Facial Skin Care

Our facial skin is exposed to pollutants throughout the day and also suffers due to effects caused by mental stress. Proper facial skin care is very important for healthy and glowing skin. What you eat is also very necessary to the way your skin looks. Feel beautiful to look beautiful from within. Before you begin any facial skin care routines, you would need to know the category to which your skin belongs.

Types of Skin:

Dry Skin: Facial Skin Care for Dry Skin
Facial skin care for dry skin would need to include ways to replenish the moisture levels. Dry skin looks flaky and tends to tighten especially when washed with soap and water. People with dry skin need not always worry about acne problems.

Facial skin care for dry skin would need to include a lot of gentle cleansing and moisturizing. Use a specific moisturizer for dry skin to balance the water content in the skin. Avoid soap for the face and always cleanse your skin at night. Dab a little moisturizer before going to bed. Use some baby oil after bath for soft skin. For bath time, make sure that your water is not way too hot. Hot water is preferably avoidable for dry skin. Facial skin care routines for dry skin can include the use of Aloe Vera. Aloe Vera gel in its pure form is excellent for the skin.

An effective facial skin care routine for dry skin would be to mash around half an avocado with some lemon juice. Use this over your skin and leave it on for about 20 minutes. Use cold water to wash it off.

Oily Skin: Facial Skin Care for Oily Skin
Oily skin can be distinguished because it has a certain shine to it. This is probably due to the fact that oily skin has a lot of sebum. This is what keeps the skin oily at all times. The problem with oily skin is that it tends to collect more grime and dirt, which blocks the pores and causes pimples.

Facial skin care for oily skin would need to include cleansing everyday. The main advantage about having oily skin is that is tends to age at a slower rate as compared to dry skin. Oily skin needs to be kept clean at all times. Wash your face at least thrice a day. Warm water would prove to be more beneficial for oily skin. Use oil free cleansing creams and massage it gently into your skin. Use the fingertips and have an upward and an outward movement for the massage. Clay masks work great for oily skin. This tends to get rid of the excess oil.

Exfoliate your skin regularly. This would rid the skin of blackheads and dead skin cells. Use an oatmeal scrub or any gentle scrub that helps to get that natural glow back into the skin.

Combination Skin: Facial Skin care for Combination skin
The T-zone of the combination skin is often shiny in appearance. This area would always be either too dry or very oily. Generally, combination skin tends to have a fine texture and has a supple and smooth surface. Dryness on the cheeks is also common for people with combination skin.

Facial skin care for such skin may tend to be a little tricky at times. Use toners and moisturizers that are light and are specifically meant for combination skin. To cleanse such skin, use mild baby soap. Apply rose water before you step out into the sun. You can go in for non-drying masks as part of the beauty routine. This is necessary because combination skin tends to be different in the T zone as compared to the rest of the areas. Apply a light moisturizer in the dry areas to replenish the moisture levels. Facial masks also need to be chosen carefully as the dry areas would require moisture.

Always remember the basics of facial skin care-Cleaning, moisturizing and exfoliating. Follow these simple steps to have a skin that glows naturally, forever!

Facial Skin Problems

To have the perfect and healthy skin is the dream of very human being. People spend lots of money and time on skin care products to have a flawless skin. However, skin is also very sensitive and is at high risk of getting affected by infection and diseases. Facial skin problems can arise due to genetic factors, environmental pollution, over exposure to sun's UV rays, age, viruses, eating habits, stress, etc. Facial skin problems may or may not cause any pain or discomfort, but most people go for treatment because it ruins their appearance. However, skin treatment and care is essential not only to have a healthy skin, but also for the overall well being of the person. Let us look at some common facial skin problems.

Acne
Acne is one of the most common facial skin problems. It is most likely to appear when a person reaches puberty. Most of the times, acne goes away with age, however there have been cases where people have acne during adulthood, especially women. During adolescence, sebaceous glands that secrete sebum or oil for lubricating the skin and hair, becomes hyperactive. Due to this, pimples, blackheads and whiteheads develop on the skin. These pimples can be painful and there are high chances of permanent blemishes and scars appearing on the face. Usually, acne goes away on its own, but it is necessary to take certain precautions to stop the condition from aggravating. People who have acne must wash their face only with a mild soap and can also use benozyl peroxide lotions. Along with these things, one should also eat a balanced healthy diet and refrain from consuming food stuffs that increase acne.

Eczema
Eczema is a serious skin problem, where a person develops a rash that is dry and red in color, which is accompanied by constant itching. Although eczema commonly appears in young children, it can even develop in adults. The exact cause of eczema is not known, but it is believed to be a genetic disorder. It is also said to be caused due to exposure to dust, solvents, stress, etc. People with very sensitive skin are at a higher risk of having eczema. Although eczema cannot be cured completely, it can be controlled by avoiding use of soaps on the face and by applying a cream meant for eczema.

Wrinkles
Wrinkles are a common facial skin problem in old people. When people start aging, wrinkles naturally start appearing on the skin, as it begins to lose its elasticity. However, they can also early in some people due to smoking, faulty eating habits, etc. By following certain healthy eating habits and lifestyle changes, one can prevent early appearance of wrinkles on the skin. Eating healthy food, cleaning the face regularly, especially after exposing it to the sun and pollution, avoiding smoking, etc are necessary to prevent wrinkles to appear at an early age. Nowadays, even cosmetic surgeries can be done to remove wrinkles from a person's face.

Rosacea
Rosacea is an inflammatory skin disorder, where a person is found with red spots and cysts on those areas of the face that blush like the cheeks, forehead, near the nose and chin. This facial skin disease is common in Caucasian people. Like other skin problems, the causes of rosacea are also not very clear. Consuming alcohol and spicy food, sun exposure, genetics, etc are some of the reasons for rosacea. This skin problem does not go away completely, but treatment should be given to control the growth because it is said to have certain serious consequences.

Warts
Warts are blemishes that can appear not only on the face, but all over the body. The reason for the emergence of warts are most likely due to virus. They can be painful for some people and disfigures a person's appearance, if it appears on the face. Usually, warts go away without treatment, but there are many people who remove them through surgery because they look ugly on their body.

One must remember that untreated minor skin problems can lead to severe skin disorders. Hence, it is is very important to treat skin problems at an early age. Before taking any over the counter drugs or applying any cream, it is very important to consult a good dermatologist. Protecting one's skin from environmental factors and also taking proper care of the skin will help in averting facial skin problems.

How to Use a Facial Steamer

Facial steamers are effective devices that help keep the skin glowing and healthy. Oil, dirt and grime tend to clog the pores, resulting in blackheads, breakouts and other facial skin problems. Steam helps open up the pores in the skin, and is a great way to treat acne. Moreover, steam also increases skin blood circulation, revives tired skin and removes toxins. The open pores give deep cleansing agents the access to remove the sebum and harmful bacteria from the skin. Thus resulting in healthy and glowing skin. Varieties of facial steamers are available today. Professional multi-function facial steamers (used in spas, retreats and spas) as well as simple home facial steamers are present in the market. Among the various facial steamers available, the portable type is the most convenient and affordable. Besides the portable type, the facial sauna is also an efficient way of rejuvenating the skin. Facial sauna involves the use of an inhaler mask to funnel out the dirt off the facial skin. The electronic aroma and herbal steamers and the upgraded version of facial steamers. These appliances make use of herbal essences to rejuvenate the skin.

How to Use a Facial Steamer

Facial steaming is a pampering experience, whether it's carried out at a spa or at home. Since visiting a spa every week is not practical, investing in home facial steamers is beneficial and cost effective. Facial steaming is a simple procedure, yielding good results. The simple steps involved in using a facial steamer are as follows:

    * Before actually using the facial steamer, one must prepare their face. The face must be cleansed with facial cleansers and must be towel dried. This is because during steaming the pores in the facial skin will be opened. To avoid clogging of pores, its best to cleanse the skin prior to steaming.
    * Some facial steamers are battery operated, while the others work on electricity. Depending on the requirement, put in the batteries or locate an outlet to plug in the steamer.
    * Take approximately one cup clean water and put it into the facial steamer's reservoir. Adding excess water can result in overflowing.
    * A separate compartment is also present, wherein one can pour essential oils to achieve a soothing effect. These essential oils not only soothe the skin, but also, detoxify the skin and clears it off bacteria.
    * Items such as large towel, moisturizer, cotton balls, toner and facial mask are additional things that are required for the completion of the facial steaming procedure. Make sure the towel is large enough to cover the face and shoulders. All these things should be gathered before the commencement of facial steaming procedure.
    * Once all the requirements are seen to, its time to use the steamer. The steamers have a settings panel, that help control the temperature. Once the steamer has been turned on, it will take one or two minutes to release the steam.
    * When steam begins to come out, place the face over the steamer and lock in the steam by using the towel to cover the head. Make sure the face is 8-12 inches away from the steamer. The steamer should only steam the skin and not scald it.
    * Allow the skin to receive steam for 5-10 minutes. Within this time, the skin pores will be opened. After this, gently exfoliate the facial skin and rinse off using clean water. Towel dry the face.
    * Next apply a suitable facial mask and allow to dry. Rinse off the dried mask first with warm water and then with cool water. Dry the face with a towel once again.
    * With the help of a cotton ball, gently apply toner on to the face. This is to be followed by the application of a suitable moisturizer.

Facial steaming leaves the skin rejuvenated, healthy with a radiant glow! This procedure is beneficial to people with all skin types. People who have dry skin can add chamomile, rose water, comfrey, lavender or marshmallow root into the water for maximum effect. For oily skin type, rosemary, lavender, basil or lemongrass are good. For acne prone skin, addition of tea tree oil, eucalyptus oil or chamomile oil are suitable. People with highly sensitive skin are advised to undergo facial steaming only once a month.