Facial Skin Care for the 2009 Summer Season

Different skin types need different types of treatments. The spring season line-up in many women's magazines are full of tips, tricks and products. It's time to get our skin our glowing and sloth off that dead winter season layer.

My all-time favorite is Noxzema. Not everyone can use it, but if you can it's an excellent facial cleanser. I also like Suave's Apricot Facial Scrub. Both do a good job without leaving you feeling greasy. Noxema will leave you feeling squeeky clean while Suave's Apricot Scrub will leave your skin feeling soft. Both are reasonably priced and available almost everywhere.

Spring magazines offer some very good products in the mid to slighty pricey range, so if paying for a more expensive product doesn't hurt your wallet, you may find these choices to be just what you need. I've discovered that some of the pricier products actually require less to get the job done so the price usually evens itself out in the long run.

Combination skin can be a difficult type to deal with. Usually the forehead, nose and chin are oily while the cheeks are dry and scaly. There are some products that can be used and be beneficial to both areas. Using a mild foaming cleanser will leave less residue on your face. Look for products that contain green tea. A good one is Alba Sea Mineral Cleansing Gel.

It's suggested that you skip moisturizers in the warm summer months and instead use a light soy based serum. These will help fight free radicals as well. They also help reduce acne scarring and evens out skin tone. Aveeno's Positively Radiant Triple Boosting Serum is a good one to try and is available in most drugstores.

For an evening treatment, use a light lotion that is fast absorbing. Look for one that will smooth out skin texture while you sleep and helps tighten pores.

If you need a quick mid-day treatment before touching up your makeup try Pond's Clean Sweep Wet Cleansing Towelettes. They come in packs of 30 for about $6 at most drugstores.

Dry skin care can be another difficult problem. No matter how much you moisturize you still have tight, dry skin that can be itchy. St Ives Elements Olive Cleanser can help raise moisture levels in your skin. Most experts suggest you try using a gentle moisturizing cleanser twice a day. In the morning when you cleanse your face leave it slightly damp and apply a product that contains glycerin. Glycerin will help seal moisture in your skin. Dove makes a product called Pro-Age Day Moisturizer for around $13.

At night you can boost the radiance of your skin tone by using a Vitamin C serum. Vitamin C is an antioxidant that helps repair texture and skin tone. You can also get a good facial mist to use during the day that will help keep your face moisturized.

Oily skin comes with it's own set of problems and can be difficult to manage. You leave the house in the morning with glowing radiant skin and before lunch you're all shiny. You fix that only to discover that a few hours later you have the same problem again.

Dermatologist suggest you use a deep cleaning cleanser that contains a beta-hydroxy acid. It will dissolve dirt and oils and help prevent your pores from clogging. Instead of using a daily moisturizer, a mattifying lotion will help absorb oil and usually has an added sunscreen.

Sensitive skin is probably the most difficult to deal with. You can spend a small fortune on products only to discover they irritate your skin, even the products created specifically for sensitive skin. Try washing your face with just a wet wash cloth and avoid things that can trigger sensitive skin reactions like red wine, sun exposure and heat.

Some products you may want to consider trying are; Cetaphil products created for sensitive skin, Eucerin Redness Relief Soothing Night Cream, and Clinique's Redness Solution Mineral Powder.