We should be thankful to our lucky stars that we are born in this century with so many tips and tricks available. The dream of younger, fresher and smoother skin has become a reality now.
Skin is often called your window into your health. However, the weather varieties tend to dull the skin. To protect against the exposure to sun, pollutants, grim and adverse weather factors and other foreign bodies you need to know the basic accessories and techniques used these days. Don’t assume that a healthy, glowing skin is the exclusive privilege of those who can afford professional skin care. To keep your skin fresh and lustrous, you have to spare some time for it. Let’s make a routine and incorporate the following rules to a healthy looking skin.
CLEANSING
Cleaning is of utmost importance as it wipes off the dust, sweat, extra oil, and stale make up that have been accumulated on the skin. Pollution, dirt, UV rays and other free radicals frequently assault our skin. Washing skin with soaps with antioxidants helps to neutralize them. Avoid harsh cleansers as they stripe off skin’s moisture. Today there are numerous cleansing options in foam, lotion and cream. They all cleans and purify the skin. Look for the labels reading out blend of ingredients like orange oil, Aloe Vera, oats, vitamin C and E. Modern cleansing options have floral nectars that leave the skin refreshed and fragrant.Once in a week try at least one of the following technique.
1. Steaming: It is one of the most common and beneficial technique. It opens up the skin pores releasing all the dead cells, locked dirt, stale accumulations, thereby cleansing the skin.
2. Massage: Treat your skin by squeezing a massage in your schedule once a while. It stimulates blood circulation, relaxes your tensed and exhausted muscles.
3. Exfoliating: It helps to strip off the dead cell from the skin. You can use soap on a washcloth or any scrub to do the job. But be gentle on your skin when using the scrub as the extra force can ruin the skin instead of replenishing it. Do not pull or stretch your skin while cleaning. Use your finger pads to do the job. Use upward and outward movements of fingers when using the cosmetics on your skin as it prevents the sagging of the skin. Indulge your body with a message, a full mask and then a cold treatment to close the cleansed open pores.
Naturally occurring cleansers at home:
1. Lime and other citric fruits and their oils are used to treat acne as they are antiseptic and have astringent like qualities.
2. Turmeric is known for its antiseptic qualities and is used to clean and lighten up the skin, giving it a natural glow.
3. Camphor is used to clean the extra oil and treat acne.
4. Neem who doesn’t know that neem cleanses and purifies skin and blood impurities.
5. Chandan extract or mask is used to clean the oil and dirt from the skin offering a more visible glow to those who use it.
TONING:
Toners constitute another category of skin care cosmetics followed by the cleansers. Toners include skin fresheners, skin tonics and astringents and are used after the cleansing routine finishes. They are also said to remove extra oils from skin, refine the skin leaving a smooth texture. Rose water is perhaps the most common one in use since ancient times.
Toners usually have glycerine, alcohol, water, camphor, boric acid and menthol depending on various types of skin combinations. Being ph balanced, they restore the acid/alkali balance of the skin i.e. they freshen up and tone the skin. Those who have dry skin type should go for toners with lesser alcohol content in them.
Home made toners
1.Rose water and glycerine together work as wonderful toners
2.Tomato juice can be also used as a toner.
3.Cucumber juice can be used as a toner for normal skin types.
4.The extract from mint leaves can be used for dry skin to freshen it up.
5.Egg and honey together work excellent for oily skin textures.
MOISTURISING:
“Skin needs moisturizer”, is the bottom line. It is the sure short solution to many skin concerns. After cleansing and toning, regular moisture is a must for every skin type. At this time of the year most of the people think that they can bypass the moisturizers as the weather is going to be hotter. It is a misconception as the winter weather leaves a dry and itchy skin behind. The indoor heating adds up to more bad skin days.
Mere protection ad exfoliation can’t fight the battle. Also in summer the skin glands being more active secrete more oil and water out of the dermal layers. So to give back and retain the body oils and water, a moisturizer is the only effective and handy option. After bathing or washing skin gets dehydrated. Vaseline and body lotions bring back he elasticity and luster to your skin. Remember to moisturize inside and out. Drink lots of water and fluids. The vitamins from fresh fruits also keep skin glowing. Moisturizing is crucial and essential in the skin science.
Always use mild soaps. Soaps with glycerine and natural oils maintain the moisture content of your skin keeping it baby soft and smooth. Avoid using too hot or too cold water.Choose heavy duty moistening products during winter. Try to go for milk-base moisturizers. They tend to remove dead cells and skin gets re nourished and replenished from the acidic ph.The extra dose of moisturizer nourishes and provides lipids that maintain the softness of the skin
Moisturisers in your kitchen aisles:
1. Glycerine is a widely used moisturizer that sooths skin irritation and itchiness.
2. Almond oil can be used for all skin types. It stimulates skin replenishment. It retains the oils lost because of adverse weather conditions and also during cleaning.
3. Sandlewood has been used since ancient times for moisturizing the skin.
4. Bees wax is another household product that can be used to retain skin oils.
5. Aloe Vera has become an obvious ingredient of most of the cosmetics for its soothing and healing properties.
6. Butter milk, cream, jajoba, lavender can also moisturize the skin gently.
Don’t underestimate the power of cleansing, toning and moisturizing your skin yourself. Do a little face and body magic with above simple yet rewarding techniques.
