3 Simple Steps to Beautiful Healthy Skin
At one time or another most of us find ourselves shopping for the perfect moisturizer, cleanser, or toner, as we suffer from sticker shock at the prices. Often we find ourselves tempted to try one product after another looking for the magic bullet.
But HarvardHealth suggests many of those magic skin care products will remove more cash from our wallets than dirt and oil from the skin.
Skin care labels are full of promises including vitamins. But in most cases vitamins in moisturizers do not make much difference because the amounts used are too small to have much effect, or because the vitamins degrade with exposure to light and air.
Three Simple Steps Are Needed For Daily Skin Care
You can hold your routine to three steps: cleaning your skin, protecting it from the sun, and tending to any specific skin problems you may have, such as dry skin, acne, or fine lines and wrinkles. This can be done with an array of inexpensive drug store products.
Clean your skin morning and evening.
Choose your skin cleanser based on whether your skin is dry or oily. If you have dry skin, choose a mild cleaning agent such as a mild soap or cream cleanser and avoid products such as toners, that contain alcohol. For oily skin, choose a soap that removes the oil and clean your skin more frequently throughout the day.
Protect your skin from the sun and respect its power.
Choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher and wear it every day. Higher SPFs are good if you spend hours outdoors. If you are usually indoors SPF 30 is adequate.
A friend of mine summed up the relationship of the sun and the skin. He said, ”The skin never forgets.” Longtime gardeners, sailors and other outdoor fans often lose count of the hours that they spend in the sun. Wearing broad brimmed hats, loose cover ups and sunglasses is essential when we are out there soaking up the fun and the healthy rays.
Be aware of your skin’s individual needs & cater to them.
For dry skin, there are many effective, inexpensive moisturizers. If you want to try a product that moderately reduces lines and wrinkles or fades brown spots, there are many drug store products available.
All moisturizers help with dry skin for the simple reason they supply a little bit of water to the skin and contain a greasy substance that holds it in. They all trace their roots back to 100 percent white petrolatum, Vaseline, as manufacturers search for new mixes that hold in water like petrolatum, but feel nicer on the skin.
You can also use a humidifier, turn down the thermostat and take warm rather than hot baths and showers to avoid drying out your skin. In the winter months shield your face from the wind and protect your hands when you go out.
As always if you have persistent skin irritations or other problems, see your doctor for an evaluation and course of treatment.
Used under Creative Commons Licensing courtesy of riccardo.fissore