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| A face Mask needed for almost all types |
Today we are discussing the largest organ in your body; your skin. Most of us concentrate on caring for the skin on our face, however the skin of the entire body needs regular loving care.
You know there are five body shapes and the areas on which we focus will vary depending upon our shape. The same principle holds true for our skin; our skin may be dry, it may be oily, it may be sensitive to scent or other chemicals, and it can be any combination of those above. It also may need special handling because of its color. Black skin can become ashy with or without use of certain products; some skin has large pores, some skin has fine pores. As you can see, the combinations can be very specific. It is up to you to first identify your skin type before you can choose the right products for you. As always, if you believe you are caring for your skin properly, and are still having problems, you should visit a dermatologist.
However, there are a few basics that apply to all skin and should be practiced by all, no matter the skin type. It is important to identify the degree of attention and the type necessary.
You know there are five body shapes and the areas on which we focus will vary depending upon our shape. The same principle holds true for our skin; our skin may be dry, it may be oily, it may be sensitive to scent or other chemicals, and it can be any combination of those above. It also may need special handling because of its color. Black skin can become ashy with or without use of certain products; some skin has large pores, some skin has fine pores. As you can see, the combinations can be very specific. It is up to you to first identify your skin type before you can choose the right products for you. As always, if you believe you are caring for your skin properly, and are still having problems, you should visit a dermatologist.
However, there are a few basics that apply to all skin and should be practiced by all, no matter the skin type. It is important to identify the degree of attention and the type necessary.
There are four things any mature woman must NEVER neglect:
1) Keep your skin moisturized; most mature women have large dry skin areas on legs, etc. that are not properly moisturized, especially in winter. The neckline area is another often neglected extension of the face.
It is important to apply an appropriate skin lotion religiously all over the body. Make sure to are use a moisturizer that has just the right ingredients to keep the skin moisturized. There is no "one size fits all". Just like in fashion, each person is an individual and must seek out the very best products for her skin. It is also important to realize that our winter skin products usually need to be different than those we wear in the summer; the weather, the activities, etc. in which we participate are often very different. Usually the same time to wear cold weather clothing is the time to change, and the reverse in early summer or spring, depending upon the climate. One of the most effective procedures I have found is both inexpensive, and messy. When my skin is very dry, once a month I slather a heavy cream product mixed with a little almond oil all over my body, put on sweat shirt, sweat pants, and socks, and wear it overnite. By morning most of it has soaked into the skin.
It is important to remember that hydration, moisturizing, begins within. You may not be getting enough water to keep your skin healthy. Getting sick, exercising, dry heat sources, all can deplete moisture from your skin. The recommended 8 to 10 glasses of water per day helps keep you skin hydrated. Eating lots of fruits and vegetables also aids in keeping your skin moisturized. In addition water dense fruits containing lots of vitamins A and C are believed to promote natural collagen production and replenish nutrition. Fruits such as bananas and avocados also supply natural "good" fats to our bodies. Berries, melons, and citrus fruits help promotes healthy skin; and of course, there is always spinach. (Do you notice how all the same foods keep popping up when we discuss health?-that's why I am a Nutritarian.)
2) Cleanse the face thoroughly every single night before sleeping. Many times removing the make-up, etc. Is not thorough enough and needs a second cleansing. It is important to know the ingredients to determine the harshness of the cleansing product. If it has added color, fragrance, bubbles, or anything saying "anti-bacterial", it may not be suitable for your skin.
Cleanse again upon arising because you want to remove any dead cells, etc. generated during the night ( If you have used an exfoliating product of any kind, you want to rinse them away, not trap them under the skin)
3) Avoid exposing your skin to excess sunlight by using sunscreen, or at least wear a hat that covers the face, and sleeves. Wear cotton gloves, if necessary to cover hands and arms, and avoid, if possible performing errands, etc. In the central part of the day when the sun's rays are the most harmful. Melanin (the natural pigment that allows us to get a tan rather than burn) ,declines as we age, and by the time we are "mature" women, it is vital we get some protection from the sun.
For those of you who do not wish to apply some of the chemical ingredients of commercial products, you still need sun protection., especially with the depletion of the ozone layers. Even if you don't wear sunscreen on your face, you should consider wearing it on your hands and arms; fortunately, many women prefer long sleeved garments because of less toned upper arms, etc. The back of the hands is usually the most neglected areas.
4) Exfoliate. We all know our skin cells do not reproduce as quickly as when we were younger. It is vital to remove dead skin before it can clog the pores. We must cleanse gently and thoroughly to keep our skin clear.
There are many strategies and conflicting information regarding proper exfoliation. Some women can get by just by lightly scrubbing their face with a rough washcloth. Some people (certainly almost all product manufacturers!) want you to use an exfoliation product every single day), and of course, there are suggestions varying all numbers in between. (personally, I find I cannot use any product daily) Face masks also come into this category. They should be used regularly, but the frequency will vary from person to person.
If your budget allows, spas offer every conceivable type of body wrap to exfoliate, apply facials, etc. But, like almost all beauty routines, there are marvelous OTC versions of scrubs and the internet has dozens more do it yourself concoctions that are safe, effective, and budget friendly. Once a month I try to have a professional pedicure, callous removal, and exfoliation of my heels.
One other consideration must be taken if you wish to have beautiful skin; you must pay attention to what goes IN your body. More than one glass of alcohol, smoking in any amount, excess sugar and the wrong kind of fats can reek havoc on your skin. Another consideration is the amount of exercise you get; the blood circulation both feeds the skin and removes toxins. Good skin needs good health practices.
Always remembering that our face and skin is usually the "first" of the first impressions we wish to be positive, we must take good care of it. We will post more in depth articles on skin care as it relates to products, skin types and care, and skin nutrition as time goes on.
Personally, (and this just applies to me-like styling, all skin care is individual) I am a nutritarian in my skin care as well as in my diet. At this time I am exploring more plant and animal based skin products.
For example, I have found a blend of yogurt and honey to be the best skin cleanser for my face.and I use it almost every day. If I have foundation on that day, (I do not wear foundation at home) I cleanse first with a gentle OTC cleanser called Cetaphil (for sensitive skin) which works well for me (good reports from all sources I have read over many years), then use my yogurt cleanser after that. I also gently steam my face for a few minutes. I then apply whichever night product I am wearing that night and gently rub that into my skin until fully absorbed. I rub a little almond oil directly into the skin of arms, legs, and chest area. My skin has been going through another change and I am experimenting with some new and hopefully, more effective products. I am a bit skeptical over some of the newer serums because of long term effects of use. Cosmetics are not as regulated as I would like and I don't believe everything I see or hear.
By The Way, I DO NOT recommend these high speed brush cleansers; unless your dermatologist specifically believes you should use one, I believe most of them are too harsh for more mature skin. I also believe a professional skill is needed to be used properly.
Take inventory of your beauty products; if you are using the same products you used over a decade ago, you probably need to consider better options. If you have not changed, you can bet your skin has.
.......Happy Thanksgiving, Stylinistas...........Geneva.............Rockmyages@aol.com
1) Keep your skin moisturized; most mature women have large dry skin areas on legs, etc. that are not properly moisturized, especially in winter. The neckline area is another often neglected extension of the face.
It is important to apply an appropriate skin lotion religiously all over the body. Make sure to are use a moisturizer that has just the right ingredients to keep the skin moisturized. There is no "one size fits all". Just like in fashion, each person is an individual and must seek out the very best products for her skin. It is also important to realize that our winter skin products usually need to be different than those we wear in the summer; the weather, the activities, etc. in which we participate are often very different. Usually the same time to wear cold weather clothing is the time to change, and the reverse in early summer or spring, depending upon the climate. One of the most effective procedures I have found is both inexpensive, and messy. When my skin is very dry, once a month I slather a heavy cream product mixed with a little almond oil all over my body, put on sweat shirt, sweat pants, and socks, and wear it overnite. By morning most of it has soaked into the skin.
It is important to remember that hydration, moisturizing, begins within. You may not be getting enough water to keep your skin healthy. Getting sick, exercising, dry heat sources, all can deplete moisture from your skin. The recommended 8 to 10 glasses of water per day helps keep you skin hydrated. Eating lots of fruits and vegetables also aids in keeping your skin moisturized. In addition water dense fruits containing lots of vitamins A and C are believed to promote natural collagen production and replenish nutrition. Fruits such as bananas and avocados also supply natural "good" fats to our bodies. Berries, melons, and citrus fruits help promotes healthy skin; and of course, there is always spinach. (Do you notice how all the same foods keep popping up when we discuss health?-that's why I am a Nutritarian.)
2) Cleanse the face thoroughly every single night before sleeping. Many times removing the make-up, etc. Is not thorough enough and needs a second cleansing. It is important to know the ingredients to determine the harshness of the cleansing product. If it has added color, fragrance, bubbles, or anything saying "anti-bacterial", it may not be suitable for your skin.
Cleanse again upon arising because you want to remove any dead cells, etc. generated during the night ( If you have used an exfoliating product of any kind, you want to rinse them away, not trap them under the skin)
3) Avoid exposing your skin to excess sunlight by using sunscreen, or at least wear a hat that covers the face, and sleeves. Wear cotton gloves, if necessary to cover hands and arms, and avoid, if possible performing errands, etc. In the central part of the day when the sun's rays are the most harmful. Melanin (the natural pigment that allows us to get a tan rather than burn) ,declines as we age, and by the time we are "mature" women, it is vital we get some protection from the sun.
For those of you who do not wish to apply some of the chemical ingredients of commercial products, you still need sun protection., especially with the depletion of the ozone layers. Even if you don't wear sunscreen on your face, you should consider wearing it on your hands and arms; fortunately, many women prefer long sleeved garments because of less toned upper arms, etc. The back of the hands is usually the most neglected areas.
4) Exfoliate. We all know our skin cells do not reproduce as quickly as when we were younger. It is vital to remove dead skin before it can clog the pores. We must cleanse gently and thoroughly to keep our skin clear.
There are many strategies and conflicting information regarding proper exfoliation. Some women can get by just by lightly scrubbing their face with a rough washcloth. Some people (certainly almost all product manufacturers!) want you to use an exfoliation product every single day), and of course, there are suggestions varying all numbers in between. (personally, I find I cannot use any product daily) Face masks also come into this category. They should be used regularly, but the frequency will vary from person to person.
If your budget allows, spas offer every conceivable type of body wrap to exfoliate, apply facials, etc. But, like almost all beauty routines, there are marvelous OTC versions of scrubs and the internet has dozens more do it yourself concoctions that are safe, effective, and budget friendly. Once a month I try to have a professional pedicure, callous removal, and exfoliation of my heels.
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| My monthly Pedicure and foot care routine. |
Always remembering that our face and skin is usually the "first" of the first impressions we wish to be positive, we must take good care of it. We will post more in depth articles on skin care as it relates to products, skin types and care, and skin nutrition as time goes on.
Personally, (and this just applies to me-like styling, all skin care is individual) I am a nutritarian in my skin care as well as in my diet. At this time I am exploring more plant and animal based skin products.
For example, I have found a blend of yogurt and honey to be the best skin cleanser for my face.and I use it almost every day. If I have foundation on that day, (I do not wear foundation at home) I cleanse first with a gentle OTC cleanser called Cetaphil (for sensitive skin) which works well for me (good reports from all sources I have read over many years), then use my yogurt cleanser after that. I also gently steam my face for a few minutes. I then apply whichever night product I am wearing that night and gently rub that into my skin until fully absorbed. I rub a little almond oil directly into the skin of arms, legs, and chest area. My skin has been going through another change and I am experimenting with some new and hopefully, more effective products. I am a bit skeptical over some of the newer serums because of long term effects of use. Cosmetics are not as regulated as I would like and I don't believe everything I see or hear.
By The Way, I DO NOT recommend these high speed brush cleansers; unless your dermatologist specifically believes you should use one, I believe most of them are too harsh for more mature skin. I also believe a professional skill is needed to be used properly.
Take inventory of your beauty products; if you are using the same products you used over a decade ago, you probably need to consider better options. If you have not changed, you can bet your skin has.
.......Happy Thanksgiving, Stylinistas...........Geneva.............Rockmyages@aol.com
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