| 'Facial skin care' is more a matter of discipline than | | | | routine for facial skin care. However, exfoliation is |
| anything else. A facial skin care routine is what you | | | | necessary at least once a week (or twice, depending |
| need (and you need to follow the facial skin care | | | | on the skin type and the environmental conditions). |
| routine with complete seriousness). So let's check | | | | Exfoliation finds its place in facial skin care routine |
| what comprises an effective facial skin care routine. | | | | because of the natural tendency of skin to replenish |
| Well, very simply, a facial skin care routine can follow | | | | the skin cells every 3 or 4 weeks. As a facial skin |
| the following 4 steps: | | | | care technique, exfoliation helps in removing the dead |
| * Cleansing | | | | skin cells that block the pores, thus assisting the skin |
| * Toning | | | | in the natural process. However, excessive or harsh |
| * Exfoliating | | | | exfoliation can cause damage to your skin; so you |
| * Moisturising | | | | need to balance it out. |
| Cleansing is the first thing in facial skin care routine. | | | | The next thing in facial skin care is moisturising. In |
| Cleansing helps in removing dust, pollutants, grease | | | | fact, moisturising is the most important part of facial |
| and extra oil from your skin, thereby preventing | | | | skin care routine. Moisturisers prevent your skin from |
| damage to your skin. Just spot your face and neck | | | | getting dry. Dry skin is really undesirable since it cause |
| with a good cleansing lotion or cream and gently | | | | the upper layer skin to break, leading to dead skin |
| massage it into your skin using upward strokes. Use a | | | | cells. Again, use light upward strokes to make the |
| soft face tissue or cotton wool to wipe your face in | | | | moisturiser more effective. Moisturisers work the |
| a gentle patting fashion (do not rub). Cleansing should | | | | best when applied on warm and damp skin. So do |
| be done at least twice a day i.e. morning (as part of | | | | not try to remove all the moisture in the previous |
| complete facial skin care routine) and evening (on a | | | | steps of facial skin care routine. |
| standalone basis). Water soluble cleansers are the | | | | Besides the normal facial skin care routine, you should |
| best for inclusion in your facial skin care routine. | | | | also exercise the following for facial skin care: |
| Toning is the next in a facial skin care routine. | | | | * Use proper make-up remover instead of just |
| However, this is the optional part of the facial skin | | | | washing it away |
| care routine. Mostly, proper cleansing can compensate | | | | * Pay heed to your skin type and the environment, |
| for toning. Toning helps remove all traces of dirt, | | | | when choosing facial skin care products. |
| grease and excess cleanser. Instead of making it part | | | | * Before you start using a new facial skin care |
| of your daily facial skin care routine, you can using | | | | product, test it by applying it on a short patch of |
| toning occasionally i.e. when you have been exposed | | | | skin e.g. ear lobes. |
| to particularly harsh environment/pollution. | | | | * Never rub your skin too hard. |
| Exfoliation is again, kind of, optional step in everyday | | | | * Use sunscreen lotions for protection against sun. |