Caring For Your Skin

YOUR SKIN TYPE
First, you have to determine what you skin type is, before you figure out the right steps to take care of it. Skin types vary from person to person, and they often change with the season, age, and other factors such as pregnancy and stress. These are the main types:

• Normal: Lucky you! This is perfect skin - soft, smooth, and finely textured. Use gentle cleansers, moisturize daily, and use weekly face masks.

• Dry: Skin gets drier as we age, becoming tight and devoid of moisture, so adequate moisturizing becomes essential. Keep your skin away from excess temperatures. Use gentle, alcohol-free cleansers, rich moisturizers, and night creams.

• Sensitive: This skin is fine, suffers from redness and irritation, and does poorly when exposed to extremes of weather or harsh products. Extra care is needed for sensitive skin. Use cosmetics without perfume, color, alcohol, or lanolin.

• Oily: Oily skin is thicker, has large pores, looks shiny, and is prone to spots. The increased moisture production can be aggravated by stress and hormonal imbalances. Avoid harsh lotions but opt for pH-balanced cleansers and oil-free moisturizers.

• Combination: This skin is the most common, with an oily T-zone (forehead, nose, and chin) and dry cheeks and neck. Try gentle cleansers and oil-free moisturizers.

All skin types should use eye cream or gel, applied gently on the delicate eye area; lip balm; and a day cream with sunscreen. Use appropriate face scrubs and masks once  a week.

SKIN-CARE TIPS

WHAT TO AVOID
Don’ts include sun exposure, smoking, extreme dieting, caffeine, excess sugar, and stress.

HEALTHY SKIN DIET
Start caring for your skin from within:

• Drink water - 8 glasses or pure water throughout each day will hydrate your skin, flush toxins from your body, increase the skin’s radiance, and relieve puffiness.

• Eat protein - Aging, sagging skin is caused by the breakdown of skin cells, which cannot self-repair without adequate protein. Protein forms strong, healthy collagen and new cell walls.

• Essential fatty acids (EFAs) - These keep your skin soft, supple, and radiant, enhance moisture retention from within, and assist in repairing the skin’s natural moisture barrier. EFAs are found in oily fish such as mackerel, trout, and salmon, and nonfish sources like avocados, seeds, and nuts.

• Limit carbohydrates - your skin can age prematurely if your diet is full of refined carbohydrates such as white bread and convenience foods that are packed with preservatives. The high levels of toxicity in the skin make if puffy, dehydrated, and slack.

• Vegetables - Eating brightly colored fruits and vegetables will enhance your skin’s metabolism and strength and reduce inflammation.

RELAX
Laughter lines form over time in spots where muscles tend to contract. Make a conscious effort to relax any tense muscles in your face.

MOISTURIZE
Use moisturizer or oils such as olive oil or coconut oil to rejuvenate your skin. Moisturizing keeps the skin’s connective tissues strong and supple, preventing sagging and wrinkles. Your skin releases its own natural moisturizer, which forms the skin’s protective “acid mantle”. Harsh soaps and cleansers strip this vital layer, leaving it exposed to infection.

EXFOLIATE
Daily exfoliation, preferably at night, removes the dead top layer of skin and speeds up the growth of new skin cells.

FREQUENT SPAS
Saunas and steam rooms eliminate toxins and encourage skin renewal. Jacuzzis increase circulation and skin rejuvenation.