Sunday, June 20, 2010

Importance of Skin Care: Part One

How many times have you come home late at night and went straight to bed with a pile of makeup on your face? We're all guilty of it. Doing this once or twice every so often isn't a big deal (although I still don't recommend it) but making this a habit is a definite no-no! Why? Well you should think of your face as a piece of canvas. Would DaVinci have painted the "Mona Lisa" on a canvas that was peeling or full of bumps and spots? No.So why would you want to apply makeup to your face hoping to mask the problems instead of fixing them?

Skincare should be your number one priority if you're looking for your most beautiful face. Makeup offers some great quick fixes on its own but used in conjunction with the right products for your skin type it can be wonderful. You may even be able to opt out of wearing certain makeup if you can adress your skin issue and solve it.

1. Normal to Combination Skin

Cleansers: Consider using a foam cleanser that concentrates on removing makeup, unclogging pores, and balancing your skins oils. Because foam cleansers are less concentrated they aren't as harsh on your skin as a gel cleanser. Using a cleanser too strong for your skin will cause your skin to over produce sebem(oil) resulting in breakouts.

Toners: When deciding whether or not you need a toner will be up to you. There are many debates between makeup artists about whether toners are necessary or not. Some say you absolutely need a toner to wipe away any leftover dirt, makeup, or film that your cleanser may leave behind. Others say if you have normal skin all you need is to splash your face with cold water after cleansing to tighten the pores. I have tried both options and feel that when I use a toner my skin is cleaner and less blemishes appear. Personally I would suggest to use a toner but it's not the end of the world if you decide not to.

A good toner to look for for your skin type is something that will balance your skin. When you cleanse the PH levels in your skin change. Using a toner will help to restore the PH levels back to normal. You will also want to look for something that contains vitamins and minerals to give your skin an extra boost of radiance.

Moisturizers: A good moisturizer for your skin is something light enough for to wear in the day when you tend to sweat, touch your face, and deal with stress. You want to be able to put your moisturizer on without it feeling heavy or greasy halfway through the day. You should look for something packed full with antioxidents to help fight free radicals.

2. Dry Skin

Cleansers: Unfortunetly for 6 months of the year I have dry skin. The best type of cleanser for dry skin is a cream cleanser. The reason for this is that it moisturizes as it removes dirt and makeup. Most cream cleansers contain vitamins and/or antioxidents, look to see which ones include these and make sure to pick them up! You can also get some cream cleansers with exfoliating particles mixed right it. This is a good option for dry skin because it scrubs away all of the dry, dead skin while it cleanses and moisturizes. Cream cleansers should more often then not be reserved for people with dry skin as it may be too heavy in spots for people with combination skin.

Toners: When using a cream cleanser you should always try and use a toner with it. Cream cleansers tend to leave product behind because they are not always water soluable. Using a toner will help remove the leftover product and dirt. Toners are also great for prepping your skin for moisture which is something your dry skin craves.

Moisturizers: Dry skin will most likely need a heavier moistrizer. Lighter moisturizers will evaporate too quickly. Look for a moisturizer that has all day protection and ingredients like glycerin which moisturizers and protects. Use a heavier night cream rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidents. Our skin cells have a higher turnover rate while we sleep so it's the perfect time to soak in these wonderful ingredients.

3. Oily Skin

Cleaners: Foam and Gel cleansers are the best forms for oily skin. You also want to look for an oil-free cleanser. Depending on how oily your skin is will determine if you should use a foam or gel cleanser. Foam is good for people with oily skin that is easy to control. It is gentle enough that it won't strip any of the natural oil from your skin and is also oil-free so it won't add any either. If you have a hard time controlling the amount of sebem your skin produces try a gel formula. They are stronger than a foam cleanser, getting rid of more oil, while again not adding any oil to the skin.

Toners: Oily skin needs a toner to balance out the PH levels after using a strong cleanser. Look for one with an astrigent such as witch hazel or benezol peroxide to remove any remaining oil and clear the pores. Try to avoid toners that contain alcohol as no matter what your skin type is, they can be too drying.

Moisturizers: Even people with oily skin should use a moisturizer. There are many different kinds out there but I would say the best ones for really oily skin would be an oil-free mattifying lotion. This gives your skin the moisture it needs without adding oil- something your skin doesn't need anymore of.

Part 2 coming soon to include: How to treat specific skin problems, miracles in a jar, my personal favourite products, popular products.

www.enchantmentmakeupartistry.com

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