A few months ago I was looking at refreshing my makeup collection so I was frequenting beauty bars and makeup counters at various shopping malls. Besides building a solid collection of beauty products I got what I believe to be the best beauty advice from a makeup artist: Your makeup is only as good as your skin.
Many of us have our makeup routine down pat; we know what we need to cover up and we cover it up well. However there are some skin concerns that we can reduce or eliminate by taking better care of our skin. A simple, consistent skin care routine can alleviate skin concerns and improve the health of your skin.
There are numerous skin care products in the market and at times it can be hard to determine what exactly it is that your skin needs to be clear, radiant and healthy. With five basic steps you can be on your way to beautiful skin and a better foundation on which to apply your makeup.
Included in the steps below are some products that I have tried and tested and found to have worked for me. I have combination skin that can be dry and flaky in the winter months.
Step 1: Cleanse and exfoliate
Cleanse your face with a cleanser of your choice. Cleansing removes pollutants from the skin and helps unclog pores and prevent skin conditions such as acne.
Depending on the strength of your exfoliating scrub and personal preference, you can remove dead skin cells by exfoliating at least once a week.
Step 2: Apply skin toner
Toner is said to help pores appear smaller and to further cleanse the skin in preparation for moisturising. As with the cleanser, select a toner that is suitable for your skin type.
Step 3: Apply serums or oils and any other treatments to skin
This is the stage where you address specific skin concerns like dry, flaky skin, fine lines, blemishes etc. For example, if you have dry flaky skin, a serum that provides intense hydration would be suitable.
Step 4: Moisturise
Moisturisers help to keep the skin soft, supple and hydrated by locking in the moisture.
Step 5: Sun protection
UV radiation can age your skin and cause cancer; that is why it is important to use sun protection/sunscreen. There are moisturises that contain SPF; with such products you can cover steps four and five simultaneously. If your moisturiser does not contain SPF then you need apply sunscreen to protect your skin from UV rays.
For a demonstration of the beauty process outlined above, please view the How to Layer Skin Care video by Beauty Heaven.
Author: Char
