FACE: Your Problem

by The Beauty Diva

Every time we turn on the television we are made to believe unconsciously, that we all have to look beautiful. Vanity has taken a aggressive course to brainwash people that to be called beautiful we have to look effortlessly flawless and fair. Sure, good for those born with good genes. But how about for people like me who constantly battle with zits, large pores and occasional breakouts?

There are plenty of products enriched with vitamins and exfoliating components in the market which can help us achieve good skin. Whether it be to stimulate better skin appearance or to hide blemishes, there is a wide array of cosmetic products to choose from. But the thing is, the sky rocketing of prices make it quite impossible and painful for a common person to afford. At the end of this article I will teach you some cost effective means to achieve your natural glow at half the cost.

Our faces aside from our feet is one of the most abused part of our body. All throughout the day it gets exposed to the harmful rays of the sun, dust and dirt, pollution and yes, germs. Everytime we touch our faces with our bare fingers we contaminate it. It is virtually impossible to completely prevent this from happening but we can combat the possible effects of it on our skin and minimize its exposure to such elements. We should develop a daily routine of removing the accumulated dirt in our skin by the end of the day. Make it a point to never sleep with dirty skin. But for busy people like me (or if you’re just lazy) who every once in a while forget to wash their faces before going to bed, we all wake up with zits or eventually develop black heads. I will not ask you to perfect your beauty routine overnight. I’ve been doing this for years now and yet I occasionally miss my regimen. It takes a while of getting used to.

The best way to do this is to grab a pen and paper and list down your skin status. Ask yourself if your face is oily? Dry? Acne infested? Sensitive? Do you have specific allergies? Etc.

After making a list of answers, its high time to list down the essential skin care products that you should keep in your bathroom and dressing tables.

FACIAL SCRUBS – When used sparingly, scrubs can give you a healthy glow on your skin as it helps the skin naturally exfoliate dead skin cells and let the younger cells surface. Well basically the epidermis or the outermost layer of the skin is composed of dead skin (yeah every day we look at and appreciate dead skin cells). But the stimulating effect of scrubs make the skin cell division more efficient therefore the skin that shows are healthier looking. Remember to use facial scrubs only 2-3 times a week because daily scrubbing can irritate skin.

FACIAL FOAMS/CLEANSERS – Some people have really sensitive skin. And it may take a trial and error test to arrive in the best cleansers for your face. There are some cleansers already containing tiny beads which acts as scrubs. Again, be careful in scrubbing your face. How to use: wet your face and Place an ample amount of the product on you palm. Make a lather gently rub on the skin with your fingers.
Good buys are the ones from celeteque or cetaphil which does not contain soap and irritants.

Toner – the benefits of toner go beyond its soothing effect. It compliments the cleansing process by helping remove remaining dirt and make up. It also restores the skin ph levels and in some level, promote exfoliation. If you want to dry your pimples, look for the ones with minimal alcohol and salicylic acid, glycolic acid, and hydroxyl acid. But again, be careful because if the acidity and alcohol level is too high, it may promote more oil production and hasten development of zits. How to use: pat your face dry and saturate a cotton ball or a cotton pad and pat it on your face. Remember never to rub but pat!
Recommended buys: Neutrogena Alcohol Free toner and Oil-Free Acne Stress Control™ Triple-Action Toner

Photos from: www.neutrogena.com
Moisturizers – this will put back moisture lost from cleansing your faces. Even if your facial cleansers contain moisturizers, it is best to apply moisturizers after you pat your face dry with a clean towel. Choose moisturizers according to your own needs. If you have mature skin, you may want those with age defying components. If you have oily skin, choose those with oil control agents. I personally prefer the ones with SPF (sun protection factor). How to use : apply gently with your fingertips taking good care not apply too much on.
Mary Kay’s time-wise facial mositurizer gives you the moisture and protection you need with SPF 15.

Photo from www.marykay.com
SUN BLOCKS – prevents hyperpigmentation and premature aging due to the harmSPF 15-20 which is usually found in most moisturizers is okay but I use VMV’s armada face I use VMV’s Face and Body Shield with SPF 60 (and mind you, it can even filter indoor UV lights which may cause premature skin aging). But if your skin gets so much sun abuse, I recommend you glide on higher SPF’s. When the going gets tough and rough, VMV’s armada SPORT does a perfect job with an amazing SPF of 70-90 plus its water resistant for those extra active individuals.

Photo from: www.vmvhypoallergenics.com
After your cleansing ritual, you may then choose to proceed with your normal make up application. That is of course if you wear make up.
Now once you get the hang of this routine, give it a few weeks or months and you will definitely see good results. Remember that we all age everyday but aging doesn’t necessarily mean we should look ugly.
Good Vibes,

The Beauty Diva