Tips on Caring for the Skin

Moisturizing is probably one of the best things you can do to keep your skin healthy and radiant, but there are other considerations as well. Here are a few to think about.

Exfoliating.

Using a topical exfoliant is good for skin care because it removes pollutants, irritants, and dead skin cells that often sit on top of the skin and clog the pores. Sloughing these things off can reveal the healthier skin that sits underneath.

A common mistake that many people make with exfoliating is when they do this too often and with products that are too harsh. When you exfoliate you're removing not just dead skin cells but are also brushing up against those healthy cells underneath. You also remove necessary oils that the skin needs to stay soft and supple. Doing this too often or with products that are too harsh is just going to irritate the skin and cause it to be rough and dry.

Unfortunately when this happens people think they need to exfoliate some more to get this dry skin off - and then they're caught in a vicious circle of exfoliating, causing dry skin, and then exfoliating some more to remove that dry skin.

Most people should never exfoliate more than every other day, if even that. Typically once or twice per week is fine, depending on the product you use. If you notice that your skin is very dry after exfoliating then you may want to switch to a gentler product or exfoliate less often. Adding moisture back to the surface of the skin is very important after exfoliating.

Nighttime is the right time.

Why exactly do humans sleep? Believe it or not doctors aren't exactly sure of all the reasons - to say that we rest our bodies is only partially true. All the major systems of the body still function, including the respiratory system, the digestive system, and so on. The brain is still active as of course it controls all these systems and still has a measure of consciousness so that we wake up when the brain hears a sound or is otherwise disturbed. Dreams are also signs of brain activity and function.

The body does get some rest during sleep - these major systems function but much slower than normal. The heartbeat and breathing slow considerably. The stomach and intestines are still digesting but much slower than when we're awake. So while the body is functioning it's just not running at top speed so to speak, and so it does get rest.

One of the reasons for this rest and slower activity is that the body can then give attention to functions such as repairing and renewing itself. Dead cells are washed away while muscles and organs are repaired and renewed. This includes the skin as well. During the night the skin is renewed and repaired; this is why it's so important to be mindful of your nighttime skincare routine. Adding moisturizer before you go to bed will help it to absorb better as the body will be working to pull that moisture in.

Typically when someone is attentive to their nighttime skincare routine they notice that their skin looks much better in the morning and all day as well.

Your morning and daytime routine.

Adding moisturizer to your face in the morning is also important. The skin is exposed to pollutants and irritants every day and moisturizers help to not only add elements to the face but also puts a protective layer on the skin. This layer helps to keep the skin protected the way you might wear gloves during the wintertime.

Using moisturizer is important even if you don't have dry skin. This helps to protect the skin from everything that will clog the pores and cause breakouts and other problems.

It's also important to add a moisturizer if you live or work in an especially polluted environment. Anyone that works in a manufacturing environment can tell you how easily the pores of the face can get clogged with extra dirt and irritants. You might even want to clean your face very gently during the day and reapply some makeup or a moisturizer so that the pores don't get overly clogged.