Proper skin care: Cleanse, moisturise, protect
Your skin is among your body's most conspicuous features. It helps protect you against the environment and plays a major role in your appearance. But your skin needs regular care and attention in order to remain healthy and attractive. Taking good care of your skin — including proper cleaning, moisturising, use of sunscreen and shaving — can help prevent skin-related problems, such as dry or rough skin, deep wrinkles, liver or brown spots, and skin cancer. Cleaning your face: Be gentle
Cleaning is an essential part of caring for your complexion. Whatever your skin type — oily, dry, balanced or combination — the key to cleaning is to treat your skin gently. When washing your face: * Remove eye makeup. Use a soft sponge, cotton cloth or cotton balls and moisturising cream to avoid damaging the delicate tissue around your eyes. If you wear heavy, waterproof makeup, you also may need to use an oil-based product such as petroleum jelly. * Use lukewarm water. Avoid washing your face with very hot water, which can dry out your skin. * Avoid strong soaps. Strong soaps — those most capable of stripping oil from your skin — can leave your skin dry. These products do not contain additives such as moisturisers or moisture retainers. A mild cleanser, typically labeled as such, may also be a good choice. * Avoid irritating additives. If you have sensitive skin, avoid products containing perfumes or dyes. These can irritate your skin and may possibly trigger an allergic response. * Use your hands to wash your face. Instead of using a washcloth, which can be abrasive, wash your face gently using your fingers. * Rinse thoroughly and pat dry. Use a soft cotton towel to dry your face. Generally, wash your face once in the morning, once in the evening and after exercising or engaging in sports. If your skin is very dry and easily irritated, washing once a day may be enough to remove sweat and oil from your skin. You may also consider using a toner or astringent after washing your face. These products, which remove oil and soap residue, help make your skin feel tight and clean. They are generally drying and may contain water, alcohol or witch hazel, propylene glycol or salicylic acid. Some people find them to be too drying and irritating. Others find that they work well in removing excess oil. Bathing: Avoid drying out
Bathing is essential to good hygiene. But bathing removes natural oils from your skin, which can result in dryness and irritation. To minimise the drying effects of bathing, follow these steps: * Bathe once a day. Bathing once a day is generally enough to maintain good hygiene. If your complexion is very oily, you live in a warm and humid environment or you are physically active, twice a day may be more appropriate. If you have dry skin, bathing every other day may be best. * Use warm water and limit bath time. Hot water and long showers or baths remove even more oil. Limit your bath or shower time to about 15 minutes or less. And use warm, rather than hot, water. * Use appropriate soaps. Choose mild, superfatted soaps, which are products that have oils and fats added to them just after the soap manufacturing process. Add bath oils, which are very moisturising, to your bath. Consider using a soap substitute. These products vary, but may include a mild synthetic detergent or an oil mixed with a wetting agent (surfactant). If you have dry or sensitive skin, use soap only on your face, underarms, genital area, and hands and feet. * Pat dry. After bathing, gently pat or blot your skin dry with a towel so that some moisture remains on the skin. Immediately moisturise your skin with an oil or cream. Moisturising: Hydrate your skin
Moisturisers help maintain your skin's natural moisture levels, which the environment and your lifestyle frequently deplete. Moisturisers work by providing a seal over your skin — to keep water from escaping — or by slowly releasing water into your skin. Apply moisturisers immediately after taking a shower or bath, as this helps to trap water in the upper layers of your skin. You may like the feel of an oil-in-water cream. If you have dry skin, consider using a heavier, water-in-oil moisturiser rather than a light, disappearing moisturising lotion that contains mostly water. If your skin is very dry, you may want to apply an oil, such as baby oil, while your skin is still moist. Oil has more staying power than moisturisers do and prevents the evaporation of water from the surface of your skin. If your skin is oily, you may prefer to skip moisturising. During the winter months, you may notice that your skin is drier. This is due to lower relative humidity, with a combination of cold air outside and dry heat indoors. Keeping the air in your home somewhat cool and humid may help, so consider purchasing a humidifier. Facial moisturisers help hydrate the skin on your face. The moisturiser that is best for you and the frequency with which you need to moisturise depend on your skin type, your age and whether you have specific conditions such as acne or wrinkles. If you have oily skin, choose a light, oil-in-water product. Or, you may prefer not to moisturise. For sensitive skin, select products that have a good proportion of oil and water, rather than those that are primarily water. Look for products free of heavy dyes, perfumes or other additives. During the daytime, use a moisturiser with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15 to help protect your skin from damaging ultraviolet rays, which can cause wrinkles, dark spots, rough skin and skin cancer. Shaving: Gently remove hair
Shaving is a common and inexpensive way to remove unwanted hair. However, shaving can cause skin irritation, especially if your skin is thin, dry or very sensitive. If you shave with a blade razor, always use a sharp blade. If you are a man, soften your beard before shaving by applying a warm washcloth to your face for a few seconds. Then use plenty of shaving cream to further soften the hair. Pass the blade over your beard only once, in the direction of hair growth. Do not reverse the stroke, as it can cause a skin irritation called razor burn. If you are a woman, use cream or lubricating gel when shaving your legs. Shave in the direction of hair growth, and not against it. If you use an electric razor, know that this method also can be irritating to your skin if done too vigorously. Move the razor gently over your skin. Electric razors work best — and are least irritating — when used on hair that is dry, stiff, and free of perspiration and excess oil. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle: How it helps your skin
Good skin care involves more than just using the right soap and moisturiser. Your lifestyle also plays an important role in your skin's health and appearance. Follow these lifestyle tips for healthier skin: * Eat a healthy diet. Your body needs adequate amounts of protein, vitamins and minerals in order to keep your skin healthy. Eat a diet rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains. And drink plenty of water to help keep your skin hydrated. * Exercise. Exercising improves blood circulation, which in turn may improve your skin's tone and color. * Sleep well. If you are not getting enough sleep, or the quality of your sleep is poor, your face will show it. A lack of sleep may turn your complexion puffy, lackluster and sallow. * Quit smoking. In addition to putting you at risk of heart disease and cancer, smoking may cause your face to age prematurely. * Protect yourself from the sun. Dark skin can tolerate the sun better than fair skin can, in that it absorbs less harmful rays. However, any complexion can become blotchy, leathery and wrinkled from continued sun overexposure. Overexposure also increases the risk of skin cancer. Use sunscreen generously, wear protective clothing, and try to avoid sun exposure between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
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