Building your perfect skincare routine

 

Daily skincare routine

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STEP 1 : Who doesn’t want great-looking skin? Start by knowing your skin type. Then you’ll know how to take care of it. Dry skin is flaky, scaly, or rough. Oily skin is shiny, greasy, and may have big pores. Combination skin is dry in some spots (cheeks) and oily in others (forehead, nose, and chin). Sensitive skin may sting, burn, or itch after you use some makeup or other products. Normal skin is balanced, clear, and not sensitive.

 

STEP 2: Cleaning: Don’t just grab whatever soap is in the shower or at the sink to wash your face. You don’t have to buy fancy, expensive products. You just need to find skincare that works for you. Use a gentle cleanser or soap and wash — don’t scrub your face. Rinse with plenty of warm water, then pat dry. Don’t use hot water because it removes the natural oils from your face faster. Try exfoliating once a week to get rid of flaky skin cells. It will make your skin look clearer and more even. If you find your skin dries out or gets oily, try a different cleanser.

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STEP 3: Moisturize: You may think you’re too young to need moisturizer — or your skin is too oily — but all skin needs moisture. Moisturizers help keep your skin from drying out. Use it every day, no matter what skin type you have. Apply it while your skin is still damp from washing or rinsing to help seal in moisture. If you have acne or your skin is oily, find a moisturizer that is lightweight and oil-free, so it doesn’t block your pores.

 

STEP 4: Put on Sunscreen: Your moisturizer may already have sunscreen in it. But it’s a good idea to use a separate sunscreen, too. The sun can damage your skin in only 15 minutes. Even though you’re young, you can develop skin cancer. Look for sunscreen that works against both UVA and UVB rays with an SPF of at least 30.

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DON’T WEAR makeup to bed when you’re tired, it can be tempting to go to bed without washing your face. But leaving makeup on your skin can clog your pores and cause acne. So use a gentle cleanser or makeup remover to wash it off. Use a soft washcloth or cotton pads. If you use acne medicine, now’s a good time to put it on — when your face is clean and when you’re not going to be putting on makeup.

 

All about Acne

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Why does acne happen primarily when you’re a teen? Puberty causes your body to make more hormones, which lead your body to make more sebum — an oil that comes from your pores. Too much sebum and dead skin cells can clog pores, trapping bacteria. The bacteria thrive in this environment and acne starts. Acne can take a few forms including whiteheads, blackheads, and pimples.

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How to Treat Acne: Don’t pop those pimples! Squeezing can lead to infection and permanent scars. Instead, go to a store where you can find many acne-fighting products. They come as lotions, creams, gels, and cleansing pads. Be patient — they can take eight weeks to work. And follow the directions carefully. Using too much or using them too often can irritate your skin and cause more blemishes. If your acne is really bad, get help from a dermatologist.

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Other things that bug your skin

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The Dangers of Tanning: You may like to be tan, but a tan means damaged skin. You hurt your skin when it changes color from the sun or indoor tanning. UV exposure can increase your risk of skin cancer — now or later. It can also lead to wrinkly, leathery-looking skin and spots. You can get a sunburn in a tanning bed just like you can in the real sun. Regularly using tanning beds increases your risk of melanoma (the deadliest skin cancer) by eight times.

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Keep skin healthy: Try to avoid habits that can cause acne, redness, and scars. Don’t pick at your skin — especially your pimples — or you can have permanent scars. Keep hairspray and gel away from your face. They can clog pores. Don’t wear tight headbands or wool hats that can irritate your skin. Don’t smoke. It can age your skin and make it yellow and dry.

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Food and Sleep for Healthy Skin: Keep your skin healthy by eating smart. Eat lots of veggies, fruits, whole grains, and low-fat dairy products. Choose lean proteins like chicken, fish, lean meat, beans, and eggs. Watch foods that are high in cholesterol, trans fats, saturated fats, salt, and sugar. And get plenty of sleep for good health and to avoid dark circles, fine lines, dull skin, and other side effects of bad rest. Relax! Even stress can make you break.

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Your Eyebrows

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Never touch your eyebrows unless we ask you to do it! Leave it natural and if we would like to change something we will let you know! No tricks, as your mother agent we can even notice if one hair is missing from your eyebrow! For those who already made a mistake, use castor oil (ricinus oil), which you can buy at any pharmacy for a couple dollars.

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Homemade Facial Masks

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Banana Facial Mask: Who needs Botox when you have bananas? That’s right: You can use a banana as an all-natural, homemade facial mask that moisturizes your skin and leaves it looking and feeling softer. Mash up a medium-sized ripe banana into a smooth paste, then gently apply it to your face and neck. Let it set for 10 to 20 minutes, then rinse it off with cold water. Another popular mask recipe calls for 1/4 cup plain yogurt, 2 tablespoons honey (a natural ​acne remedy), and 1 medium banana.

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Vinegar Facial Mask: Using vinegar as a skin toner dates back to the time of Helen of Troy, and it’s just as effective today. After you wash your face, mix 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar with 2 cups water as a finishing rinse to cleanse and tighten your skin. You can also create a homemade facial mask by mixing 1/4 cup cider vinegar with 1/4 cup water. Gently apply the solution to your face and let it dry.

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Milk Facial Mask: Here’s another way to give yourself a fancy spa facial at home. Make a mask by mixing 1/4 cup powdered milk with enough water to form a thick paste. Thoroughly coat your face with the mixture, let dry completely, then rinse with warm water. Your face will feel fresh and rejuvenated.

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Yogurt Facial Mask: You don’t have to go to a spa to give your face a quick assist. To cleanse your skin and tighten the pores, slather some plain yogurt on your face and let it sit for about 20 minutes. For a revitalizing facial mask, mix 1 teaspoon plain yogurt with the juice from 1/4 slice of orange, some of the orange pulp, and 1 teaspoon aloe. Leave the mixture on your face for at least five minutes before rinsing it off.

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Egg Facial Mask: For a little pampering, head to the refrigerator and grab an egg. If you have dry skin that needs moisturizing, separate the egg and beat the yolk. Oily skin takes the egg white, to which a bit of lemon or honey can be added. For normal skin, use the entire egg. Apply the beaten egg, relax and wait 30 minutes, then rinse. You’ll love your new fresh face.

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The Breakfast mask: Complete with protein and whole grains, this breakfast-themed mask is used to correct and calm oily skin.

1. Combine an egg yolk, a tablespoon of honey, then a tablespoon of olive oil (yes, olive oil) and half a cup of oatmeal

2. Apply to the face for 15-20 minutes

3. Rinse with lukewarm water and then moisturize

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Heavenly Honey Citrus Mask:This honey-and-orange-based mask is a quick fix to give your face an organic healthy glow.

1. ​Combine three tablespoons of orange juice with half a cup of honey

2. Apply to the face and leave on for 30 minutes

3. Rinse with lukewarm water followed by cool water, then moisturize

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Skin Clarifying Exfoliant: This strawberry and sugar based exfoliant is great to get rid of dead skin and to keep your pores clean. 

1. ​Combine 1 tablespoons of brown sugar, 1 tabelspoons of white sugar, 2 tabelspoons of cocunat oul and 2 mashed strawberries in a bowl

2. Apply exfoliant to face and gently polish away dead skin and impurities

3. Repeat 1-2 times a week as needed