Skin 101

Look at your skin as a canvas. I don't know any Artist that does not enjoy having a clean surface to paint on (no makeup pun intended lol). The skin is the largest organ of the body, and also the one we can be most guilty of neglecting! Its simple really.
There's really no hard and fast rule to the approach you use in your daily routine. There are shortcuts, but in the long term, they don't pay off. Here's my 2 cents :)
The first step is knowing your skin type.
There are five basic skin care types: Oily, combination, sensitive, dry and sun-damaged. Your skin type is determined by how much -- or how little -- oil your skin produces, age, environmental agressors, hormones etc.
A simple, basic facial routine includes:


1. Cleanse:
I find that soap can be very drying, matter of fact any dermatologist will tell you that soap should not get anywhere near your facial skin. You may not be able to tell the effects of using toilet soap now, but if it dries your face out, chances are that in the long term it accelerates the aging process(My thots).
Liquid, Gel and foaming cleansers are great, for oily skin I would recommend a gel cleanser, and for dry skin, a foaming cleanser. There are also clay cleansers, but those are for extremely oily skin.

Before I cleanse, I like to steam up a small, rough towel with warm water and place it on my entire face and neck..this opens up the pores and loosens the dirt and oil, which allows your cleanser to work more effectively. If I used foundation during the day however, I prefer to use baby wipes (less harsh for sensitive skin) BEFORE cleansing.
Follow with your preferred toner, then moisturizer.
Here are some tried and true examples;
Skinlogics cleansing gel(normal to combination)
Neutrogena Deep Clean facial cleanser
Dermalogica dermal clay cleanser
I'll update this list later.


2. Tone:
In the past I did not really care for toners, simply because I thought they were an unecessary step, but I find that my skin has improved in clarity, simply by using a toner 3ce a week! Be careful not to overdo it though...that could dry out your skin and defeat the purpose od balancing . Toner's are a mild exfoliant (lightly remove dead skin cells) and they balance the PH of your skin. For people who have enlarged pores, a toner (as well as splashing ur face with cold water after cleansing) will help to tighten pores.
A toner will also help you to remove the last traces of make up, and is best used last thing @ night before your night cream. I use it in the morning sometimes in place of washing my face, and splash some cold water on my face before I moisturize. (I tend to wash my face once a day)
Make sure to identify a toner that is good for your skin type.
Avoid the ones with alcohol if possible, and if you find that your toner is drying you out a bit, by all means wet a cotton ball with warm water before adding a few drops of toner and wiping your face with it.

3. Exfoliate (Using Facial Scrubs):
Exfoliation is the removal of the oldest dead skin cells that cling to the skin's outermost surface. For all skintypes except oily skin, its best to exfoliate only twice a week. Doing it more does not have any benefits, except from aggravating your skin. What an exfoliant does is break up the dead cells and slough them off, voila! new skin.
It's less powerful than microdermabrasion, which will be on another blog.
It makes the skin smoother and fresher looking, and also prepares it for any serum or moisturizing treatment you use.
Popular ones are St. Ives, Clean and Clear Morning burst(mmmm yumm!)
Tried and true; Dermalogica prep scrub, Clinique 7-day scrub cream
Lush Ocean Salt Cleanser, All Ages Skinlogics Facial Scrub.


4. Moisturize:
Drink for the skin yay!! We all know the benefits of moisturizers, since that's probably one of the first things we learned about skin care. The biggest mistake though, is using a moisturizer thats not right for you. It can gross out your skin, and of course you know what unhappy skin does! My co-worker just told me she found out she had de-hydrated skin, as opposed to DRY skin. She had been using a dry skin formula, and I tell you, just that little bit of detail means a lot to her skin now. So. Make sure you at least find out the type of skin you have, before going ahead to purchase. If you have found a good one that works, by all means stick to it. Make sure though, it contains an SPF of at least 15 and above.
Some people say black skin needs no SPF, actually black skin has the highest amount of the pigment melanin, which can act as a sunblock of sorts....but, definately not enough to venture outside without one. Sunscreen allows some of the suns rays in, enough to tan...but if you are like me, and hate the sun touching your skin....buy all means get a sunblock instead, that way you dont get a tan when you are exposed to the sun.

In conclusion, Drink lots of water, Get enough sleep, enjoy your colored veggies and Exercise!!! Enjoy the outdoors more...enjoy life.

Remember, great skin is a compliment to beauty! See ya l8r lovelies!
Please feel free to add your suggestions/comments. I'd love to hear what works for you!