skin care’ advocates enabling the skin to take care of itself (without any assistance from synthetic materials/ chemicals). ‘Natural skin care’ is about inculcation of good habits in the way you lead your day to day life. A lot of natural skin care measures are actually the same as those for body care in general.

So let’s see what these natural skin care measures are.

Well the first and the foremost natural skin care measure is – ‘Drink a lot of water’.  Around 8 glasses of water is a must everyday. Water helps in flushing out the toxins from the body, in a natural way. It helps in the overall upkeep of the body and promotes good health for all organs (not just skin).

General cleanliness is another inexpensive way of natural skin care.  Daily shower, wearing clean clothes and sleeping on a clean mattress/pillow are all part of general cleanliness. After all, clean skin is the key to keeping the skin disorders at bay.

Regular exercise is the next thing on the cards. Exercise increases the flow of blood that helps in getting rid of body toxins and keeping you healthy.  Exercise also helps in beating stress which is the worst enemy of good health.

Healthy food and eating habits are also recommended for natural skin care.  Some type of food (e.g. oily food) is know to cause acne and should be avoided as much as possible. Your diet should be a healthy mix of various nutrient providing foods. Raw fruits and vegetables are known to provide freshness to your body and help in getting rid of body toxins.

A good sleep is also instrumental in maintaining good health and in beating stress. As a natural skin care measure, a good sleep delays slacking of skin.

Beating stress is another natural skin care therapy. Stress causes overall damage to body and health. Drinking a lot of water, getting a sound sleep and exercise has already been mentioned as stress busters. Indulging in a warm bubble bath, listening to music and playing your favourite sport are also good ways of beating stress. Yoga is yet another way of beating stress; it is fast gaining popularity amongst the masses.

Avoiding excessive exposure to sun (by wearing long sleeved clothes, hat and umbrella etc), is another natural skin care strategy. Sunscreen lotions are also recommended as necessary. 

A lot of traditional and home made natural skin care products/ measures are also known to be very effective. Such measures are not only natural and easy-to-follow, but also relatively inexpensive.

Besides that, a lot of natural skin care products are available in the commercial market. These include things like lavender oil, aloe vera etc., which don’t have any side effects.

Technorati Tags: natural skin care

Are you even aware that some of the most common household products found in our homes can be some of the most effective and ingenious skin care treatments to treat acne?

Read on and be amazed at the unthinkable, yet realistic treatment approaches to acne, provided that one is not allergic or may have cause adverse effects on people with special skin conditions.

Acne can be the most troublesome visitor one can have, since it mostly comes at a time when you need it the least, which is everyday I suppose. But sometimes, it comes as an unwanted guest at the most ill -opportuned times in out lives.

It may not be life- threatening, but it sure can cause you a lot of embarrassment or sometimes make you lose face.

But don’t fret when it arrives and you run out of acne treatment in your medicine cabinet, since all you may need to do is scrounge up some household items that work as effectively yet temporarily, as some acne treatments in the market today.

Get a tablet of aspirin and crush it until to takes on a powder form, then with a few drops of water, dissolve the powered aspirin and apply the solution directly on the affected area, then leave it until it dries up.

As it dries, rinse the face with warm water. Aspirin will surely shorten the life of the pimple.

You can also go to the freezer and get a couple of ice cubes, since ice cubes can be a quick remedy to concealing the zit. It is not a guaranteed cure, but it will reduce the swelling and the redness for a couple of minutes.

Another quick remedy for the pimple is applying a dab of white fluoride toothpaste on the affected area, since it has been proven to dry up the pimple quickly.

It is ideal to apply toothpaste on the affected area before going to retiring, leave it on and allow it to work its way overnight as you sleep.
 
It can also be done during the day, for as long as you are planning to stay indoors the whole day.

Eye drops, especially one made of active tetrahydrozoline, which will help get rid of the soreness of the pimple, although it is not a cure to remove it.

Just moisten an end of a cotton tip and dab it on to the pimple for a few seconds. You’ll start to see the redness vanish.            

Neosporin, an antibiotic that treats mouth or skin sores, can also healp treat pimples. Just apply small amount of Neosporin on the affected part before going to be and see the effect of the bacteria starting to rapidly heal.

If you want to have a more natural treatment for pimples, try to use honey, since it has antibacterial properties that make it an effective yet gentle natural treatment for acne.

If the acne remains to be a perennial problem, honey can be used as a weekly face mask to treat or minimize pimples or acne.

By now you know some of the ingenious skin care treatments to treat and how to deal with acne and makes you more aware that your kitchen cupboard may be holding more than just kitchen and cooking stuff.

Technorati Tags: Acne, Skin Care, skin problems

Skin problems are the most common reasons why many people have ugly skin. Because of unhealthy habits, more and more people are not even aware that they have skin problems that greatly contribute to their deteriorating skin.

These days, many people are not aware that the normal pimple—which has a life cycle of six to eight weeks—can lead to a skin illness without serious treatment. What is worst is that they don’t know that if the normal skin problem such as pimples can develop into a severe condition like acne that would require more time to heal and may cause pain due to heavy peeling and would eventually leave ugly and uneven acne scars.

Solving Simple skin problems Through Effective Products

If your skin problems such as pimples are taking too long to heal and are spreading all over your face and neck, then you should be visiting your dermatologist so he or she can give you effective skin care treatment products as early as now.

Pimples is only among the most common skin problems that people—young and old—have to deal with today. Being a skin disorder usually caused by irritated blackheads and whiteheads, the development of acne becomes more and more difficult to cure if the infection is neglected and left untreated. This neglect can even cause further irritation and may eventually lead to the production of abscess.

Since prevention is the best treatment to any impending injury or disaster, finding a good line of skin care products now can be an effective way to control your growing problem. Skin care treatment products that have antibiotics have been long known as effective solution in treating moderate to severe and persistent skin conditions like pimples. Oral treatments include products that contain tetracycline, erythromycin, minocycline and doxycycline can also be effective when used or administered properly.

Most people consider topical medication or treatments through creams and surgery as other option in treating skin problem. One of the most common acne skin care treatment products is cream because dermatologists recommend this as an effective treatment product since the skin quickly absorbs it. But, before you purchase any cream, consider these helpful tips:

- Choose creams that are derived from natural substances and sources because these can even help you get rid of skin problems without too much acne scarring.

- Always check the label. Make sure that the skin care cream that you plan to buy is hypoallergenic and can be used by children or pregnant women without enduring any pain or discomfort. Knowing the ingredients used in the product will ensure that the cream has balanced formulation to deliver effective results.

- Research. By doing a little research on how the formulation and content of these creams, you can help cure the skin infection faster.  

- Observe. When you monitor how your skin reacts to the skin care treatment product carefully, you can ensure that you are using a safe product. It is ideal to do this after the initial application and take note of the visible changes so you can avoid possible side effects or allergies.

Technorati Tags: Skin Care, skin problems