Acne/Oily Aging Dry Sensitive Exfoliate Prevent Restore Normal Firming
Acne/oily skin is identified as skin with oily areas, pronounced shininess in the T-zone, breakouts, and pores that may be clogged and enlarged. The oiliness can cause makeup to fade prematurely. Finding the right balance is key to this skincare routine.
Daily Skin Care Regimen
If you have acne or oily skin, you will need products that control oil, hydrate without added oil, and protect your skin.
Cleanse skin both day and night with a mild sudsy or gel cleanser. Use a toner to wipe of residual dirt and soap, and finally follow with a light moisturizer with SPF for the day. Use a product that is mild and light; many times the packaging will indicate that it is non-comedegenic or non-acnegenic. Products formulated specifically for acne/oily skin condition should be suitable for use. There are a variety of products on the market that contain ingredients for mild to severe acne/oily conditions. You will want to purchase a skincare line that fits the level of your skin's needs. Sensitive individuals may want to avoid the risk of irritation by choosing fragrance-free products.
Weekly Skin Care Routine
Exfoliate once or twice per week. This will assist with cell turnover and will expose the healthy skin underneath. Over-exfoliating or exfoliating with harsh ingredients can irritate skin and possibly cause further breakouts, so stick with a product that has micro beads or exfoliating ingredients.
Use a weekly mask to help cleanse and tighten pores. Masks made with clay effectively absorb excess oil and are highly recommended and essential to controlling an oily complexion. Finally use a spot treatment as needed during the day or night. If skin becomes flaky or irritated, decrease the frequency of use. One final note: Choose your cosmetics and hair care products wisely. Many can be contributors of skin flare-ups.
Product Recommendations:
Makeup remover
Sudsy or gel cleanser
Toner
Morning moisturizer with SPF
Evening moisturizer
Eye moisturizer (optional)
Gentle exfoliator
Clay mask
Spot treatment or all-over treatment
Key Ingredients for Acne/Oily Skin:
Alphahydroxy Acid, Salicylic Acid, Benzoyl Peroxide, Hydroxyl Acid, Clay, Tea Tree Oil, Eucalyptus, Aloe Vera, Glycerin, Vitamin A, Retinol (a form of Vitamin A), Vitamin C, Clay
Aging or sun-damaged skin may have any combination of wrinkles, sagging or slack skin around the jowls, chin, cheeks and jawline. It may also have evidence of sun damage (photo damage/hyperpigmentation) in the form of spots, leathery texture and broken capillaries. The skin may also feel tight and dry. If you tend to have dry skin, you will need moisturizing products that nourish, so you will want to find protective and restorative products. Achieving a moisture balance with the right pH is key.
Daily Skin Care Regimen
Begin with a very mild soap, possibly cream based. Since your skin is acidic, the alkaline in soap can easily disturb the delicate pH balance. Also, make sure the soap does not contain harsh chemicals which will also remove the acid mantel and cause further dryness. Choose a toner that soothes and nourishes your skin. It should refresh with a hint of moisture - a low or no alcohol formulation is recommended to prevent over drying the skin.
A daily moisturizing routine is essential to aging skin. After washing skin, pat it dry and begin with a serum to enhance moisture, then apply a day moisturizer. Try to use a day cream with an SPF An evening ritual can include a serum application and a heavier moisturizer. Eye creams and serums are recommended for the delicate area around the eyes that are subject to fine lines and wrinkles.
Weekly Skin Care Routine
Use an extremely mild exfoliator in order to expose fresh skin and allow products to penetrate deeper. This will maximize the effectiveness of your skin care products. A moisture-enhancing mask that you put on and wipe off will moisturize and plump skin that may be dry and dehydrated.
Product Recommendations:
Makeup remover
Cleanser, mild or cream based
Toner (low or no alcohol)
Morning moisturizer with SPF
Evening moisturizer
Eye moisturizer
Serum
Mild exfoliant
Moisture enhancing mask
Key Ingredients for Aging Skin:
Hyalauronic acid, Manuka Honey, Evening Primrose Oil, Borage Oil, Almond Oil, Apricot Oil, Algae Extract, Caffeine, Green Tea, White Tea, Idebenone, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Grape Seed Extract, Alpha Hydroxy Acids, DMAE, Retinol, Aloe Vera, Borage Seed Oil, Ceramide, Cocoa Butter, Evening Primrose Oil, Glycolic Acid, Jojoba Oil, Lactic Acid, Shea Butter, Pycnogenol Cucumber, Copper Peptide, Coenzyme Q10 (Ubiquinone), Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Dry skin is identified as skin severely lacking natural oil and moisture. Characteristics include roughness, flakiness, tightness, fine pore redness, pronounced fine lines around the eyes and mouth, and a thin, fragile texture. The skin may also appear flaky, ashy or dull from dead skin build up.
Daily Skin Care Regimen
If you have dry skin, you will need moisturizing products that nourish, so you will want to find protective and restorative products. Achieving a moisture balance with the right pH is key.
Begin with a very mild soap, possibly cream based. Since your skin is acidic, the alkaline in soap can easily disturb the delicate pH balance. Also, make sure that the soap does not contain harsh chemicals which will also remove the acid mantel and cause further dryness. Choose a toner that soothes and nourishes your skin. It should refresh with a hint of moisture—a low or no alcohol formulation is recommended to prevent over drying the skin.
A daily moisturizing routine is essential for dry skin. Begin with a serum to enhance moisture, then apply a day moisturizer. Try to use a day cream with an SPF Your evening ritual can include a serum application and a heavier moisturizer. Eye creams and serums are recommended for the delicate area around the eyes that are subject to fine lines and wrinkles.
Weekly Skin Care Routine
Use an extremely mild exfoliator in order to expose fresh skin and allow products to penetrate deeper. This will maximize the effectiveness of your skin care products. A moisture-enhancing mask that you put on and wipe off will moisturize and plump dry and dehydrated skin.
Product Recommendations:
Makeup remover
Cleanser, mild or cream based
Toner (low or no alcohol)
Morning moisturizer with SPF
Evening moisturizer
Eye moisturizer
Serum
Mild exfoliant
Moisture enhancing mask
Key Ingredients for Dry Skin:
Hyalauronic Acid, Glycerin, Lanolin, Alpha Hydroxy Acids, Oil (Of Jojoba, Olive, Apricot Seed, Avocado, Grapeseed Borage, Almond, Evening Primrose), Vitamin E, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Honey, Shea Butter, Argan, Baobab, Manuka Honey, Green Tea (Camilla Sinsnsis), Ceramide, Glycolic Acid, Hydrolized Wheat Protein, Cocoa Butter, Shea Butter, Cucumber
Sensitive skin is identified as skin with a weakened lipid barrier that allows irritants to penetrate. This may cause roughness, dry itching, burning, stinging, blotchiness and redness.
Daily Skin Care Regimen
If you have sensitive skin, you will need products that calm and soothe, as well as restore moisture. You will want to select products that are specifically formulated for sensitive skin and are free of harsh, synthetic and fragranced ingredients.
Begin with an ultra mild cleanser. Cream cleansers work well with sensitive skin. Follow with a toner that is free of alcohol to refresh and balance the pH of your skin. An optional serum and a delicate cream with an SPF will protect your skin during the day. A night cream can be slightly heavier, but should be just as gentle to the skin as the day cream. An eye moisturizer is optional, but recommended for skin that may be showing signs of aging.
Weekly Skin Care Routine
It is optional to use an extremely mild exfoliator in order to expose fresh skin and allow products to penetrate deeper. This can also be beneficial if your sensitive skin is prone to occasional breakouts. Exfoliating maximizes the effectiveness of your skin care products.
A moisture-enhancing mask that you put on and wipe off will moisturize and plump sensitive skin if it becomes dry and dehydrated.
Product Recommendations:
Gentle makeup remover
Cleanser, gentle and cream based
Toner (alcohol free)
Morning moisturizer with SPF
Evening moisturizer
Eye moisturizer
Serum
Key Ingredients for Sensitive Skin:
Chamomile, Aloe Vera, Green Tea, Cucumber, Jojoba Oil, Glycerin Colloidal Oatmeal
Why Exfoliate?
Exfoliation is a very important yet often overlooked step in the beauty regimen. It is the key to loosen and remove a dead layer of skin cells, while speeding up the skin's process of shedding (which slows with aging or mature skin). Exfoliation also helps to stimulate the blood circulation, brighten the complexion by improving color and texture, smooth fine lines and wrinkles, and prevent build-up that can lead to break outs.
Without exfoliation, skin can take on an uneven tone, looking dull, patchy or even ashy. After exfoliation, skin serums and moisturizers are able to penetrate more effectively, allowing the active ingredients to penetrate more successfully and thus leading to better beauty product results.
As a general rule, you will want to exfoliate at least once per week. You can adjust your schedule according to your needs. The texture of the exfoliant may also factor in the frequency of usage. A finer grained exfoliator might be tolerated well and could be used more often if desired. If your skin becomes irritated or flaky, reduce the frequency of exfoliating or switch to one with finer texture.
Sometimes exfoliating ingredients are added to toners or also come in the form of masks. These products provide more options to incorporate exfoliating ingredients into your regimen.
How to Choose an Exfoliator
Choose an appropriate exfoliator for your skin type. Sensitive, fine or aging skin will need a finer abrasive ingredient than other types of skin. The best way to select one is to read the label description to determine the item's abrasiveness or strength. Salt, sugar, plant fiber, nut hulls, jojoba beads, apricot seeds, kernels, oatmeal, and bamboo beads are all common ingredients used in abrasive exfoliators.
Enzymes, retinols, alpha hydroxy acid, lactic acid, glycolic acid and salycilic acid preparations are referred to as chemical exfoliators. They are typically available in varying strengths in the form of a gel or serum. They can also be used once per week, or as desired after cleansing and before moisturizing to attain the same effect. They exfoliate with less irritation, and are especially recommended if your skin is on the sensitive side.
How to Exfoliate
After cleansing and rinsing the face, apply the exfoliator to your wet face. Using your fingers or a soft cloth, scrub using gentle circular motions. You will want to avoid the delicate eye area and scrub gently on the areas bordering it like the cheek bones and temple area outside of the eyes. Rinse your face and softly pat it dry.
Free Radical Protection
Free radicals are associated with slow cell turnover, which causes the appearance of aging. They are unstable molecules that have an uneven amount of electrons in their outer ring, so they look for an electron elsewhere in order to stabilize. When the electrons pick up atoms indiscriminately, they become secondary free radicals, setting up a chain reaction which causes damage on a cellular level. While it's a normal process in everyone's body, free radicals speed up the appearance of aging.
Environmental pollutants and sun exposure cause additional free radical damage to skin cells. The best line of defense is to eat a healthy diet abundant with fruits and vegetables, limit your exposure to tobacco and sun, and moderate your alcohol intake.
Antioxidants inhibit the activity of free radicals and therefore slow the aging process. Extracted from roots, stems, leaves, fruits and vegetables, antioxidants can be taken internally or applied externally via cosmetic and skin care products. The most common antioxidant compounds are polyphenols, flavonoids, flavonols, pycnogenols and carotenoids.
Sun Protection
SPF is an acronym for Sun Protection Factor. The Sun Protection Factor in products can range from 2-60, referring to its level of ability to block the sun's rays. Many variables should be considered when determining the level that is right for you. They include duration of exposure, time of day, season, activities you're doing, geographic location/altitude, prescription drugs that could leave you more susceptible to exposure, and your own skin's predisposition.
Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are both considered to be physical sunscreens or sunblocks, as they protect against both UVA and UVB radiation. UVA and UVB represent different waves on the electromagnetic spectrum of ultraviolet (UV) light. While UVB can cause sunburn and damage to the eyes, UVA can cause long term damage to the skin.
Look for products that offer protection from both UVA and UVB rays. UVB rays are especially intense during the summer and UVA rays are present year round. Exposure to UV rays can also increase your risk of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer.
There are two basic types of sunscreens/sunblocks. Depending on their ingredients, they work to either reflect or absorb the sun's rays. Inorganic particles like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide create a physical barrier to block out the rays, whereas organic particles absorb UV rays and release the energy as heat.
Both sunblock and sunscreen are similar in use, but are slightly different in their protective abilities. Sunblock is more opaque and therefore protects more from UVA/UVB and radiation. Sunscreen tends to be more transparent and therefore needs to be reapplied more often. For this reason, it is recommended to choose a higher SPF since its ingredients break down more rapidly than sunblock.
It's important to protect your face from the sun's harmful rays on a daily basis. Sun exposure is reflected and intensified by the pavement, snow, water and sand. Higher SPF is recommended for higher elevations and locations closer to the equator. It is also recommended to wear an SPF of 15 or higher regardless of your activity or weather condition.
Increase the SPF when your sun exposure peaks, such as in the summer or during vacations. Apply sunscreen/sunblock according to its directions. Most directions indicate applying approximately one ounce of sunscreen at least 15-30 minutes before sun exposure. Make sure to reapply at least every two hours throughout your exposure, especially after perspiring, toweling or swimming.
Be particularly cautious between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Limit your exposure outside, wear sunscreen, and spend time indoors or in the shade under an umbrella/structure.
Even if you're not spending significant time outside, it's important to wear products with SPF to protect your skin. Choose a day moisturizer with an SPF in order to keep your skin moisturized while providing sun protection. This will help protect you from sun damage that ultimately leads to premature aging. As a general rule, it is recommended that your day moisturizer have at least 15-20 SPF. If you spend more time outdoors, consider a moisturizer with 30+ SPF.
Why Restore?
Refresh your skin with a hydrating serum or moisturizing spray. Both serums and sprays will support your moisturizer, adding a boost to quench your skin's thirst. With its high water content, sprays can be used to set makeup and add moisture to the top layers of skin when you need it. They're great for airplane flights, when living in dry conditions, or for midday refreshers.
What is a Serum?
Deciding to use a serum can depend on various factors including skin type, age or degree of damage. They are able to effectively penetrate the layers of skin, delivering active ingredients for maximum benefit. Depending on ingredients, serums contain anti-aging properties that serve to firm, tighten, provide anti-oxidant protection, re-texturize, or slow the signs of aging. If you decide to use a serum with your moisturizer, select one with the ingredients or benefits associated with the concerns you wish to address.
How to Restore with a Spray or Serum
Apply to a freshly cleansed face after your toner and/or exfoliator. Once your application of serum has been absorbed (approximately five minutes), simply apply an ample layer of moisturizer. You can also use a refreshing spray during the day, between moisturizer applications.
A normal skin type typically has small to medium pores, a texture that appears smooth and even and has a healthy tone and color.
Daily Skin Care Regimen
The key to maintaining normal skin is to adhere to a regular beauty regimen. Use a cleanser both day and night for normal skin types. A mild toner is recommended to remove remaining traces of soap and dirt. Use a lightweight lotion or cream with an SPF after you wash.
Depending on your age, environment or skin needs, try a serum as a base for your moisturizer. If you live in a cold or particularly arid environment, a serum may be just the right addition to your regimen. Choose a lighter lotion or heavier cream based on your skin's response to each. If your skin feels too greasy after a cream, try a lotion. Conversely, if your skin feels tight or lacks moisture, try a heavier lotion or cream.
Weekly Skin Care Routine:
A mild exfoliator will help remove the top skin cells and allow your face to glow with fresh skin. You can offset any occasional or seasonal oiliness or dryness with a clay or moisturizing mask.
Product Recommendations:
Makeup remover
Cleanser
Toner
Morning moisturizer with SPF
Evening moisturizer
Eye moisturizer (optional)
Serum (optional)
Exfoliator
Clay or moisturizing mask
Key Ingredients for Normal Skin:
Vitamin A, Vitamin E, Vitamin C, Jojoba Oil, Lavender, Chamomile, Aloe Vera
Skin Firming
When skin ages, its collagen and elastin are produced more slowly. This causes gradual changes like hyperpigmentation, discoloration, dryness, sagging, wrinkles, crepe-like folds, loss of muscle tone, textural unevenness and loss of elasticity.
The topical application of key skin firming ingredients works synergistically to protect and strengthen the skin. Skin care products should have a combination of naturally occurring active ingredients. They will contain compounds to protect which will likely be in the form of extracts containing antioxidants. Another set of ingredients will firm the skin by penetrating through its seven layers to support the collagen process at a cellular level.
Skin firming creams are usually formulated as night creams. They tend to be richer, thicker and more emollient and should be able to stay on long enough to absorb for maximum benefits. In general, face creams are designed to minimize lines/wrinkles, improve skin density, firm, plump and decrease puffiness (especially in the eye area).
Many manufacturers describe their product as a "cocktail" of ingredients that work together to decrease the effects of aging. Skin firming and anti-aging ingredients often include antioxidants, minerals, seaweed, herb extracts and different kinds of oils like Vitamins A and E. Other ingredients attributed to having a firming effect on the skin include green tea, aloe vera, beech bud extract, alpha lipoic acids, shea butter, hyaluronic acid and the very exotic sounding emu oil. Some firming and anti-aging products also contain light reflecting pigments, such as mica, to enhance the glow and make the skin look radiant.
You can choose the right skin firming creams according to your skin type (oily, combination or dry) and the anti-aging action associated with them.
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