- If you have normal skin, your skin has the right balance of moisture, oil and durability. This is what you're trying to achieve with keeping it clean.
- If you have oily skin you face might appear shiny, greasy or oil only a few hours after washing.
- If you have dry skin, it's often flaky.
- If you have sensitive skin, your skin is often tight or itchy and you experience allergic reactions when you come into contact with certain chemicals.
- A lot of people have combination skin, where part of your face is oily while a different part is dry.
2. Use a simple face wash twice a day. Wash once in the morning and once in the evening. Everyone's skin is different and needs different things. You may have to test out a few different face washes to find the one that works best for you. What you really want from a face wash is something that cleans away dirt and germs and excess oils, but doesn't strip your skin of its healthy oils.
- Picking your cleanser is based on your skin type, how often you wear make-up, and how often you work out. For instance, if your skin is oily, you'll want a cleanser that has a low pH level, which will be more effective in cleaning the oil. If you have sensitive skin, you won't want the cleansers that are full of chemicals.
- Avoid using ordinary soaps, which are too harsh for your face and can strip it of its natural oils.
- It's best to rinse your face with warm water or cool water. Hot water strips the healthy natural oils from your skin.
- You need to wash your face after exercising to get rid of any sweat and dirt and oils that might clog your pores.
3. Pat your skin dry with a clean towel. Don't scrub your face dry, be gentle. The skin on your face is sensitive. Make sure that the towel is clean, otherwise you'll be transferring bacteria to your clean face.
4. Use toners. While not necessary, toners can be a great help to people with oily skin, acne, or badly plugged pores. Toners help remove excess oils and dead skin after that remain after cleansing. This is a great way to add active ingredients like retinoids, antioxidants and exfoliants to your skin regimen.
- Apply the toner after cleansing with a clean cotton facial pad to your forehead, nose and chin (the so-called "t-zone"). Move the pad in gentle circles, avoiding the eye area.
- Find the right toner for your skin type. Certain formulations can help exfoliate acne-prone skin; others contain anti-inflammatory properties for sensitive.
- Many dermatologists recommended not using an alcohol based toner, because it's too drying even for oily skin.
5. Drink lots of water. Drink at least 8 glasses of water. Staying hydrated and making sure that your body has plenty of water means that your body will be better able to function properly, including maintaining the health and cleanliness of your skin.
6. Follow a healthy diet. A healthy diet includes vegetables and fruits and eliminates sugar and "junk foods."
- Try low-fat dairy products. A low-fat yogurt has vitamin A, something our skin is dependent upon. It also has acidophilus, a "live" bacteria that helps promote intestinal health, which in turn can help skin.
- Eat foods that have a high antioxidant content like blackberries, blueberries, strawberries, and plums.
- Try foods that deliver essential fatty acids needed for healthy skin like salmon, walnuts, and flax seed. Essential fatty acids promote healthy cell membranes, which in turn promote healthy skin.
