When you come into this world you are born with good skin, but as time passes, how you take care of this important organ becomes obvious. If you take good care of your skin, it will look healthy and radiant, but if you neglect it and allow it to be abused in any way, your skin may start to show signs of premature aging, and it may look sallow and blemished. Give your skin the attention it deserves if you want it to look good and healthy, as you will be wearing it for the rest of your life.
Step 1
Cleanse your skin with a gentle soap (liquid soap or bar soap) to remove impurities. When dirt and cellular debris are left on the skin, you have a recipe for pimples and blackheads. Wash your skin gently, and never stretch your skin or rub it hard. Use warm water to wet the skin, and then apply the soap and rinse it off with a generous amount of water. Let your skin air dry, or dry it by blotting it with a soft paper towel or a bath towel. Apply a toner that contains witch hazel to a cotton pad, and then gently wipe your skin with it.
Step 2
Buff your skin to take away any dry, scaly dead skin from the surface. Dead skin should be removed so that it does not block pores. Eliminate dead skin to make the skin smooth and clear and to prepare it for better absorption of beneficial moisturizers and serums. Do this by applying an exfoliant to your skin, following the directions provided with the product you use. Some exfoliants require that you apply them to wet skin and rinse them off immediately, while others need to be left on for a number of minutes before removing them.
Step 3
Moisturize your skin with a moisturizing cream in the winter. Moisturizers in the form of creams are better for your skin during the cold weather months because they do a better job of nourishing dry skin. Use a moisturizing lotion when the weather is warm or hot and the skin is not as dry. Always apply moisturizer to the skin while it is still slightly damp. Choose an oil-free moisturizer if your skin is oily or prone to blemishes. Deliver additional moisture to your skin and cleanse toxins from your body that can lead to blemishes by drinking six to ten 8-oz. glasses of pure water every day.
Step 4
Eat foods that will help cleanse your body and create beautiful skin. Consume ripe fruits and vegetables, especially vitamin A foods such as carrots, sweet potatoes and broccoli. Include vitamin C foods such as cabbage, oranges, grapefruits, strawberries and tomatoes in your diet to keep skin healthy. If your skin feels dry, eat foods that contain potassium, such as bananas.
Step 5
Examine your skin every three days to see if any skin changes are taking place. See a dermatologist if a growth suddenly appears on the skin, or if an old one looks as if it is starting to change in appearance. Stay out of the sun as much as possible to avoid skin damage, and use a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 if you will be in the sun for more than 15 minutes.
Things You'll Need
- Gentle liquid or bar soap
- Soft paper towel or bath towel
- Toner with witch hazel
- Exfoliant
- Moisturizing cream
- Moisturizing lotion
- Bottled water
- Sunscreen, SPF 15
References
- National Institute on Aging: Skin Care and Aging
- Womenshealth: Skin and Hair Health
- "Linda Page's Healthy Healing, All New Eleventh Edition"; Linda Page; 2001
- "Milady's Standard Textbook for Professional Estheticians"; Joel Gerson; 1999
- Girlshealth: Vitamins
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