Skin And Cleansing                           
Looking after your skin

 All about cleansing
Why it matters
Some women are young enough or lucky enough to have normal, well-balanced skin so that they may not yet need to worry about complicated skin care. Again, some women don't need or don't choose to wear a great deal of make-up. But all women, of all ages, and all skin types, need to know all about cleansing.It's never too early for beauty tips for teens.
Why? Because dirt doesn't distinguish between old and young, or pretty and plain; and we live in a very dirty world! What's more, your skin simply cannot look good if it isn't clean - really clean. Make-up can disguise many things, but dirt isn't one of them; and no treatment cream will work nearly so well on a complexion which isn't clean. Above all, dirt can actually worsen and aggravate the appearance and condition of your skin.
Young skin, so often the envy of others, can have more than its share of problems. Many of these can be minimised by an effective cleansing routine. You may need to undertake this more often if you have an oily, disturbed skin with spots and blackheads, but the results will be worth it. Regular cleansing will remove bacteria from the skin, and so reduce the occurrence of spots; and a suitable astringent will help to control excess greasiness.
Older skins often seem to normalise, and it can be tempting to neglect regular care. Your skin, however, will soon reveal the effects of such neglect. In the case of a dry skin - and most older skins are dry - the right cleansing products can actively moisturise the skin as well as cleanse it.This mabbe the most important  of all beauty tips for teens. There is really no age at which cleansing is not vital; so it has to be the first and most indispensable step in your skin care routine.

What is dirt?
What do we mean by 'dirt' in relation to our complexions? First, there's all the external dust and grime which finds its way onto your face. Then, your skin is continuously excreting perspiration, sebum (a fatty substance which lubricates your hair and skin) and other wastes, as well as shedding dead cells. Add to these whatever you've put on your face during the day in the way of make-up, moisturisers and the like, and you'll see just how important cleansing is! By the way, please don't think that faces only get dirty by day. It's true that they get dirtier by day; but, as your skin functions right round the clock, it continues to shed those dead cells and excrete those wastes all through the night. Cleansing, then, has to be a twice-a-day job - at least!

Choosing your cleanser
The choice of cleansers is enormous. There are creams, milks, lotions, liquids, oils, gels and grains, - plus, of course, soap!
Which is for you? It's important to choose a product that suits your skin type - the wrong one could do more harm than good - consult either the label or the salesperson. Generally, creams or oils are best for dry skins; milks and lotions suit normal skins; and liquids or gels are good for oily skins. Cleansing grains are usually meant for occasional use on oily and actively disturbed skins. But these are not hard and fast rules, so always check before you buy.
What about soap? Most soaps have a drying effect on the skin - albeit a temporary one - so they are bad news for dry skins. Many sensitive skins also react badly to soap - often because of the perfume it may contain, as well as its drying effect. However, nowadays there are a number of soaps (and also 'cleansing bars' - which, contrary to appearance, are not, technically, soaps) which are specially formulated to avoid adverse effects on the skin, so this need not be a problem. The real problem with soap as a cleanser is that it won't remove modern make-up - particularly heavily-pigmented colour cosmetics and waterproof eye make­up. In the morning, when you aren't removing any make-up (unless you've been very lazy the night before!) soap and water washing is fine - if your skin can take it. If you want to use it at night, then do so after you've used a cosmetic cleanser to take your make-up off. If you don't feel clean unless you use soap and water - or at least water - on your face, then a wash-off cleanser or a soap­like cleansing bar may be the answer.

Using....

Begin by tying or pinning back your hair, or tucking it under an alice band or a towelling turban. If you are using cream, milk, lotion or a gel apply a generous amount to your face with clean fingers. Apply liquid or oil cleansers on a large wad of cotton wool. (More about cleansing grains later). Cover your face and throat with upward, outward movements.
Remember it's the cleanser - not you -which removes the make-up; you need only remove the cleanser! So harsh rubbing isn't necessary; simply allow the cleanser to remain on your face for about 30 seconds, which will give it time to loosen and dissolve your make-up. Then use a tissue (or the reverse of your cotton wool wad) to remove both the cleanser and the dirt, again stroking up and out.
Now repeat the whole process. Pay equal attention to the sides of your nose, your chin,eyebrows and temples as these areas are often missed. Be sure to go right up to your hairline, and right down under your chin to the base of your throat, too.
If you don't think you need a second application of cleanser, then have a look at the tissue or cotton wool with which you remove it. What you see may convince you that you need a third! If your cleanser is water-rinsable, apply it as above and rinse it off very thoroughly with cool water.
Thorough rinsing is also essential after cleansing with soap or a cleansing bar. Don't do this with a splash of icy cold water. Cold water and hot water are both much too extreme for your complexion, so use cool and warm water, always, on your face. For rinsing, use cool water, and plenty of it -10 or even 20 rinses is not excessive. Left on your skin, soap will continue to attract dirt -which is, after all, what it's made for! - and can lead to unsightly bumps below the skin's surface, caused by a build-up of soap residue in the pores. So always rinse your skin until it squeaks! Then pat your face dry with a soft towel, don't rub it with a rough one.

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