Feel good: take 5 minutes every morning and evening to cleanse, tone and moisturise your face. Your skin will look better and you will feel better.
This page includes skin care basics and how to give yourself a facial at home.
Skin Care Basics
The three basic steps to better skin are Cleanse, Tone and Moisturise (CTM). Carry out these three steps morning and evening, and you will see the quality of your skin improve.
We do not believe that it is necessary to use expensive products to get good results. You should try to choose products according to your skin type, as using the wrong type would be less helpful.
Generally, skin falls into one of four categories:
· Combination
· Dry
· Oily
· Sensitive
Combination skin: Do you have a shiny nose, but do your cheeks sometimes feel dry or tight when you have washed your face? Then you probably have combination skin. The most common arrangement seems to be an oily forehead, nose and chin, with dry cheeks. If you use products intended for oily skin, you can dry out parts of your face – use something too rich, and you’ll clog your pours and get spots.
There are many clever products on the market designed specifically for combination skin. You can also use common sense, and apply more moisturiser on the drier areas of your face.
Dry Skin: If your skin feels too tight sometimes, flakes in dry weather, has a tendency to fine lines, and products just sink into your skin, you probably have dry skin. It is particularly important that you choose the right cleanser and toner to give your skin the care it needs.
Oily Skin: Does your face seem always shiny; feel greasy a few hours after washing, and prone to spots? You probably already know you have oily skin! There are loads of specialist products available – but avoid the pitfall of treating your skin too harshly.
Sensitive Skin: If your skin reacts to any change, gets blotchy for no apparent reason, or becomes easily flushed, you may have sensitive skin.
A matter of opinion: Some companies label their products as suitable for ‘mature skin’, or recommend certain products for specified age groups. Our opinion is that this is more a marketing ploy than an objective classification – particularly as the age bands are often along the lines: teenage, 20s, 30s, 40s and then all in one lump: over 50s. How can everyone the same age have the same skin?
We think its better to be guided by your skin – not the hype.
Are all three steps (Cleanse, Tone and Moisturise) really necessary?
We think so. Cleanse to loosen and lift off impurities (and grime) plus remove excess oil. Tone to remove that lifted dirt and get rid of any cleanser left on the skin. Moisturise with a cream suited to your skin type to help keep skin elastic and plumped up.
If you use a cleanser that is rinsed off with water, the water should be tepid, not hot or cold. Then pat your face dry with a clean towel. Don’t rub vigorously, as this can damage your skin.
Is it really necessary to follow the routine in the morning as well as the evening?
Yes – your skin cells renew during the night, and your face will look fresher if you follow the CTM drill.
If you find it hard to summon the energy to go through all three steps at the end of the evening, try going through the CTM routine a bit earlier, before you are really tired.
Treat yourself to a facial at home
A professional facial can be a lovely experience, but the cost can be prohibitive. You can achieve an improved appearance to your skin by giving yourself a mini-facial at home, at minimal cost.
You can use your normal cleanser, toner and moisturiser. If possible, try to add a
facemask and a gentle exfoliator. Larger chemists (drug stores) sell a variety of facemask sachets at very low prices. An exfoliator will cost at least a few pounds, but the tube or jar will contain enough for a good many applications. Don’t worry if you cannot afford to purchase an exfoliator, as a gentle polish with a face cloth or flannel will go some way towards smoothing your skin.
You may wish to lie down for about 10 minutes when you have applied the facemask, so take some time to prepare for a few minutes of relaxation. Consider selecting some soothing music. On a practical note, if you are going to lie on your best sofa, have a large, clean towel ready to place under your head.
Begin by removing any lipstick and/or eye make-up. As always when removing eye make-up, take care not to drag your skin. The skin around your eyes is very delicate, with little elasticity compared to the rest of your face.
Continue by thoroughly cleansing your skin using your normal cleanser, and follow this with your usual toner to remove every trace of the cleanser.
If you have an exfoliator, use it after the toner. This will slough off any dead skin cells, leaving your face looking more radiant.
If you do not have any special product for exfoliation, use a clean flannel or muslin cloth that has been soaked in warm water. Wring out any excess moisture and use the cloth to polish your face. Try a small, gentle circular motion on your forehead, cheeks and chin.
Pat your face dry, and apply the facemask as directed. Try soaking a couple of cotton pads in warm water and place these over your eyes. Alternatively, you may wish to use thin slices of cucumber, particularly soothing in hot weather.
After removing the facemask, apply your normal moisturiser. Smooth in over your cheeks and forehead, with gentle, upward strokes. Use your third (ring) finger to gently apply it around your eyes. A light tapping motion will ensure that you are not stretching the skin.
For best results, follow your ‘at home facial’ with an early night. You should notice an improvement in the morning, not just in your face, but your general sense of wellbeing.
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