Perfect Skin at a Perfect Price - Skincare Tips for 2011

Looking for an effective routine for your skin, but have a limited budget? You don’t have to be Rihanna, who probably spends thousands on some Crème de la Mer. It’s actually quite easy and can be achieved through simple and cheap over the counter products. Below are some tips to get you on the road to glowing skin!

Cleansing

A very effective cleanser that fights away acne is Neutrogena’s Oil-Free Acne Wash. If acne is not a problem for you, most other cleansers are just as efficient and maybe a little less harsh. To use, just dispense a pea-sized amount into the hand. Gently work into lather in a circular motion – the less time you spend cleansing (while able to reach every part of the face), the better.

Exfoliating

Get rid of dead skin! It is important to exfoliate at least once a week to get rid of dead skin that is uselessly lying around. Clinique has a very reasonable price for an exfoliating scrub. You can purchase this for about £17. Keep in mind that you only have to use this once a week, so it lasts quite a while and is completely worth it!

Toning

A good way to fully prepare your face is to use a toner. Not only does this give your face an absolute fresh start, but it gives your skin a boost of moisture. Avoid using any alcoholic astringents as they are harsh for the skin. A good recommendation would be to buy Neutrogena’s Alcohol-Free Toner and some cotton balls.

Tip: How do you use toner?

Tilt your head back and pour it all over your face. Just kidding - this is actually a common misconception that toner is applied directly to the face. Wrong! You need to apply toner directly onto a cotton ball. You do not need to pour too much, but just enough so that the cotton ball stays moist long enough to wipe your face and neck. Avoid aggressively rubbing your face and neck to see how much dirt you can pick up! This will damage your face. Gently move the cotton ball in one direction, preferably upwards.

Moisturizing

Picking the right moisturizer is important and ensures that your skin will stay hydrated, preventing aging and wrinkles. Not all moisturizers are going to work for everybody, but Aveeno is a great brand to start. If Aveeno doesn’t work for you, try different moisturizers until you find the one that suits your skin. The type of skin that you have will be a factor in what moisturizer you get. For the most part, you can never go wrong with oil-free, creamy moisturizers.

What you should and should not do....

Do:

- Wash your face in the morning and before you go to bed. It is most important to wash your face before you go to bed, as most of the skins repairing takes place while you sleep.

- Wear sunscreen. It is a good idea to apply SPF to protect your skin from the sun’s daily toll on your skin. Limit your sun exposure and if you use sun beds, it is still a good idea to use a little SPF.

- Use an eye-cream. The first place aging is noticeable is right around the eye-area. That is because the skin around the eye is very thin and vulnerable.

- Maintain the regimen that you began. If you forget to do a step, or stop doing what you’ve been doing altogether, you may notice that your skin doesn’t feel or maybe even look as good as it was.

- See your dermatologist if acne does not go away. Many people will go on to use many products but their acne never goes away. Even if you think your acne is not severe, it is still a good idea to go to the dermatologist for a sure-fire way to eradicate acne forever.

Do not:

- Pick, squeeze, or pop pimples or bumps. You will only make things worse. As much as you might be satisfied in popping a pimple, odds are no one saw it in the first place. Now they’re asking you “What’s that red spot on your face?”

- Wash your face with cold or hot water. Warm water is key as any extreme in temperature is bad for your skin.

- Tan. It really is bad for you, but if it is absolutely needed, try to limit the amount of times that you go.

- Neglect the neck. You will want to complement your face with smooth-looking neck. As weird as that sounds, it’s true. Besides your hands and maybe your feet, they are what people see when they look at you.