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Skincare 101, The BASICS to Everyday UseJan 05 '04 Write an essay on this topic.
Popular Products in Personal Care
The Bottom Line Most people take care of their facial skin in the wrong manner.
Before I begin, I am not a Doctor, nor am I a certified Dermatologist. I am simply someone who has spent a large amount of time researching and experimenting with different types of skin products. This review is not about controlling Acne, but of how to take care of your skin in the correct manner. To the user reading this, whether you have sensitive skin, normal skin, dry skin, or someone who has Acne, I hope this introduction to skincare will assist you. This is a GENERALIZED tutorial on how to take care of your skin. I would love to write more for those with Acne and sensitive skin, but there are so many factors, that I, an non-professional cannot give. If you have any questions, comments regarding your skin, leave a comment, and I'll try to give you my feedback based on my limited knowledge. How many times do you wash your face? With what products? Generally, a person should wash their face twice a day, anymore may possibly irritate the skin. Do you moisturize? If you do not moisturize, your skin may dry out and be more at risk to being receptive to bacteria. More prominent among our adolescent youth, acne is a reoccuring problem that has not been looked at closely enough by our society. Did you know adults in their thirties still have acne? You will eventually outgrow acne, but for now, there is no concrete cure. When I began to have acne in high school, freshmen year, no one really noticed. In fact, I only had a very slight amount of pimples. But it got to the point where I became tired. I tried everything, Sacylic Acid, Benzoyl Peroxide, vitamins, "Murad Solution", "Nature's Cure", Neutrogena products, etc.. I literally have a large shelf devoted to these products that mock me everyday. Simply, because they didn't work for me. Freshman year in College, I began taking Accutane, and it helped my skin alot, to the point now, where my skin is clear. Through this knowledge that I have gained, I will explain to you the correct regimine, and steps that should be taken. How do you get acne? A general answer. Acne, a huge portion, is through genetics. It is when our sebaceous glands produce too much sebum [that helps to moisturize our skin], that cannot exit the skin, there becoming clogged and becoming a white/black head, turning into a pimple. Another way is, through irritation. Using too many harsh products can dry out your skin, leaving cracks through the membrane thus allowing bacteria to seep through. There is no concrete evidence that shows that people with higher stress levels get acne any more or less despite what you hear. There is no concrete evidence that diet conflicts with Acne; (chocolates,sweets,fats,etc..). There is also no concrete evidence that sex or sexual matters conflict with Acne. There is also no concrete evidence that shows that hygiene is the factor for acne. The only "myth" that is "acceptable" is water dosage. Drink your recommended dosage of water, and you should be fine. Most people get acne, or some form of it, and some people become "cured" by doing something specific, [using toothpaste on their skin (i've actually heard of this)], but does that mean they're correct? A huge amount of factors plays into this, but everyone is different. 101 You should wash your face twice a day, in the morning and at night, with a gentle cleanser, like CETAPHIL. Products like Neutrogena, Biore, Clean and Clear, etc.. are great, but they're more "marketing" than actually "working". They mostly contain alcohol/acid ingredients that dry out your skin, or contain chemical fragrances that may in fact be irritating your skin. Washing your face seems like a simple thing to do, but in fact, most people are washing their faces incorrectly. Wet your face before you wash it, [again, with luke-warm water] then with your cleanser, "massage" your skin with the ends of your fingers. But understand that you should not be applying too much pressure. Imagine you are pressing your fingers against a hard-boiled egg without the shell. Apply enough pressure, but not enough to burst nor penetrate it. After you have "massaged" your face, rinse. Rinsing does not mean wiping off. Indeed, that is a "duh", but people tend to "wipe off" than to "rinse". Scoop up clean water with your hands and "splash" it into your face until clean. You want to clean your face by rinsing it without actually touching it. Afterwards, dry your skin. Do this by using a soft, clean towel and patting it gently against your skin. Then, moisturize. Avoid using a moisturizer with alcohol, acid, or fragrance. Alcohol can irritate your skin as well as making your skin appear more "aged". I recommend using AVEENO daily moisturizer. Be sure to use a non-comedogenic [won't clog pores] moisturizer. Then, use sunscreen, whether or not you live in the suniest of places. The sun isn't a friend of yours when it comes to skincare, even if your a 16 year old girl who wants a nice tan to match her green t-shirt. DO NOT TOUCH YOUR SKIN! Do you know how many germs/bacteria are on your finger? I know your skin may be itchy, but don't! Think about something else! You can possibly irritate your skin too! By the way, if you currently have acne and are male, use an electric shaver, it irritates your skin ALOT less. IN A NUTSHELL Washing: When washing, use the "correct method". Use a GENTLE cleanser without acids, alcohol, or fragrance. I don't care if you get that tingling effect, or if it has micro-beads in it. If it does have microbeads in it, you shouldn't be using it everyday. Rinsing: Splash water on your face, and I better not see you wiping. Drying: Dry your face GENTLY! Moisturize: MOISTURIZE with a gentle non-comedogenic moisturizer without any of the stuff we talked about! Sunscreen: Use it. DONT TOUCH YOUR FACE!: You pick your nose with those fingers and open doors that countless numbers of other people have. Recommended Products: CETAPHIL Gentle Cleanser AVEENO Daily Moisurizer I hope to write more detailed writings, but I need your comments and questions to spark it. |
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