Benefits of Skin Care – Why You Should Cleanse, Tone and Moisturize daily.

The skin is the largest organ of our bodies, and so many people neglect caring for it.  We take it for granted that the skin will protect us and think nothing further.

Today there is no excuse as we all know how damaging the sun’s rays are.  As little as a few decades ago, we all happily baked in the sun, unaware of the damage that may occur later on in our lives. It was nothing to spend all day in the sun with no sunscreen lotion applied, no hats and cook until we were as red as beetroots.

Today there are small minorities of people who ignore the warnings, yet they are proven warnings. We know that too much sun can and does cause skin cancer, and too many people have found out the hard way.  It’s fine while we are young, however later on in life is when we find out how much damage we have done to ourselves, sadly by then it is too late.

Not only does the sun cause us major damage over time in regards to cancer, it also ages our skin prematurely.   Have you ever seen an older person who is very tanned? It is obvious that they have spent many hours in the sun.  They are extremely lucky to have escaped skin cancer and they obviously think that bronzed skin is attractive, however if you are observant – and you don’t have to look too closely – you will find that their skin has become very leathery, which is most unattractive.  Additionally they are usually quite wrinkled, making them appear older than they really are.

If we are kind to ourselves, we will stay out of the sun as much as possible.   Wear a hat, apply a good sunscreen if you do wish to go out in the sun and make sure that the amount of time you spend in the sun is minimal. Understandably people who live in cooler climates want to be in the sun for its warmth, however even though it still appears cool, the sun is still doing damage to your skin, so be very careful.

We can do a lot of things to care for our skin along the way.  I don’t think anyone wants to age prematurely, and there are some simple and effective methods to prolong the aging process. We cannot stop ourselves from aging although we can certainly slow it down, but we must start while we are still young. 

Skin is constantly changing, it renews itself regularly and gets rid of the dead skin cells, many of which don’t always fall off of your body.  It’s up to us to remove the dead skin cells regularly by exfoliating.  By not removing the dead skin cells, our complexion can take on a dull appearance.  With the enormous number of skin care products on the market today, it can make choosing a product difficult.  Ultimately it will all come down to personal choice, along with trial and error. Price is also plays a large part in your choice, you don’t need to pay exorbitant prices for good products. Jojo & Corn Gentle Exfoliating Facial Scrub is one scrub that is available on this website.  It’s gentle enough to use daily and will leave your skin feeling silky and smooth and is reasonably priced.

After you have exfoliated your skin the next steps are to cleanse tone and moisturize.  Never do any of these steps alone, always use them in order as part of your daily routine.   It’s a mixed debate as to whether you exfoliate before you cleanse or vice versa, personally I choose to exfoliate first. A scrub is most beneficial to your skin for removing dead skin cells however you never want to leave it at that.    A good tip is to be gentle when exfoliating, let the ingredients in the scrub do the job, don’t rub too hard or you will do more damage than good.

Cleansing your skin is extremely important as it opens up the pores on your face and removes the dirt, oil and perspiration.  Often this is the reason for acne and other skin eruptions, which can be so embarrassing, especially for adolescents.   The type of cleanser you use will depend on your skin type, so be aware when choosing a cleanser that it is right for you. If your skin is oily it will often appear shiny.  Dry skin on the other hand appears dull and combination skin will be a combination of the two. Often you will have an oily “T” section, which is on the forehead and down the middle of your face including your nose and chin.  The remainder of your face will appear dry and dull.  Always remove the cleanser by splashing your face with water or gently wiping it with a cloth such as a face washer.

A toner will be the next step. Toning will close those pores up again, so this is a vital step in the process. It also removes any remaining dirt left over from the cleansing process.  Importantly it will refresh, and nourish the skin. Often you will experience a fresh tingling sensation after toning, as it dries on your skin.  Fanning your skin will increase the sensation.

The final step is to moisturize your skin.  Once again the type of moisturizer will be dependent on the type of skin you have.  After completing the steps above you need to rehydrate your skin, never leave your skin vulnerable always moisturize last.  If you are concerned that you already have oily skin and don’t need more moisture, be assured that moisturizing is still beneficial.  Remember to choose a moisturizer for oily skin. 

It is recommended to perform this process twice per day. Often times you may think that it is not important, however thinking this way could not be further from the truth.  If you are diligent and use good quality products such as the products found on this website, your skin will reward you as you age by appearing much younger than those who didn’t bother with skin care. 

Photo courtesy of Heather Sorenson, HeatherModel.com

Your Comments