How To Develop Your Own Skin Care Regimen

What is your basic routine for skin care?

If you are like most of us, you have a daily routine, things you do every day to keep your skin clean and moisturized. There are also things you do every week or so to make your skin even more healthy.

But one thing you can't forget is the season. Seasonal changes can make and should make a difference in your regular skincare routine.

Daily Skin Care

Most of us follow a simple, daily skincare regimen.

First is cleansing. If you have oily skin, you might have to wash two or even three times a day. Those with dry skin should only wash twice a day, or even once if their skin is very dry and irritated.

Second is toning. Those with oily skin should use an astringent, while those with dry skin should stick with a very gentle, non drying toner.

Moisturizing is the third and, some might say, most important step. While those with oily skin shouldn't over moisturize, those with normal or dry skin should moisturize often. Moisture is the key to keeping your skin looking young and healthy.

Weekly Care

About once a week or so, you can use a mask to deep clean. Using a mask has many benefits. It removes dead skin cells, and visibly tightens pores, making skin look smoother and healthier.

The L'Occitane Cream Mask is a great choice for those with normal and dry skin. Use once or twice a week, this facial mask contains vitamin A and vitamin E to help stimulate cell renewal. Other ingredients, like Shea Butter, help to nourish and moisturize.

Weather Conditions

The weather and season should have an effect on how you take care of your skin.

First, no matter what time of year it is, everyone should wear a moisturizer that contains sunscreen, whether they have light or dark skin. Even winter sun can damage your skin.

If you are going to be spending a lot of time outside on a hot summer day, consider wearing a hat for added protection.

If it's really cold or windy outside, you should use extra moisturizer. Not only will this lock in your skin's natural oils, it will act as a barrier between your face, and the harsh, drying elements.

Wearing a scarf around your face will protect you even more.

We all know how important it is to have a basic routine for skincare. But knowing how to further protect your skin depending on the season should be an equally important part of your basic routine.

Along with moisturizing and exfoliating, cleansing is one of the most important parts of any skin care routine.

If you've heard it once, you've heard it a million times. Clean skin is healthy skin. And, basically, that is very true. Removing things like dirt and bacteria from the surface of your skin will help prevent irritation and blemishes.

However, you actually can clean your skin too much, and some cleansing methods are better than others.

Here are some basic cleansing tips to keep in mind.

Don't Over Cleanse

Most of us have had it drilled into us since we were young: You should wash your face at least twice a day, once in the morning and once at night. Some have even been told they should wash three times a day.

But washing your face too often will strip it of oils and moisture and dry it out.

If your skin is very dry, washing once a day might be enough for you. And even those with oily skin probably shouldn't be washing more than twice a day.

Choose the Right Cleanser

Finding the right cleanser is crucial. If you use one that isn't right for your particular skin type, or that is too harsh, you could be doing your skin more harm than good.

One simple test is to really pay attention to how your skin feels after you wash it. Does it feel really tight and dry? This is not a sign that your face is clean. It's a sign that you need to try another cleanser.

L'Occitane Almond Apple Cleansing Oil is a gentle and unique cleanser. You apply the cleansing oil to dry skin, and then add water to emulsify. The water transforms the cleansing oil into a milky cream that eliminates impurities, and any traces of makeup, from the surface of the skin. It also cleans out clogged pores, one of the major causes of skin blemishes.

Don't Use Bar Soaps on Your Face

Do you use a "beauty bar" to cleanse your face? If so, you should reconsider. Bar soaps often contain ingredients that not only dry your skin out, but can actually "age" it.

No matter how convenient a bar soap might seem, a liquid or cream cleanser is a much better choice.

Cleansing is an important step in your daily skincare routine. And taking the time to choose a cleanser that is right for you his one way to assure that you have healthy, beautiful skin.

Along with cleansing, moisturizing and exfoliating, using a toner is one of the essential steps in a daily skin care routine. But it is a step many people skip.

Why? Because a lot of people don't know exactly what a toner is supposed to do. They know cleansers clean their face. And they know a moisturizer adds moisture and keeps the skin from drying out. But the purpose of using a toner isn't quite as clear.

Here are some reasons why a toner is an important step in your beauty routine.

The Benefits of Using a Toner

There are many benefits to not leaving this step out of your skin care regimen.

After cleansing, using a toner will catch any traces of dirt or makeup that the cleanser missed. It can also help lock in the natural oils and moisture that can be lost right after you have washed your face.

Toners are also soothing. Not only can they help your skin feel cooler, and help reduce irritation and even inflammation.

Choosing the Right Toner

Toners go by many different names. Astringents, refiners, clarifying lotions, balancers, and many others. Whatever they are called, it is important that you choose one that is right for your skin.

So what is your skin type? If you have dry skin, a toner made specifically for those with oily skin will be much too harsh for you, and might even cause irritation.

If you have oily skin, a toner made specifically for those with dry skin would be a bad choice. They might have gentle moisturizing ingredients that you just don't need.

L'Occitane Almond Apple Toning Cider is a great toner for regular, daily use. Not only does it tighten pores, it makes the skin look fresher and feel softer.

What to Avoid In Your Toner

Avoid toners that contain SD alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, or ethanol alcohol. These ingredients will strip your skin of natural oils. Even if you have very oily skin, this is not what you need.

Using a toner is the real test of whether it's the right one for you or not. Does your toner cause your skin to burn? If so, this does not mean it's working. It means it's too harsh, and you should try something else.

Using a toner is one part of the skin care routine many people skip. But you shouldn't. Not when you realize all of the ways using the right toner can benefit your skin.

By many, moisturizer is probably considered the most important part of any good skin care routine. And for good reason. Skin that isn't getting enough moisture can look dry, brittle, dull, and older than it needs to.

Anyone can benefit from using the right kind of moisturizer, even those with very oily skin.

So the importance of moisturizing isn't in question. What is in question is how you go about choosing a good moisturizer, and how often you should use it.

Here are some tips that will help you out.

Moisturizer Offers Protection

A good moisturizer does three important things.

First, of course, is adding moisture to your skin.

Second is locking in natural oils and moisture. As you go through your day, your skin can lose a lot of its natural moisture, especially after washing. A moisturizer acts as a barrier to holds this natural moisture in.

Finally, moisturizing protects you from outside elements, like harsh winds and the sun's damaging rays.

This is why any moisturizer you use, no matter what time of year it is, or what skin type you have, should contain sunscreen. Sunscreen will help protect you from fine lines, blemishes, and skin discolorations.

Choosing a Moisturizer

Your choice should depend on your skin type. A moisturizer that works great for one skin type will do more harm than good to another.

Those with oily or acne prone skin should use moisturizers that won't clog their pores.

Those with very dry skin, on the other hand, need something sturdier, that will work over time locking in and adding moisture, like a moisturizing cream.

As for those with extremely sensitive skin, they need something gentle that won't cause irritation. If you're current moisturizer leaves your skin feeling itchy and irritated, it might be time to try something new.

L'Occitane Radiance Moisturizing Cream is a great choice that is suitable for all skin types. It illuminates dull, tired complexions. It also protects against light, smoke, pollution, and other daily factors that can damage your skin.

How Often Should You Moisturize?

Just after you've washed your face is when you're most likely to lose natural moisture. So moisturize right after cleansing.

There are also times when you should use extra moisturizer. These times include days when it's really cold, days when it's really windy, or times when your skin just feels drier than normal.

It's hard to argue that moisturizer isn't the most important part of your skin care routine. And choosing the right moisturizer means keeping your skin healthy, hydrated, and protected.

Everyone knows cleansing, toning and moisturizing are three important elements of a good, regular skin care routine. But many people overlook the fourth, equally important part of a complete beauty regimen. And that is exfoliation.

Think of a beautiful piece of old, wooden furniture. If an old desk is covered with dust, the wood will look dull and lifeless. Wipe away the dust, and you will reveal the beautiful, rich wood underneath.

Exfoliation operates on the same principle.

What Is Exfoliation?

Skin cells go through a life cycle. At the end of that cycle, the cells die. And while some of them flake away naturally, others remain, covering up the new, fresh, healthy skin underneath. As a result, your skin can look dull and tired.

Exfoliation removes those dead skin cells trapped on the surface of your skin. The new skin that is revealed looks younger, fresher, and healthier.

Types of Exfoliation

There are many different types of exfoliation. The most dramatic results can be achieved with procedures like chemical peels and micro-dermabrasion, which are usually performed in a clinical or professional setting. But you can use more gentle exfoliation techniques and products yourself, in the comfort of your own home.

How Often Should You Exfoliate?

How often you exfoliate will depend on several different factors, including the type of skin you have, and the exfoliation product or technique you are using. You can use a very gentle exfoliant every day to keep skin looking bright and healthy.

How often you exfoliate can also depend on what time of year it is, and what the weather conditions are like. For example, in the summer, when it is warm, the fine layer of sweat on the surface of your skin will hold on to more dead skin cells. So you would want to exfoliate more during the warmer months.

Dermalogica Gentle Cream Exfoliant is a non-abrasive exfoliant both removes dulling surface debris and improves the overall texture of your skin. Not only does it remove dead skin cells, it also helps stimulate the growth of new skin cells. Dermalogica Gentle Cream Exfoliant also helps fight dryness and skin irritation.

When it comes to skin care routines, exfoliation is often overlooked. But just like cleansing, toning and moisturizing, this important step has a lot to offer. Making exfoliation a part of your regular beauty regimen is an easy way to have brighter, younger looking skin.