Tips for facial care?
I used to never care much what my face looked like. I make sure to be clean, but the natural advent of acne has plagued me for many years, and I just cannot control/properly cover it. Now that I need to attend all sorts of interviews, I recognize that I don’t want to appear as a teenager or someone who doesn’t care about her appearance. I am willing to invest somewhat into facial care products, and makeup as well, but nothing too expensive. I also don’t really like the feel of makeup (hence my abstinence till now), and certainly would only apply that which would look natural.
Do you have any specific product tips that I can use to help treat/prevent my breakouts & redness, as well as good quality (but not over the top) makeup brands/products to naturally (and as little-sticky/weighty feeling) enhance my appearance?
Many thanks in advance.
I forgot to mention that I do have combination skin (if it makes a difference). I’ve been told to use moisturizer, but I don’t know what kind or brand to use. Most of the ones I see are really just sunblock when you look at the active ingredients. Is that what I want?
Wow, I’m getting so many good answers, I don’t even know where to start! I appreciate everyone extending their sincere advice to help me. I’ll have to decide whether to choose a best answer or leave it to you guys to vote…
there are lots of steps to properly caring for your skin.
1. you need a foamy detergent cleanser. something that contains either glycolic or salicylic acid. these ingredients will help to exfoliate dead surface cells, which means your pores will be less clogged, your skin may clear up with just the use of the proper cleanser.
2. you need to get tea tree oil and apply like a lotion to your face for 30 minutes before you shower and wash your face. do this 2-3 times a week.
3. you need a good toner, astringent or facial tonic. the difference? a toner has less alcohol than an astringent. and a tonic usually has a cloudy consistency and is more gentle. now the selection of which depends on your skin type. just b/c you have acne does not mean you are not sensitive. an astingent may be too harsh for you. I will recommend a good quality toner or facial tonic because this step in facial care does two things. one it helps to remove any residue/makeup/crap than you didnt remove with cleansing. and it balances the skins PH back to the level it needs to keep your skins natural protective barrier healthy aka the acid mantle. with out a healthy acid mantle you skin will go crazy. usually cleansers are alkaline which brings the PH up above its natural level into an irritating zone aka excess oil production aka PIMPLES
4. get a clay mask. kaolin means clay. demologica sebum control mask is a wonderful product. use this alternativley with the tea tree oil treatments. 2-3 times a week and for spot treating if desired. if your skin gets too dry reduce treatments.
5. GO BUY CLEAN AND CLEAR OIL ABSORBING SHEETS. THEY ARE AT THE DRUG STORE. THEY ARE IN A LITTLE PACKET. ABOUT 50 COUNT. USE THEM EVERYTIME YOUR SKIN FEELS OILY THROUGHOUT THE DAY TO CONTOL OIL PRODUCTION. B/C OIL CAUSES PIMPLES. I even use them b/f cleansing to get off the excess oil so that I dont overcleanse. b/c people seem too think this squeeky clean "tight" feeling is good. it is not good. your skin is irritated. and thats why you need to tone.
6. get a good moisturizer. you need it. I dont care how your skin is- if it is covered in pimples, if it is dry, red, it doesnt matter. you need a good moisturizer WITH SPF. get one that contains vitamin C. Everyone is different with moisturizers. Go to Sephora or a spa. You want something light preferably with oil control properties. Talk to someone face to face who can see your skin who is knowlegable. Ask for samples. I like to use an oil absorbing sheet after I moisturize to soak up any greasy feel but still my skin benefits from the moisture and feels soothed without the excess oil. This trick will make more moisturizers work in your favor.
7. go to Sephora, or a spa and look at professional products. get a good cleanser. that is your first priority for expense. then mask. get a good one. tea tree oil is cheap and is in the vitamin section of any drug store/walmart. toner is important but can wait. you can go buy a cheap spray bottle and pour your toner into it so instead of soaking up cotton balls and wasting it you can just spray it on. just make sure you cleanse good. and the tea tree oil will help keep your skin clean – it is an antibacterial, antifungal and antiseptic. it is amazing.
8
–STOP TOUCHING YOUR FACE!
-stop with the dryer sheets and fabric softener it will make you break out I promise
-wash your pillow cases twice a week and dont lay on couch pillows (I will actually get a towel and put it on anything I am unsure about laying my face on ex. couch pillows)
-STOP TOUCHING YOUR FACE
-watch out for your conditioner on your face in the shower, always wash after and keep it from dripping on your skin
-wash your makeup brushes EVERYDAY or get rubbing alcohol for days you dont have time, go to Walmart buy a big package of face cloths for like 5 dollars. keep them clean, and pour some rubbing alcohol onto one and wipe your brushes before every application. wash your brushes. they are a breeding ground for bacteria.
ok ok so makeup. mineral makeup is the best and not maybelline or some other drugstore crap. get some good stuff. Bare minerals is the most affordable and is what I use and it is great. you need the correct brushes which you can get from bare minerals too and they are an investment and worth it. keep them clean. but there are other brands aswell including Jane Iredale, Laura Mercier, and Glo Minerals-these are the four brands I would recommend. They have no fillers, talc, waxs, parabens and other crap you WILL get in Loreal , maybelline, physicians formula crap. get a concealer brush, and a foundation brush – I use the Bare Mineral Flawless face brush. Its great. So if you are meticulous about keeping your face clean-STOP TOUCHING IT!!! and you use the tea tree oil and oil absorbing sheets all the time. dont squeeze your face. it will make scars. make sure you cleanse has glycolic acid aka GO TO SEPHORA! lots of luck to you on your interviews
~~~this is a m
I think that Clinique makes the best products by far… the 3 step system is really good. But they are somewhat expensive. Just try Neutrogena i’d say, and get a really good moisturizer. For foundation you really get what you pay for, so i’d recommend a good brand like MAC, but if you don’t have the money just get some covergirl. And get a foundation brush too.
you can get proactive.or try a green cover stick they sell them anywere.
For cleaning:
You don’t need to go out and buy 100 dollar creams and washes. What you need is right in your local drugstore or even grocery store. I recommend using neutrogena pink grapefruit soap. If you don’t like the scent, use their original (same packaging just yellow-orange liquid). If your acne is really severe, I recommend getting the Neutrogena advanced solutions acne therapy system.
A great thing I recently discovered is the aspirin mask. here is a link to a great video tutorial: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-Hksg8B4cQ
For makeup, I recommend clinique. I use their transparent powder over my whole look. You can get clinique at sephora or macys.
Oh! and use a moisturizer everyday!
Proactiv is amazing! Really because a friend of mine (very pretty girl) use to have a lot of breakouts and now her face is smooth as a baby’s bum. I asked her what she uses she told me proactive.
I was rather doubtful at the beginning but it’s true, her skin condition is close to flawless now. Trust me, this is more than a marketing gimmick. It truly works and suited for those with oily skin.
Another option is hormon pills but I wouldn’t suggest it as it may have side effects (i.e.: weight gain, weight loss etc). One of my friend has been using this for years but as according to her there’s a lot of trial and error (i.e.: you have to try a few brands before you find one that is suitable). Kinda risky for my liking.
ok i think i have a good plan for you and its pretty affordable as weell:)
ok so you need to keep a strict everyday process so use the Neutrogena three step system. It works and its affordable. You use the acne mousterizer for night and oil free for morning before make-up. Once a week exfoliate…Id use the Neutrogena Wave with the same mousterizer. Then for make-up use Allmay clear complection foundation and a light powder that is loose and sheer like something from Revlon. If you put on the mousterizer then tap on the foundation with a sponge it will look natural as well as just very lightely putting on the powder. I hope i have helped a little bit:)
First you need to cleanse your face. When your looking for a cleanser, make sure it has salicylic acid in there. This will remove dead skin cells and also unclog your pores of any bacteria and dirt.
I’m not sure which cleanser will suit for your skin, so look around in drugstores and high end stores.
Then your gonna apply Benzoyl Peroxide to wherever you have acne.
Let this dry.
Acne.Org sells a big bottle of BP for 9 dollars, I think.
Then apply a moisturizer that has a sunscreen of atleast SPF15.
Olay Complete with SPF15 for Combination skin is a good moisturizer.
Do this morning and night and your skin will be beautiful in the future. =)