Facial Skin Care: An Easy Routine You Can Follow

Facial skin care can be very confusing: Cleansers, toners, scrubs, masks: Who can keep track of them all? Is your skin normal, oily, dry, combination, sensitive? It is all very bewildering.

Relax; here is an easy skin care routine anyone can follow. Every night, follow steps 1-6.

1. Thoroughly rinse your face with a splash of warm water.

2. Apply a dime-sized amount of cleanser that is suited to your skin type.

3. Rub the cleanser into your face with gentle, circular strokes, making sure you get all portions of your face and neck.

4. Rinse off the cleanser with warm water.

5. Pat dry with a clean towel.

6. Apply a moisturizer that is suited to your skin type. Leave it on overnight. (You may rinse it off in the morning with a simple splash of warm water.)

7. Once each week, exfoliate your face. Use a scrub or mask to gently but thoroughly remove the dirt and oils that have worked their way into your face.

8. Always use sunscreen to protect your face from wrinkles, age spots and ultimately, skin cancer.

9. If you wear make-up, be sure to remove it thoroughly each night before cleansing. (Do not share make-up or use products older than six months.)

That’s really all there is to facial skin care. The trick is to find products suited to your skin type. Unfortunately, there is no one skin-care product that works well for all skin types, so you will have to experiment to find products that work for you and fit your budget.
Don’t know your skin type? Here is an easy way to find out:

1. Using a tissue to wipe your face first thing in the morning. If the tissue comes back dry and your face feels smooth and elastic, you have normal.

2. If the tissue comes back dry but your face feels tight and flaky, you have dry skin.

3. If the tissue comes back looking greasy, you have oily skin.

4. It is possible to have combination skin: oily in the “T-zone” (forehead, nose and chin), dry or normal on the cheeks. Apply the tissue test separately in these areas to be sure.

Sensitive skin can be normal, oily, dry or combination. Sensitive skin reacts to alcohol and other chemicals in perfumes, skin care products or the environment. Possible reactions include rashes, itchiness or redness.

Of course, skin can become more or less dry or oily depending on seasonal or weather changes. Women’s skin especially changes as hormone levels change throughout the month and throughout their lives. However, the same simple skin care method can be used, just changes products as needed.

Facial skin care does not have to be complicated or time consuming. You don’t need to pick out the most expensive creams and lotions and you don’t need to be a Hollywood star to have glowing skin and a radiant complexion. A six-step nightly routine will give your face a lift.