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| Beauty |
 Skin Care - Simplified By Jessica Taylor of Jessica's Beauty Services When you stop by the cosmetic counter at any department store or pharmacy, you will be shown an array of products that will result in beautiful skin. The question is: are all these products going to make a permanent change in your skin? The answer is: probably not! Apart from that, how many of us really have the time to do a six-step program every morning and every night? So, what is really necessary when it comes to skin care? To start with, you should use a gentle cleanser to cleanse your skin, both in the morning and in the evening. A bar of soap, no matter how gentle it claims to be, will not suffice. Invariably a soap bar contains ingredients that are generally drying, even if it contains moisturizers. As well, the binder that holds most soap bars together is notorious for clogging pores, doing more harm than good. Next, avoid cleansers that contain added fragrance and colours that can cause skin irritation. Even ‘natural fragrance’ derived from essential oils can be very irritating to the skin. A gentle, non-irritating cleanser like Cataphyll is a good choice. If you wear heavy eye make-up, you may need an eye make-up remover as well. Pay particular attention to choosing a eye cleanser that is void of fragrance or colours, as these ingredients are very damaging to the eyes. The step after cleansing is toning. The question is often asked if toner is really needed. In fact, it is not always a necessary step. If you use a water-soluble cleanser that rinses off without leaving a residue on the skin, a toner is not necessary. With a creamy cleanser, a toner is needed to remove the traces of cleanser that are left behind. Exfoliation is a process that removes the dead skin cells on the surface of the skin to reveal the fresh, new cells underneath. To exfoliate, use either a scrub or an alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) or beta-hydroxy acid (BHA) product. A scrub can be used once or twice a week after cleansing before applying your moisturizer. Or you could buy a moisturizer that contains AHA and use it daily. The AHAs exfoliate the top layer of the skin and help the new skin cells regenerate at a faster rate. BHA does the same thing, but is better for an oily skin because it is better able to penetrate through the oil. There is an assortment of AHA and BHA products on the market. During the day, having sunscreen on your face is a must. Even if you are only going from your car to your office and home again - the sun’s rays are damaging to your skin at all times. Sunscreen is the final step before you put on your make-up. If you wear foundation, there are foundations on the market that have effective sunscreens in them. For instance, Neutrogena makes one with a SPF 20. There are also moisturizers with an added sunscreen. Be sure to use products with a sunscreen of at least a SPF 15. In several years you will be glad you did! Because this tends to be a very dry climate, everyone needs some form of a moisturizer. Drier skin types should use creamier products, while those with more oily skin should use hydrating products with a light consistency. Watch the ingredients and be aware of added fragrances and extracts that can irritate your skin. To get the best skin possible, eat a healthy diet, get plenty of exercise and rest, and don’t forget to drink lots of water. A professional facial at least twice a year - ideally at the change of seasons - is a wonderful way to care for your skin. An aesthetician is able to clear out clogged pores which you might not be able to do for yourself. A facial is also a great way to de-stress, which, in turn, is great for your skin. Jessica is a professional aesthetician and owner of Jessica’s Beauty Service; Calgary’s premiere mobile aesthetics company. Jessica’s Beauty Service can be contacted by phone at 403.701.2631 or email jessicamtaylor@hotmail.com www.jessicasbeautyservice.com |