Taking Care Of Your Skin

I have to say, this winter has not been particularly awful until now (considering how Quebec winters used to be). But still, no matter the season, it's very important to always protect our skin. Protection from the ozone layer has decreased, pollution has increased. In winter, there's the cold wind outside and the dry heat inside. During the summer, it's the hot sun outside (with all the UV rays) and, at times, the A/C inside.

All these changes have dramatic effects on our skin. To add to all this, there's aging, something we have no control over. The first signs of aging will be most apparent via the skin and the hair and we all know that if we don't take care of them, they won't take care of themselves.

Here's why, no matter the season, a good skin care regimen should never be neglected.

Before I start, you will find that there are a lot of products out there. I won't necessarily encourage you to buy the most expensive ones but for sure, I would never go for the cheapest simply because of all the harsh and cheap ingredients that are used in them. Our pharmacies nowadays do carry high end products and other middle range products. Make sure you speak with a consultant to help you choose the best product for your skin type.

It does not mean the one she will recommend will be the best. It's really all trial/error. And this I say from experience. It's not that the product is necessarily bad, but simply that your skin doesn't react to it as it should, which is very normal. My mom works as an aesthetician and beauty consultant and has worked with lots of high end brands. I've tried them all too and so did she. Some products worked for my skin while others didn't and same went for her.

What I recommend though (since it can be a bit of an investment) is to try the testers and compare. See what works for you!!!

Now here's what you have to keep in mind:

1) Washing the face 1-2 times a day is important. We have to remove all the dirt and impurities that can clog our pores and cause pimples. But beware, the type of cleansing solution is important. Avoid product that contain harsh soaps and that might strip your skin of it's moisture. For sure, we all have different skin types, but I think it's always better to go for a soft cleanser because, on the long run, it will cause the less damage to your skin.

IMPORTANT!!!! Never go to bed with your makeup on, make sure you ALWAYS have a clean and hydrated face before you go to bed. You don't want to wake up in the morning with a swollen eye, pimples, ect. (speaking from experience)

2) After you've cleansed your face, use a toner to remove any excess product that can be left on the face. You will find it also refreshing!

3) HYDRATE! HYDRATE! HYDRATE! It doesn't matter if you have oily/combination skin. No matter what, you have to hydrate your skin. Drying out an oily skin while thinking that it's the sebum that's causing the pimples will cause the exact opposite. No matter what, try to go for the hydrating products adapted to your skin type. During the day, make sure a UV protection is included in the cream (yes, even during the winter, UV rays can be harmful). During the night, you can go for a good hydrating cream.

4) Eye cream can be applied around the eyes (and please, not the face cream. The skin around the eyes is thinner and you don't want that product to accidentally go into your eyes). Some will decrease the puffiness and slightly help with the dark circles (only concealer will hide them though).

5) Once in a while, remove your black heads! It can be done by manual extraction (can be uncomfortable) or with products such as Bioré strips. The strips won't remove ALL the blackheads but can help.

6) Use a very gentle exfoliating scrub (for the face) maybe once or twice a month to remove dead skin. Use a face mask maybe once a week for a deep cleansing or hydration depending on what you're aiming for.

THERE!!!!! It's not that hard, but does require a lot of will power. It can appear complicated at first, but trust me, in the long run, you'll be very glad you did not neglect your skin and also people will notice that you take care of yourself and will admire that.

Now skin care, especially for the face can demand a bit of time, but will pay off in the long run.

As for the body, it's a lot simpler.

1) Basically, find a good moisturizer for you, apply everyday after your shower...and there.

2) A body scrub can be used from time to time to remove dead skin but otherwise, it's very simple.

3) Don't forget sunscreen in the summer, SPF 25 is generally enough, but you do have to reapply if you spend long hours under the sun.

Hope you found all that information helpful. It seems like a lot, but again, better invest now to have beautiful skin in the present as well as in the future than to need peelings, facelifts, microdermabrasion and a lot of costly procedures in the future. And even with these procedures, you would still need to follow a good skin care regimen.