Skin Care Tips
From LoveToKnow Skincare
Improve Your Complexion with Basic Skin Care Tips
If you’re unhappy with your complexion, it may surprise you to learn that the best skin care tips are quite simple. You don’t need to be a trained dermatologist or blessed with perfect genes to enjoy clear skin. All you need is a bit of common sense and a basic understanding of skin care fundamentals.
Use Sunscreen
If you don’t have time to do anything else for your skin, at least remember to use sunscreen. You should use a sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 15 or more on a daily basis. If you’re swimming or sweating profusely, remember to reapply the product every two hours. Even products labeled as water-resistant start to lose their effectiveness after about 80 minutes.
While people of African-American descent often believe they don’t need sunscreen, sun protection is important for all ethnic groups. Fair-skinned Caucasians will show visible signs of sun damage sooner, but African-Americans can still experience the negative effects of too much sun exposure.
Watch What You Eat
A poor diet can aggravate problem skin. If you’ve been ignoring your fruits and veggies in favor of cookies and chips, you can’t expect a smooth complexion. If you start making changes in your diet, you should begin to see results in just a few weeks. While foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, Vitamin A, and Vitamin E have been scientifically proven to promote healthy skin, any food that’s good for your body will be good for your complexion.
Increase Your Fluid Intake
The human body is over 75 percent water, so dehydration can visibly affect the appearance of your skin. When asked for their favorite skin care tips, most experts recommend drinking 64 ounces of water each day. However, active people may need even more fluids to prevent dehydration.
Unfortunately, drinking sodas or other caffeinated beverages doesn’t offer the same benefits as increasing your water consumption. If you can’t stomach the taste of plain tap water, try adding a splash of lemon or lime. Some people enjoy drinking flavored waters, but these are often expensive and filled with unnecessary artificial sweeteners.
Simplify Your Skin Care Routine
Many people are overwhelmed by the selection of available skin care products. However, you don’t need to spend a fortune to take care of your skin. In fact, many of these expensive products are full of harsh, abrasive chemicals that can do more harm than good.
In most cases, your skin care routine should include cleanser, toner, and moisturizer. Many people believe they should be using an exfoliating product, but gently rubbing your face with a soft washcloth is often just as effective. If you’re worried about wrinkles, remember that a good moisturizer and regular sunscreen application is the best way to preserve your skin’s youthful appearance.
Understand Your Skin Type
Contrary to popular belief, not all skin care products are created equal. The face wash your best friend uses may not be the best choice for you. The moisturizer your mother swears by may make your face break out the next day.
To care for your skin, you need to choose products designed for your skin type. There are four basic skin types: oily, dry, combination, and normal. If your skin is oily, using a product made for people with dry skin will only aggravate your skin care problems by adding excess moisture to your skin. If your skin is dry, a product intended for people with oily skin will result in additional redness or itchiness.
If you’re not sure what type of skin you have, you may want to consider stopping by the cosmetics counter at your favorite department store. In most cases, you can receive a free consultation with skin care tips and product recommendations tailored to your unique needs.
Comments
Harriet, do the red patches flake? If so, you may have a condition known as eczema. Though uncomfortable, it's generally harmless and just requires a different skincare routine. You may want to check with your dermatologist to see if this might be the case.
In the meantime, continue drinking water and consider switching to a more heavy duty moisturizer. I often recommend Neutrogena's Oil-Free Moisturizer for Sensitive Skin - it's lightweight, water-based and great to wear beneath makeup during the day. While it's not especially thick, it gives the skin a moist, dewy feel. For nighttime use, don't be afraid to try something heavier. Kiehl's offers a rich cream that's great to smooth on at night. It's called Creme d'Elegance and it's available here. You may want to visit your local Kiehl's counter and request a sample first to determine if it's right for you. Good luck!
-- Contributed by: Tsharmai have always had dry skin on my face but for the last few months it has been worse than ever. i regularly use moisturiser and i drink lots of water, however nothing seems to help. i have also visited my doctor who has told me to continue what i am alredy doing but this isn't helping. my face is dry, itchy and covered with red patches. despite trying many different products, nothing seems to help.
-- Contributed by: HarrietMarie, it sounds like you should see your doctor or dermatologist. It could be that the rash needs a prescription-strength medication, or your self-diagnosis might be incorrect. Since using the wrong product could cause more harm than good, I urge you to have an MD check out the rash. Good luck!
-- Contributed by: MistyThis page has been accessed 4,969 times. This page was last modified 21:04, 5 August 2007.
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