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Many people take
their skin for granted. The skin has several basic needs. First, it needs to be
kept as clean as possible. Second, the skin needs to be protected from sunlight
and other environmental insults. The skin of the face needs even more attention
than the rest of the body because the face has more oil glands, especially the
central forehead, eye areas, nose and chin. One needs to perform a brief morning
regimen for the facial skin and a longer regimen before going to bed. Once you
have your skin care regimen down, it will only take five to ten minutes a day.
Morning Facial Care:
In the morning you should clean your face with luke-warm water and a creamy
cleanser or purifying gel wash. Avoid bar soap because this strips the natural
moisturizing factors from the skin, leaving it feeling very tight and dry. Do
not rub the skin dry. Instead, blot it gently with a towel. Your morning facial
care can be done in the shower or at the sink.
Next, you should tone the skin on the face. Toning the skin helps remove any
residual cleanser or make-up that may have been left behind. A toner also helps
restore the natural pH level of the skin, leaves your skin clean, clear and
ready to be hydrated.
Next, apply a moisturizer. This should be specialized to your skin type. A
moisturizer leaves the skin feeling softer and smoother. It also helps smooth
away fine lines and dryness. A sunscreen can be applied on top of the
moisturizer.
Next, apply your make-up (if you choose to wear make-up). Your foundation should
match your skin tone. Never use a darker foundation than your skin tone; it
should look natural.
Evening Facial Care:
The evening starts like the morning. First, you should clean your face with luke-warm
water and a creamy cleanser or purifying gel wash. These skin cleansers will
remove your make-up at the same time you wash your face.
A toner should then be applied. Any trace of make-up remaining will be removed
(the easiest way of applying a toner is to put it on a cotton pad).
Now, while your face is still wet, you should exfoliate. Exfoliating is the
process of removing dead skin cells, which cause the face to look dull. The
build up of dead cells can also contribute to blockage of the pores causing
acne. Also this build up of dead cells will not let the products you are using
penetrate the skin and work to their full capacity. Exfoliating will brighten
the skin and give it a more healthy glow. Massage gently and rinse well. This
can be done every night or 1-2 times a week all depending on the type of
exfoliant.
Finally, apply a moisturizer to your face, which is specified for your skin
type. A firming eye cream should also be used around the eye area.
Facial Care Tips:
Never go to bed with your make-up on. Make-up that is left on overnight clogs
the pores and prevents the skin cells from shedding, which may cause blemishes
and/or blackheads. The skin needs to breathe over night.
Waterproof make-up is most easily removed with a gel cleanser.
The most important thing that you can do for your facial skin is to avoid
sunlight or use liberal amounts of sunscreen. Sunlight causes the skin to age
and causes skin cancer which is the most common malignancy in humans. The most
common location for these tumors is the face. If you do not believe that the sun
ages your skin, then look at the skin under your upper arm and compare it to the
skin on your face and the back of the hands.
Alpha hydroxy acid applied daily will help prevent acne out breaks if you have
acne prone skin.
If you have acne and the above measures do not help, see your dermatologist.
There are many prescription treatments for acne.
Face Exercise :
If you have those circles under your eyes, frowning and squinting left tracks on
your face then here are a few face exercises that will help you look great and
beautiful. By following these few exercises religiously you will have a young
and dazzling look without going for surgery or face-lift. Let us begin with
forehead. This exercise should be done 10 times daily to the count of six at a
time.
Forehead :
1. Join your fingers together with your thumbs folded in and place your fingers
near your temples i.e., where your scalp meets your head. Push straight up and
hold and then, raise your eyebrows, hold for six counts and release.
Benefits: This face exercise removes the lines above the brow. It targets the
muscles of the forehead and the muscles at the back of your head.
2. First, place the middle fingertip of each hand in the centre of each eyebrow.
Pull the eyebrows apart or outwards, and at the same time try to frown. Hold for
six counts. The next step is totally the reverse exercise. Place the middle
fingertip of each hand in the centre of each eyebrow; push brows together or
inward and at the same time raise eyebrows and hold.
Benefits: This face exercise helps remove the mark on your forehead and the area
between the eyebrows. This face exercise targets the muscles right above the
brow area.
Eyes :
1. Place the three center fingers of each hand underneath the eye, pull down,
and try to close your eyes. Hold for six counts and release.
Benefits: This face exercise eliminates puffiness as it targets the muscles
under the eyes.
2. Place the ring and middle fingers of each hand at the outer corners of eyes.
Pull the corner of the eyes toward the hairline and hold. At the same time,
squeeze eyes shut; hold for six counts and then release.
Benefits: This face exercise helps remove the wrinkles around the eyes.
Cheeks :
1. Put your head back. Take your three center fingers, place them on the apples
of the cheeks and push down. At the same time, raise your cheeks as hard as you
can by smiling.
Benefits: This exercise targets the muscles of the cheeks.
2. Put your thumb in your mouth right in the center of the cheek and push. At
the same time, bring the cheek back towards the teeth against your thumb. Hold
for six counts and then repeat on the other side.
Benefits: This face exercise will fill out the cheek hollows, firm the face and
lift.
Mouth :
1. Take your middle fingers and pull down on either side of your lower lip thus
exposing your teeth. At the same time try to mope.
Benefits: This exercise tones the muscles around the lip area.
Chin :
1. Take your three center fingers, pull the chin down and at the same time curl
the lower lip over the bottom teeth.
Benefits: : This face exercise tones the muscles of the chin.
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