Skin Fitness
You've always had good skin.
But of late, these niggling, problems have been cropping up. What happened?
The answer is that your skin doesn't remain the same throughout your life
cycle. Pimples, rashes, burns, pigmentation- all of these can change it.
What you basically need to
do is to get a skin care program sooner than you think you need it. Cleansing,
toning and moisturizing are still healthy skin care imperatives. Without
these basic moves, skin becomes dull, devitalized and cannot defend itself
against environmental damage.
Even if you follow this routine
religiously, you are likely to face skin problems from time to time. Spots,
acne, blotchiness, wrinkles are some of the common problems. But they can
all handled with a proper skin care routine or camouflaged with make-up,
if nothing else.
Spots:Spots and acne
are the result of oily skin, stress and the wrong use of skin care products
and cosmetics. These are not easy to get rid of and they tend to crop up
at the wrong time. What you need is to give them a hard time by robbing
them of a friendly environment.
Oily skin needs to be exfoliated
to keep the pores clear and unclogged. Instead of covering spots with a
concealer that can further clog your pores, dab on an anti-acne formula
and face powder to absorb excess oil.
Stress from job pressures
and the demands of motherhood also trigger breakouts. Birth control pills
high in certain progestins can cause spots, too. Besides, using the wrong
cleanser or cosmetics not meant for your skin type can also lead to clogged
pores and blemishes. To keep skin clear, use a pre-soap cleanser meant
for your specific skin type, followed by a good moisturizing routine (only
on dry areas).
All too many people are driven
to the myth that sunlight helps dry out pimples. Exposure to sun may dry
skin slightly, but the effect is temporary. In fact, heat, humidity and
UV rays can itensify acne by stimulating oil production, leading to thick
skin that further causes of clogged pores.
A cosmetic way to camourflage
spots and to give your skin a smooth matte finish is to rub some loose
face powder into your palms. Rub hands together lightly and apply powder
over the face. Then dust off the excess with a powder brush.
Blackhead: To keep
problems like blackheads (also associated with oily skin) at bay you need
to look for an oily-free and non-clogging formula, not only in skin care
products, but even where make-up and sun products are concerned. Resist
the temptation to disguise blemishes with heavy make-up - stick to oil-free,
oil-absorbing foundation.
The T-Zone: Oily skin
can be checked with proper exfoliation, which keeps the pores clear and
unclogged. However, if you have a shiny T-Zone, use a face mask to de-shine.
Alternatively, blot excess oil with a tissue before touching up with powder.
Wrinkles: wrinkles
surface first around eyes and the mouth and are sign that the skin lacks
hydration. You can put a hold on them by keeping your skin protected from
excessive exposure to sun and using a wrinkle-control formula. Though the
sun gives us vitamin D, which is great for the complexion, going out in
the sun without proper protection is an open invitation for wrinkles in
the long run. It can even lead to melanoma(skin cancer).
So use a sunscreen over the
face and body before you expose yourself to the rays of the sun. Don't
skip the routine when the sky is overcast, for haze and clouds don't block
those damaging UV rays. Wear sunglasses with UV protection and make sure
your sunscreens stays put.
Blotchiness: blotchiness
is another side effect caused by taking in too much sun. Prevent it with
daily sunscreen of at least SPF 15 and regular exfoliation (with masks,
scrubs and lotions). To conceal blotchiness, apply foundation and loose
face powder to integrate the skin tone. Extreme cases can be tackled with
a concealer, followed by loose powder and appropriate make-up. To polish
away any uneveness, you can apply a slightly shimmered powder.
Sunburn: never exfoliate
your skin when it is sunburnt and in the red, sore, tender stage. Wait
until all redness disappears before resuming exfoliation. If you are using
a prescription skin-peeling drug for acne or sun damage, ask your doctor
if addition exfoliation is advisable.
Broken capillaries or spider
veins: These are tiny dilated blood vessels or capillaries, usually visible
on the face and legs. Exposure to the sun, wind, spicy food, alcoholic
drinks and temperature extremes can aggravate the problem.
Besides the above-mentioned
problems, the skin undergoes a change during menopause, too. It becomes
much drier and you should use a mild soap to clean it gently. Stepped-up
exfoliation will bring new cells to the surface (because cell renewal slows
down with age). You can try a good emollient in addition to a moisturizing
lotion. Remember that sun damage is additive. As your age, your immune
system starts slowing down and can't respond as vigorously to a problem
as it used to. Learn it help it along
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