Skin Care

Skin Care Products

                              Removing eye make-up

 Many cleansers can't cope with eye make-up - especially if it's waterproof- so ideally you should use a beauty and eye make-up remover.

This task is best performed before removing the rest of your make-up. Again, there is a wide choice of products: creams, lotions, liquids, oils, gels and impregnated pads. Which one you use is a matter of personal preference -on this small area, skin types don't really count.

Unless the product is already in pad form, put some onto a cotton wool pad. Close your eye, and press the pad against the lid for a few moments to loosen and dissolve make-up. Turn the pad over and gently trace a circle out over the eye, from the inner corner, then in under the eyes, to the inner corner; patting not pulling the skin, as it is very fragile here. Repeat if necessary.try  to use all natural skin care products

Beauty and Make up Skin fresheners, toners and astringents

These health and beauty care products, used for the final step in your cleansing routine, are all basically similar. They differ mainly in the amount of alcohol they contain - those for dry skins having little or none, whilst those formulated for oily skins will have a higher proportion. What do they do? They remove the last traces of cleanser from your skin (so that it doesn't remain there, attracting dirt). They refine the skin's texture, perk up the circulation and refresh the skin. (It used also to be said that fresheners, toners and astringents 'closed' the pores after cleansing had supposedly 'opened' them; but we now know that this doesn't actually happen - it only appears to happen.)
Apply on a pad of cotton wool. If you wet the cotton wool with a little water first, then wring it out, your freshener will go further. (Why waste half of it soaking the cotton wool?) Pat all over your face and throat -everywhere your cleanser has been. It isn't essential to use a freshener, toner or astringent after cleansing with soap, a cleansing bar or a wash-off cleanser, as the water you use will remove these products from your skin. But if you are using an astringent to help control oiliness, then you should reapply it after any type of cleansing. All these products can be used as quick cleansers when make-up isn't worn - first thing in the morning, for instance; or to refresh your skin in hot weather - when it helps to keep them in the 'fridge!

Sometimes, your skin will need a deeper and more thorough cleansing. Perhaps it may look rather dingy, or not be holding make-up well, or you may have been ill or simply not taking sufficient care of your complexion. But even if none of these apply to you, it's worth trying one of these methods anyway -it's surprising what a difference they will make!
The easiest - and certainly the cheapest -way to deep-clean your skin is with the help of steam. Begin by cleaning off your make-up in the usual way, but in this case you need not repeat the process two or three times. Then fill a bowl or wash basin with boiling water -and add a few fragrant dried herbs if you wish. Hold your head over the water - about 9-12 ins (25-30 cm) away - for two or three minutes or until the steam stops rising. Then cleanse again, just as before. You will be surprised at how much more grime you can take off! If you have a very sensitive skin, or broken veins, then steaming is not for you. Also, as the process is drying, you should always apply a moisturiser when you have completed the cleansing process.

Face masks

Face masks offer another excellent way to deep-cleanse your complexion. Do be sure that you choose a mask that's meant for cleansing as there are masks for many purposes on the market today. Check too that it's right for your skin type.
For best results, follow the pack directions carefully. Most masks are applied to clean skin, avoiding the eye area, and are left on for 10-20 minutes. They are removed either with water, or by 'peeling' away the mask itself.
Oily skins will benefit from a mask as a twice-weekly treatment, and normal or dry skins can be treated once a week. Incidentally, the bath is not the best place for this beauty task, as the steam and heat will not allow the mask to 'set' and may lessen its effectiveness. It's far better to cleanse your face in the bath -or after, when the steam has loosened some of the grime; then apply your mask and allow yourself to relax for the time it takes to work.

EXFOLIATE

Sallow and dingy-looking skin is often a result of the dead cells lying on the surface. If you take specific steps to remove these regularly, your reward will be a brighter, clearer, cleaner-looking complexion. Exfoliation is the removal of this unwanted surface layer and you can help this natural process along with an exfoliating cream or liquid. These are usually applied to the skin and removed in much the same way as a cleanser but follow the pack directions carefully. All but the most delicate skins will benefit from an occasional exfoliating treatment - but it shouldn't be done too often.
A milder exfoliating action is obtained from regular use of a face mask - see above; and there are also a number of exfoliative cleansers on the market, with a gentle sloughing action. Both of these should be used less often on skin that is dry.

Epidermabrasion

This also means removing that surface layer of dead skin cells - with its attendant dirt and grime - but in a slightly different way. By this method you rub away rather than dissolve the offending grime, so again it's not for delicate or sensitive skins. Cleansing grains perform the task well. They are usually designed for use on oily skin - follow the pack directions.
Alternatively, you can make your own epidermabrasi ves from either oatmeal - used dry, and rubbed gently into the skin before cleansing - or caster sugar and baby oil -mixed to a smooth paste and massaged over the face gently, then rinsed away with warm water.
Make your own cleansing grains with caster sugar and baby oil
There is also a special facial sponge available for the purpose of epidermabrasion. It's a bit like a kitchen scourer, but a lot more gentle!
After any of these treatments your skin will feel a bit tender, and may look rather reddened, so they are not to be recommended before going out. Instead, make them a job for an evening in, and follow with a moisturiser or night cream.
Use the special sponge in a circular motion, with a good soap lather

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