Facial Care - Make It a Habit!

Following a simple skin care routine can dramatically
affect the way your skin looks and feels. When you
maintain a good skin care routine, you will notice several
significant changes. Your face will be cleaner and exude a
healthy glow. The skin will become more firm and toned.
Lines will appear less noticeable and skin will appear less
fatigued. With a regular skin care routine, you can enjoy
beautiful, bright, healthy skin.

Many people start following a skin care program to fight
the signs of aging, but there are also other reasons to
begin a skin care program. A good skin care program is
important when it comes to keeping your skin looking
healthy and youthful - no matter what your age. Skin
conditions such as acne, excess oil, dry skin and sensitive
skin and mature skin changes all benefit from a good
skincare routine.

People will often fail to establish a regular facial skin
care routine because it does not fit well with their
schedule. Many times hectic schedules and travel plans can
interfere with a regular skin care program and make it
difficult to stick with. The best way to establish a
routine is to find one that is easy to follow. Once you
make the routine into a habit, it will take only a few
minutes each day to complete. Be sure your skin care
products are available and easily within reach. One good
idea is to keep your facial cleanser in the shower,
allowing you to cleanse your face while bathing.

Your basic skin care routine should include a cleanser,
toner and moisturizer. Also incorporate acne treatment if
you have acne problems. You may also want to include eye
treatments for wrinkles, dark circles or bags beneath the
eyes. Ideally, organize these steps into your morning
routine in such a way that they do not take a lot of time.
One hint is to apply eye treatments directly under your
makeup to quicken your process.

It is usually easy to follow an organized skin care plan in
the mornings when routines rarely change. On the other
hand, evening routines can be more difficult to maintain.
Last minute plans, traveling, and fatigue all do their part
to interfere with the evening facial skin care routine.
Always be sure to carry small amounts of your skin care
products with you when you travel away from home too. It
is important to maintain your skin care routine, especially
when traveling.

The following steps should be done twice daily, morning and
evening: Cleansing the face is the first step in taking
care of your skin. Cleansing helps remove any excess skin
oils or dirt that has accumulated throughout the day or
night. The best cleansers are effective, yet gentle enough
to not disturb the skin's natural moisture balance. They
help to maintain a healthy complexion and are an essential
step in your facial care routine.

Select a cleanser suited to your skin type. Place a small
amount of cleanser into the hands and emulsify with
lukewarm water. Apply to the face in a circular motion,
covering the face for about 30 seconds. Remove from the
skin with warm water, while gently scrubbing with a face
cloth or sponge. Rinse thoroughly with warm and cool
water. This action will remove dirt and impurities from
the skin's surface and prepare it for the next step.

Toners, or toniques, are important to use after cleansing
to return your skin to its proper pH balance. This is
valuable because it can take your skin up to six hours to
return to its proper pH level without the help of a toner.
Keeping the skin at its natural pH allows it to function at
its optimum level. Apply toner using a cotton pad or spray
once or twice, over the entire face and leave on. Your
skin will feel fresh and rejuvenated.

After using the toner, it is time to treat specific skin
care concerns, such as acne, rosacea, or lack of firmness.
This is an optional step but once you experience the
clarifying and age-defying benefits of this step you will
want to continue to include this in you regime. Wait 2-3
minutes after applying the serum before applying
moisturizer.

Moisturizing is the final step to complete the daily skin
care routine. Even oily skin needs a light moisturizer to
keep skin soft and supple. Soften and hydrate the skin
with a moisturizer suited to your skin type. Apply over
the entire face and neck area and leave on. For a lighter
application, emulsify a small amount of moisturizer in your
hand with a few drops of water. You may then very gently
apply a small amount of eye cream or gel around the eyes.

We all know the basics of skin care - cleansing, toning,
and moisturizing. But why should we also exfoliate and use
a masque? These are skin care treatments that should be
integrated into a weekly maintenance plan.

Why Exfoliate? Exfoliation is the key to vibrant skin. It
is important to exfoliate your skin at least once or twice
per week. Exfoliating should be done after cleansing.
Facial exfoliators are essential to keep skin soft and
glowing. They help slough off dead skin cells and keep
pores clear. This sloughing action also smoothes and
clarifies the face's complexion. An exfoliator is a great
pick-me-up for tired, dull skin. It is also a good way to
deal with rough or flaky skin. Apply the exfoliant suited
to your skin type and allow it to dry for 5-10 minutes.
Use a face cloth moistened with lukewarm water to gently
scrub off the dried exfoliant using a circular motion while
scrubbing. Rinse thoroughly with water and apply toner and
moisturizer.

Why use Masques? Using a facial masque once or twice a
week will dramatically increase the elasticity and health
of your skin. Choose a masque suited to your skin type or
the condition that you are treating. Emulsify a small
amount of the masque in your hand with a few drops of water
and apply evenly over the entire face, neck and
décolleté areas. Avoid the eye area. Allow
the masque to dry for 5-10 minutes while breathing in the
soothing scents. Use a face cloth moistened with lukewarm
water to gently scrub off the masque using circular motions
while scrubbing. Rinse thoroughly with water and apply
toner and moisturizer.

A simple skin care routine can dramatically affect the way
your skin looks and feels. You will notice significant
changes in your skin once you make this routine into a
habit. Good quality products protect the skin from
environmental pollutants and improve the overall complexion
of the face. When you implement a regular skin care
routine, you can enjoy beautiful, bright, healthy skin for
life.


About the Author:

Renaud Professional will help you look and feel fabulous
using all natural, organic products. To learn more about
natural skin and body care, visit
http://www.RenaudProfessional.com .
Renaud Professional "Where Science and Nature Become One"