A Good Skin Care Regimen

Men and women both have been known to go get a special facial at a spa, as a sort of indulgence or just to pamper their skin.  Its important though, to know how to give yourself the same treat at home, to take care of your skin on a daily basis.  Its not hard, and can become a very healthy habit!  Your skin is the first thing people really see!  Impressions matter, and so taking care of yourself inside and out is critical to not just looking your best but also feeling your best. 

Start from the inside, by drinking plenty of water, taking your vitamins and eating healthy.  Your hair and nails will thank you, along with your skin and all your bodies organs.  Your skin is an organ that sometimes get much emphasis but its an incredibly important organ to our lives. 

Its really rather simple, to take care of your face.  There are really only 3 basic daily steps, and they are to cleanse, tone, and moisturize.  A couple times a week, or up to every other day, you can add an exfoliator to remove dead skin cells to reveal newer and beautiful skin underneath.  For women this is especially critical because we often wear makeup.  Your makeup will look blotchy and splotchy at best without good skin care.  Below, I will go into more detail and share a couple of my own favorites for each category.

You can use anything you like to cleanse your skin, but just make sure you DO cleanse your skin.  Most women want to use a special facial cleanser and that is what I do.   You don't have to spend a lot of money, to get a good lather going and then rinsing that off however.  Some use a simple Dove bar, or even Johnson and Johnson's baby bath or bar.  This is gentle enough for even a baby, so it is great for your skin.  I currently switch off between Clinique's mild gel cleanser, and Lancome's creamy cleanser. 

St. Ives makes some good ones, as does other Department store brands like Estee Lauder, Clarins and Elizabeth Arden.  You can find many great things to try at your local drugstore like Walgreens, or a Target or Walmart.  I find that with the gifts with purchase, I end up getting a great deal on my Clinique and Lancome products.  I also get to try new things.  It all is your personal preference however.  Does anyone else remember Noxema?  My husband even remembers this stuff, and I think you can still get it!  That felt wonderful.  I have heard great things about Neutrogena's cleansers and Bars, but it has been a while since I used those.

I recently heard that this is the most overlooked but often the most useful step in the cleansing process of your skin.  Once you get make up off, or dirt and sweat, you need to bring your skin back to a normal ph balance.  You can do this with one of the many toners out there. I love Clinique's toners of course, and Lancome's also, but these run a little high for me.  

You can even use a witch hazel toner that can be found at Wal Mart and I think Target as well and other places like that.  This is natural and great for your skin.  Use a cotton ball or cotton pad to put the toner on, then gently brush over your skin.  Do this until your skin is completely free of any traces of make up or dirt.  You are not just applying toner, you are getting off dead skin cells and regulating and bringing back a balance to your skin.  Don't be tempted to skip this step! Many kids and adult's ance has been cleared up by using this stuff!  Clean and clear makes a good one for skin that has a tendency to break out, as does Clinique. You will want to get the 3 or higher, but even two is a good number for Clinique's toners. 

If cost is an issue, you can't go wrong with the witch hazel toner.  I am tempted to go back to that just because its so natural anyway!

Everyone can use a moisturizer, even an oil free moisturizer is great for your skin, especially if it has a good sun protection factor in it, or SPF.  You can find all kinds of moisturizers from oil of olay, to neutrogena to Estee Lauder to Clinique, and Clarins, Lancome, and the list goes on and on. 

This is where you can begin to spend more money, but it isn't necessary.  Some find that they don't mind that though, and consider it an investment in their skin.  I currently love Lancome and Clinique the most for my moisturizers.  Lancome's Absolue , oil free with SPF is good for day, and I love Clinique's dramatically different moisturizing gel for the night, also oil free.  These soothe my skin, and won't add to any possible break out scenarios if your skin is clean and toned.  As I get older though, I can add a bit more moisture, like a night cream.  I am really enjoying a sample of High Resolution Night, by Lancome.  It is a triple action renewal process, and anti wrinkle night cream.  It smells great (a very light scent) and feels wonderful. 

This is a critical step, and helps your skin to rest and not feel stressed from environmental factors.  If you are in to anti aging, or fighting the aging of your skin, you will want to remember these steps and find some products that you can use and stick with. 

One last note to add, I didn't forget about masques, or the mud mask!  I still use these on occasion, and they draw out impurities in your skin and make it feel great afterward.  It is said that it aids in exfoliating as well.