Personal Skin Care Routine

Most people know the importance of personal skin care even though how each of us go about it may be totally different. Some may feel they aren’t taking good care of their skin if they don’t take a trip to the spa at least every week yet others are satisfied with a little moisturizer after a shower. Still others view it as a monthly or even annual event and a few people work at it day in and day out.

Developing good personal skin care routine

Good personal skin care doesn’t have to be that complicated or that expensive. Personal skin care is as simple as finding and following a routine that keeps your skin in the best shape possible. Here are some general guidelines that can help you on the road to a great, yet simple personal skin care routine.

Determining your skin type

It is important before you start to determine your specific skin type. Oily, dry, combination, sensitive or normal skin must each be treated differently and all required different beauty products.

If you are not sure of your skin type, most larger, quality department stores have cosmetologist on staff in the cosmetic department who will evaluate your skin at no cost. Armed with this knowledge you are ready to choose the best products for your personal skin care routine.

Skin care routines for various skin types

A good personal skin care routine should be followed at least twice a day and consist on two to four steps depending on your skin type.

Cleansing

For all skin types cleansing is the first step. Most facial cleansers do not contain soap, which can dry and damage your delicate facial tissue. Also, to reduce the chance of skin irritation, choose a cleanser that is fragrance free.

Always use lukewarm water for cleansing as both hot and cold water can damage your skin. Dab cleanser over your face and neck and gently massage in upward strokes.

Remove cleanser either by rinsing with warm water or gently blotting off with soft facial tissues or cotton wool. Do not rub your face when drying as it can stretch and tear your skin. Using a clean towel pat skin gently to remove excess water.

Use of mild skin toner

After cleansing you can choose to use a mild toner formulated for your skin type. Toning removes any traces of make-up, dirt and cleansers left on your skin. Choose one that is alcohol and perfume free.

Toning does not need to be done daily as it will be too harsh for normal skin and people with dry skin may want to skip this step entirely.

For combination skin you may try using a mild toner only in places that you produce excess oils. Wet fresh cotton wool with toner and gently pat on skin. Excess toner evaporates quickly and does not require rinsing.

Exfoliation

The next step in a good personal skin care routine is exfoliation. Your skin naturally repairs and replaces thousands of cells every day. Gentle exfoliation will help your skin in this process by removing the dead cells. This is an important step in all skin care routines and will help make you skin feel smoother and look fresher and more vibrant.

Also, as dead cells on the surface of your skin will consume your skin care products even though they do not benefit from them, removing them will give the new cells beneath the full benefit of your beauty products.

Exfoliate freshly cleansed skin using gentle strokes and rinse with lukewarm water. Once or twice a week may be all that is needed for dry or sensitive skin and more often for normal to oily skin types. You may find that you need to exfoliate more often in hot or humid conditions or if you exercise daily.

Use of moisturizer

Regardless of your skin type, moisturizer is a must in personal skin care. Even people with oily skin should moisturize daily as today’s formulas are designed not only to supply your skin with hydration but also to protect your skin from harmful environmental pollutants and UV radiation.

It is especially important with moisturizers that you select one that is right for your skin type as the wrong product can cause problems. The correct way to apply moisturizer is on slightly damp, freshly cleansed skin. Apply in small dots around your face and neck. Gently pat moisturizer over your skin ~ it does not need to be rubbed in to work effectively.

You may want to select two moisturizers for your daily skin routine, one with a PABA-free sunscreen of SPF 25 or more for day time and one without sunscreen for night time.

With some practice and a little patience you can develop a personal skin care routine that is great for your skin in only three to five minutes twice a day.

And, remember that when using any new facial skin care product, test it first by applying a small amount on your earlobe before using it on your entire face. Also you may need to try a few products before you find the perfect match for your skin. Isn’t great skin worth just 10 minutes a day?

Start your own personal skin care routine today and be on the road to beautiful skin.