Regular Skin Care Routine

How much care you give your skin depends largely on the type of the skin you have. However, going into specific recommendations based on the type of skin you have, there are basic skin care activities that you should consider regardless of skin type. A typical skin care routine generally includes:

• Cleansing (washing)
• Moisturizing and sun protection
• Toning (optional-depending on skin type)
• Exfoliation

Performing the routine twice daily is optimal for most people. If you have dry and/or sensitive skin, you may do better with once a day washing/cleansing while moisturizing two or more times a day. There are experts who feel that exfoliation should also be part of a basic routine. However, daily exfoliation may lead to chronic irritation in some people. Exfoliating once or twice a week is usually enough.

Making the Best of your Skin Type

Our skin is constantly going through changes, and so in different stages of our life we have different skin care concerns and goals. To look your best for your age it's important to solve skin care problems as they appear or, even better, work on preventing them. It's important to keep in mind that your skin type changes with the season, diet and age. In general, the skin tends to be oilier in the summer and drier in the winter. Menopause often makes the skin drier and can change skin from oily to normal or even dry. On the other hand, a shift from a low-fat diet to that rich in essential fatty acids has been known to turn dry skin to normal.

It's essential that you determine your skin type before you settle on a skin care regimen. It's equally important to adjust your routine as your skin type changes. To reiterate, a basic skin care regimen must be adjusted to fit your skin type.

The Application of Advanced Treatments

For many people, there is need for more than a basic skin care routine. Depending on age, skin type and other factors, there may be an additional advanced treatment added to your regimen. It's very important that your additional product be thoroughly researched so that you know it is appropriate for you. Also it's a good idea to check the scientific background of the product- you should be confident that it will be effective.
Because toning and moisturizing can block the epidermis from absorption, the best time to apply your additional product is right after cleansing and rinsing your face- your face should be warm, slightly moist and clean. Because most of those products have moisturizers as part of their ingredients, it's generally not necessary to add a moisturizer to your daily routine when you use the active or advanced product.