Quick tips on proper skin care
To improve your complexion, you need to cleanse your skin every day. But not with just boring ol’ normal soap (it’ll dry out your skin); instead, you a soap formulated to interact favorably with the chemistry of your particular type of skin. All soaps work on filth by acting like a pair of handcuffs: one loop snags the oil; the other hangs on to the water and gets the grease off. This little cops ‘n robbers scenario plays out a little differently for different skin types:
* Dry Skin: You’ll need to pump a little moisture into your face with your soap. Look for brands of soap that contain either glycerine or a type of silicone, such as cyclomethicone or dimethicone.
* Oily Skin: You’re going to want to dry up some of that grease with your soap. Quell the dirt by using a soap that contains salicylic acid.
* Sensitive Skin: You’re going to need something a little milder than the typical ingredients. Believe it or not, the leading contender here is something called propylene glycol - which, when not gently easing you into a life of ivory cheeks, pulls double duty as the prime ingredient in antifreeze and the stuff they use to de-ice planes.
* Normal Skin: Count your blessings … Hunt for soaps that use lanolin, a handy extract from the oil glands of sheep.
Source: SoYouWanna.com
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To properly cleanse your face:
* If you don’t moisturize before bedtime, simply cleanse your face with cool to warm water when you rise and towel dry.
* If you do moisturize before bedtime, use a cleanser to remove all traces of moisturizer.
* Never use soap to cleanse your face. Soap made for the body, is too harsh to use on your face. Cleansers are made from a much milder combination of oil, water and surfactants (agents that allow oil and water to mix) so they won’t dry out your skin.
* Never cleanse using extremely hot or cold water. Both extremes stress the skin and can cause broken capillaries.
* Apply a dime-sized amount of cleanser into your palms. Rub them together to create lather and apply to your face. Massage your face gently focusing on areas that could accumulate dirt and makeup – for example the forehead, chin, around the nose and gently around closed eyes.
* Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water making sure all traces of cleanser have been washed off.
* Follow with toner if you think makeup and dirt have been left behind.
Source: YourSkin101.com
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And if you are really serious, do a liver cleanse (note: the linked page promotes products that are not endorsed by blackinformant.com)
Atta boy!
I was wondering if you were going to make note of “propylene glycol.”
:>
Comment by John Lindsay | November 30, 2005
Those were great tips. I think it’s also important to mention remedies for razor bumps or pseudolliculitis. I get them in the bikini area and my husband on the back of his head. We found a great product that both of us can use: imperial touch razor bump solution. I started see results in about a day. It really made a difference. 877-262-6239 or http://www.imperialtouch.com
Comment by Ervin | December 29, 2005
Razor Bumps:
Razor bumps and ingrown hairs on the bearded skin are medically referred to as pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB). Razor Bumps are caused by the end of the hair shaft being cut in such a way, as the hair continues to grow it curls into another nearby hair follicle. This introduction of the sharpened end of a hair follicle into another causes an inflammatory response in the skin and leads to a pimple or bump.
Ingrown Hairs:
An ingrown hair is a hair that curls and penetrate the skin with its tip within the hair follicle. When the hair curls and penetrates the skin, inflammation occurs. Sometimes, the small ingrown hair can be seen beneath the raised area. Most ingrown hairs occur in the beard area. Ingrown hairs can also occur in the pubic area and the neck area. Bacteria, yeasts, acne, or fungi infections can further worsen the ingrown hairs.
Razor Burns:
Razor Burns are micro-abrasions. In general, the nicks and cuts from improper shaving. These micro-abrasions usually lead to inflamed red bumps.
Prevent Razor Bumps, Ingrown Hairs, Razor Burns:
One of the best forms of prevention is allowing hairs to grow well above the skin surface. The follicle opening may prevent the hair tip from growing into the skin. However, not many people are willing or able to grow their hairs long enough to prevent their ingrowing. The following are essential key points that will help minimize these shaving problems:
Washing the skin before shaving is helpful in exfoliating. Exfoliating (removing the upper layers of dead skin) your skin is indispensable when trying to prevent razor bumps, ingrown hairs or razor burn. Daily use of a liquid cleanser before shaving not only unclogs pores, it lifts the hair away from the follicle while softening the hair.
Shave with downward strokes (going with the grain). Shaving too close is one of the triggers for razor bump, ingrown hair, and razor burn. The hair stubs are cut too close, get trapped inside the hair follicle and dig inward or sideways. More info on Shaving Tips.
Use a post-shaving product that contains beta hydroxy acid: Acetylsalicylic acid, the main ingredient in the Imperial Touch Razor Bump Solution. This dermatological-grade ingredient is the active substance producing immediate; visible improvements for razor bumps, ingrown hairs, and razor burns. It disinfects, mildly exfoliates surface skin cells, which keeps hair follicles and adjacent areas of the skin clean and unobstructed.
Comment by Bilal Jean-Paul | January 13, 2006