Skin Care Articles

Doctors advocate using the same skin care routine everyday. These treatments don't need to be fancy or expensive, and can be used unaided or in conjunction with a more serious skin care treatment.

Common Steps

The perfect day to day method for skin care would require washing, toning, moisturizing, protection from the sun light.

For most people, carrying out the routine 2 times daily is best. Some people with dry and/or sensitive skin may have better luck with once a day washing/cleansing but moisturizing two or more times a day. Some dermatologists agree that exfoliation should also be part of a standard routine. However, daily exfoliation is overkill and may lead to chronic irritation in some people. A few times a week is sufficient for exfoliation, however some can go without any exfoliation.

One of the most valuable parts of the regimen can be preservation from the UV rays, sun block should be applied as the final step anytime there will be exposure to the sun. Some people use skin care products with added UV blockers. It is always better than no sun protection at all and it can save time. However, using a separate, specially formulated sunblock appears to be more effective.

Applying Radical/Active Medicines

For best skin care benefits, the basic regimen is usually insufficient, especially for people over 30. The addition of a well-selected product or two with wisely chosen, scientifically proven active ingredients will further improve your results. For secondary products to work well with your routine you must use them properly. For example if you try and use the secondary medicine without proper cleansing, it will not be 100% effective because it can't work past the oil and dirt on the skin. The over use of the cleansers can also reduce the results of the medication, so be sure and do the research before mixing products.

The System for You

The steps of the general routine should be adjusted to fit your skin type. You should remember that your skin type may change with the season, diet and age. For example, the skin tends to be oilier in the warm months and drier in the winter. Menopause often brings about a change from oily or normal to dry skin. Also, a shift from a low-fat diet to one rich in certain fats (particularly essential fatty acids) may turn dry skin to normal. people don't need to be as careful when in the sunlight.

The best time to apply secondary products is soon after you washed/cleansed, rinsed and slightly patted your skin with a towel, when the skin is clean, warm and still moist. Since many of the active treatments have moisturizing ingredients, you can usually forego a separate product whenever you apply such a product. If you feel that you need extra moisturizing, wait a few minutes for the active product to absorb, and then apply any moisturizer over it.