Veggie Blog

All about facial skin care

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 it consistently). So let’s look at what makes an effective facial skin care routine. Very simply, it can follow these 4 steps:
* Cleansing
* Toning
* Exfoliating
* Moisturising

The four steps

Cleansing is the first step in a facial skin care routine. Cleansing removes dust, pollutants, sweat and excess oil from your skin, which helps prevent damage to your skin. Simply apply a good cleansing lotion or cream to your face and neck and gently massage it into your skin using upward strokes. Use a soft tissue or cotton wool to wipe your face with a gentle patting motion (do not rub). Cleanse twice a day, i.e. in the morning (as part of your full facial skin care routine) and in the evening. Water-soluble cleansers are the best choice for your facial skin care routine.

Toning is the second step in a facial skin care routine. However, it is the optional step. Mostly, proper cleansing can make toning unnecessary. Toning helps remove remaining traces of dirt, grease and cleanser. Instead of making it part of your daily routine, you can use a toner occasionally, i.e. when you have been exposed to a particularly harsh environment or pollution.

Exfoliation is also, in a way, an optional step for facial skin care. How often depends on the skin type, the method and the environment, and gentle, occasional use is the safer way to start. Exfoliation has a place in facial skin care because the skin naturally replaces its surface cells every few weeks. Exfoliation helps remove the dead skin cells that can block pores, assisting the skin in this natural process. However, excessive or harsh exfoliation can damage your skin, so do not overdo it; sensitive skin may not need it at all.

The next step in facial skin care is moisturising. In fact, moisturising is the most important part of the facial skin care routine. Moisturisers keep your skin from getting dry. Dry skin is undesirable because it can make the upper layer of skin crack and flake. Again, use light upward strokes. Moisturisers work best on warm, damp skin, so do not dry your face completely in the earlier steps.

Other tips

Besides the basic facial skin care routine, keep the following in mind for facial skin care:

* Use a proper make-up remover instead of just washing your make-up off
* Pay attention to your skin type and the environment when picking facial skin care products.
* Before you start using a new facial skin care product, test it on a small patch of skin, e.g. behind the ear.
* Never scrub your skin too hard.
* Use sunscreen to protect your skin from the sun.