Foundation of skin care

Basically there are only 4 steps that you need to master to ensure that healthy youthful looking skin. Cleansing, exfoliating, moisturizing and applying sunscreen. Simple, rite? I’m going to explain more now. It might be quite long, but please bear with me, k :P. But, once you understand these basic stuffs, you will be on your right track. Let's begin...

Step 1: Cleanse
Cleansing is required as the first step to loosen and remove dirt, debris, excess oils, germs and leftover products that was applied to your skin. You also should consider using a proper makeup remover to take off your makeup. There are many cleansers that are available in the market and it is confusing to find the right one for the skin type. But the bottom line is that you should never use bar soap to wash your face as it is the most irritating cleanser due to its high pH level.

You should pick cleanser(liquid or cream) that is able to clean your skin well without drying or irritate your skin. Knowing what your skin type is would really help in selecting the suitable cleanser for your skin. According to Rona Berg, in her book, "Beauty”, most cleansers contain oil, surfactants and water. The oil is for dissolving oil on your skin, surfactants for dissolving dirt and makeup and finally the water for rinse them all away. The secret is to get the correct mixture of oil. Too much on your skin will clog pores, while too little will dry it out.

When you should stop cleansing your skin? If your skin feels too dry, tight or flaking, then it is time to check if it is the cleanser problem or if you are overcleansing* your skin(*meaning you are cleansing too often a day). Some experts said that washing at night only with cleanser would be sufficient. Then, in the morning, use warm water to loosen dirt, clogged pore and excess oils from nightly moisturizing. Also, never go to bed without removing your makeup first. This is a BIG NO-NO. Your skin needs some fresh air too, you know.

Finally in the cleansing process, you should use toners to remove all remaining traces of oil, makeup and dirt. Another reason is to tighten the pores. Burt's Bees - Rosewater & Glycerin Toner is my recommanded product to use. It keeps the skin cleansed without stripping the moisture and has great scent from the rosewater. Ah~ the great aroma... and it contains all natural ingredients too.

I'll post the other steps in my next post. Stay tuned:)