Simple Guidelines to Healthy Skin

As you stand at the sales counter with your eyes glazed over, you wonder how you will ever find the time to include this 10 step skincare routine into your already hectic mornings. Even if you could find the time... will you remember how to use them all?

Don't fret, here are a few simple steps to good skincare and happy, health, skin without the 10 step skincare program that will cost you $200.00.

Cleansing
Start with a good cleanser, preferably a "milk cleanser", which just means that there are no detergents in it. It tends to be creamy and white, hence the name milk cleanser.

This type of cleanser creates no bubbles or foam when you rub it in your hands with a little bit of water. The more bubbles... the more detergent. The more detergent, the more it strips the oils out of your skin. The sebum or oils in your skin is what makes your skin soft and supple, striping out the oils can create dry patches.

If you happen to have very oily skin then a small amount of foam is alright. Be careful to not confuse that squeaky clean feeling that foaming cleansers give you... with clean skin. It is really just a striping of the oils from your skin and not a measure of how clean it is. A good surfactant will remove dirt and debris without robbing your skin of essential oils or disturbing the ph balance of your skin.

Exfoliation
Next, let's talk about exfoliation. This is the process of removing the dead skin cells that build up and cover up the "newer" cells.

If you are 20 years old your cells renew every 14 days or so, that means from the creation of those cells deep in the skin to the point where they are dead and slough off, takes about 14 days. This rapid renewal and exposure of fresh new skin cells is the reason why most young people have fresh, dewy looking skin.

As you age, this natural process of renewal slows down and by the time we you 50 years old it takes about 90 days for that same cycle of exfoliation. No wonder skin looses that glow of youth, there is a build up of dead skin hanging around.

So, it stands to reason then that as the natural process slows, we need to intervene if we hope to stay looking younger. We do this by exfoliating regularly with a gentle exfoliant to expose those newer cells.
• Manual Exfoliation - this is exactly what it sounds like, the process of removing those dead skin cells manually. A clean wash cloth if one form of manual exfoliation. There are a number of products on the market that have ingredients in them to aid in this process. Just remember that you are putting these on your face! If it feels like broken glass or sand paper on your skin, DONT use it. Skin is delicate and you may damage it or cause small abrasions that can lead to other skin issues.• Chemical Exfoliation - this is the process of exfoliation that is aided by a chemical. Usually this is a salicylic acid or other chemical that loosens the dead skin cells by melting the gluey substance that holds our skin together. Most products on the market are very mild and gentle but be sure to follow the directions carefully. If you feel you need a deeper exfoliation you will want to see your Esthetician for a peel.

Moisturizing
This is the step that many people skip for some reason. Your skin has two types of moisture in it, sebum or oils... which we already talked about and the other is water. What does the water content in your skin have to do with healthy skin? Consider this.

What happens if you take a rose petal and lay in on the counter for a week?

The first day it looks pretty good, the third day it is fairly wilted but by the end of the week it dry and brittle with the edges curled up. If you were to crush it in your hand it would fall into pieces... but it would smell great, like potpourri.

Now, your skin is not as fragile as a rose petal but the same principle applies. If you deprive it of enough water is will become dry and brittle, not exactly the picture of healthy skin.

How do you know which moisturizer is right for you? With hundreds of choices available it can be an overwhelming decision. A good rule of thumb is natural and paraffin free, the ingredients should not include waxes or excessive dyes and perfumes. Look for the word noncomedogenic, which means it won't clog your pores!

Another desirable quality in a moisturizer is that it contains a humectant. This is an ingredient that pulls moisture out of the air and attracts it to the skin and it also helps your skin to retain moisture.

Sunscreen
You have been hearing it now for a number of years... always wear sunscreen! Your face, neck and chest should never be without a good sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or better.

Sun damage is the number one cause of those nasty signs of aging. Baby boomers around the world are paying the price for those sunny days when we covered our bodies in baby oil and snoozed in the sun!

A good Esthetician can help to reverse some of the damages of our youth but prevention of further damage is critical.

Cleans
Exfoliate
Moisturize
Protect

It really is that simple. A good cleanser that doesn't strip the natural oils out of your skin, regular exfoliation, an oil free moisturizer for hydration and some good protection will keep your skin looking its best at any age.