Facial techniques for problem skin are usually tailored to suit the needs of each skin condition. When a facial technique is individualized in this way, good results can be expected. Just as you would not massage acne skin to increase oil production, you would not apply an oily skin mask to dry and aging skin. Facial techniques can be as unique as the type of skin problem at hand. .
Aging Skin
Steam aging skin to add moisture to the skin. Some of the visible signs of aging skin include dryness, wrinkles and flakiness. Steam the skin about 18 inches away from a professional vaporizer for about 12 minutes, or hold your face over a bowl of steaming water for five minutes if you do not have a professional vaporizer. Make sure the water in the bowl is not too hot so you do not burn your skin. Afterwards, gently massage the skin with avocado or almond oil to increase blood flow and nourish the skin. Increased blood flow nourishes the skin by delivering oxygen and nutrients to the skin's cells. The sebaceous glands will also be encouraged to make more oil when facial massage is performed, promoting more youthful looking skin. Apply a moisturizing mask to aging skin and leave it on for the recommended time. Some masks for mature or aging skin will exfoliate the skin and make it soft. Removal of dead skin will also lessen the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Wipe the skin clean with wet cotton pads when the mask is ready to come off. After the skin is thoroughly cleansed, wipe the skin one last time with a wet cotton pad sprinkled with astringent and squeezed out. Apply moisturizer that is formulated to treat the needs of aging skin.
Acne Skin
Vaporize skin that has pimples and blackheads for 15 minutes to soften the impurities. If using a professional steamer, position the steamer about 18 inches away from the skin. Steam the face over a bowl of not-to-hot water for about eight minutes if a professional steamer is not available, but steam the skin for less time if you feel as if your skin is burning. When done steaming, immediately proceed to apply pressure to the area around the pimples and blackheads to force out the impurities. Before pressing the skin with the forefingers, wrap each finger in a cotton strip wet with astringent. Wipe the extracted areas clean with a cotton pad saturated with astringent. Squeeze out the excess moisture before using the pad. Apply a mask made for acne skin to draw out more impurities and treat the acne condition. Leave it on according to the manufacturer's instructions, and then wipe the mask off with wet cotton pads. Wipe the skin with a toner and apply an oil-free moisturizer to the skin.
Dry/Oily Skin
Steam skin that is dry in some areas and oily in others for about 15 minutes, with a professional steamer. Cut the time down to eight minutes if you are using a bowl of steaming water, and stop if your skin feels as if it is burning. Apply a mask designed for dry skin to the dry areas and a mask designed to treat oily skin to the oily areas of the face. Leave the masks on for the recommended time, and then remove them with wet cotton pads. Apply pressure to the area around open pores to force out any impurities. Wipe the skin clean with a wet cotton pad, saturated with astringent. Squeeze the excess moisture out of the pad before using it. Gently apply a dry skin moisturizer to the dry skin areas, and then apply an oil-balancing moisturizer to the oily skin areas.
References
- "Milady's Standard Textbook for Professional Estheticians", Joel Gerson, 1999
- National Institute on Aging: Skin Care and Aging
