Wednesday, July 22, 2009

A Step-by-Step Guide to Proper Face Cleansing


Acne is caused by overactive hormones which signal glands to produce too much oil (Sebum). The oil cannot be secreted quickly enough and eventually combines with dead skin cells and bacteria to clog up our pores. An outbreak of acne is the result of this accumulated mess. Acne affects every part of your life when you get a moderate or severe outbreak. But you don't have to continue living this way . . . You can STOP ACNE and get the clean and clear complexion you've always wanted!

Beautiful skin is something we all want. A clean and clear complexion is attractive and just sends out a message that we're healthy and that we look after ourselves with care and attention. But it feels so unfair that acne has nothing to do with how healthy we are, or how carefully we look after our skin! The fact is that acne is the result of overactive hormones. Throughout time, the onset of puberty and the natural changes in the adolescent body mean that hormonal changes are occurring. Women are also regularly subjected to increased hormonal activity until the age of menopause.

But it is now well-known that our environment has had a huge impact on us – our size, weight, growth and aging patterns, fertility and general health are all affected by the amount of pollution and quality of air we breathe, by the amount of UV rays from the sun, by the food we eat and by the water we drink and bathe in.And today's environment has created such horrific hormonal imbalances that our bodies struggle just to keep working at 100% efficiency. The level of hormones in our bodies is mostly responsible for causing the glands to produce an excess of oil. Eventually, this combines with the uneven shedding of dead skin cells and ends up clogging our pores.When our pores get clogged, this causes blackheads and whiteheads, which can stay clogged up in our pores for years and years. More serious acne problems, like pimples, nodules and cysts form when bacteria becomes part of the mix.

If you want beautiful skin, you’re going to have to help your body to balance your hormones. That’s why the Healthy Pores™ Acne System is the best choice to fight acne – the nutritional supplement is formulated to regulate your system and help balance those hormones that cause acne! Controlling toxicity in the body and balancing your hormones is just one reason why this system works when so many others fail!

When treating acne, a common mistake is thinking that we should scrub our face harder to "get cleaner" in an effort to get rid of acne. In fact, scrubbing vigorously is not only hard on your skin, but AGGRAVATES ACNE AND MAKES IT WORSE! Don't over scrub your face to get rid of blackheads and pimples. Clean your face the right way and use an acne product that attacks acne where it begins by exfoliating dead skin cells and reopening clogged pores. When cleansing, pat your face gently with circular motions. It’s not the scrub action that determines how clean your face gets, but the products you use to clean it with that make the huge difference in whether or not your acne is controlled.

Get clear skin todayA Step-by-Step Guide to Proper Cleansing

1. Remove your makeup before washing your face.

Most cleansers work better and more efficiently if your face is thoroughly wet. Removing your makeup ensures that the oils in the cosmetics would not repel water and allow the cleanser to reach a good lather. You can do this by using baby oil or makeup remover on cotton balls and rubbing the makeup lightly off your face.

2. Wash your face thoroughly using lukewarm or room-temperature water.

Never wash your face with water that is too hot or too cold. Extreme temperatures can break capillaries, dehydrate skin, or even aggravate pimples. Studies also show that there is a marked improvement between the effectiveness of cleansers used with water of the right temperature over those that were applied with hot or cold water.

3. Use a gentle anti-acne cleanser specially formulated for your skin type.

If you have hypersensitive skin, you should choose a product that is mild and hypoallergenic. Meanwhile, if you have very oily skin, you might want to choose something that's slightly stronger than your regular cleanser. If you're uncertain about what kind of product to use, you should consult your dermatologist first or just go for one of those dermatologist-tested products that are good for any skin type like the Healthy Pores acne system.

4. Apply a small amount of cleanser on your face.

Pour a pea-sized amount of cleanser on your wet palms and lather it before applying on your face. Since most cleansers are concentrated, they can dehydrate your face and strip it of necessary moisture. Diluting it with water activates its ingredients and allows it to be spread evenly on your face.

Some cleansers have microbeads loaded with antibacterial agents that act like scrubs so let it work for you. Most people think that the more they scrub, the more dirt they can get off their faces. This is wrong. Not only do they risk breaking capillaries, but scrubbing can also aggravate acne by pushing dirt and bacteria deeper into the pores. What you should do is massage the lather or foam onto your face in a gentle circular motion. This facilitates the blood flow in your face which improves your complexion while allowing the ingredients of your cleanser to penetrate deep in your skin.

5. Rinse your face completely and pat it dry.

Rinse your face with lukewarm running water thoroughly. Although trusted cleansers have easy-rinse formulations, it is best to ensure that you thoroughly wash your face of any trace of foam or lather. Not doing so might leave residues behind that can block your pores and aggravate your acne. After rinsing the cleanser off, use a soft, clean towel to dry your face. Never rub the towel on your face as though you are removing stubborn dirt. Just pat it dry with a non-abrasive towel.

If you are using a skin care system, you could follow this cleansing ritual with a special toner and moisturizer. Remember that when choosing a toner and a moisturizer, you should go for the ones that are compatible with your cleanser and your skin. However, if you are using a skin care system, product incompatibility should not be a problem.

Now that you know how to properly cleanse your face, your acne should surely become the least of your worries. Your face is the first thing people see when they look at you, so it's really important that you keep it clean, smooth, and acne-free. The only way you can do that is if you follow a good skin regimen. Always keep in mind that a clean skin is a beautiful skin.

My last advice in obtaining beautiful skin is that there is only one good skin regimen and it includes three (sometimes four) steps: cleansing, toning, and moisturizing. These three skin care steps are the basics, and they should be done everyday if you really want to maintain your beautiful skin You should do this skin regimen twice a day, right after you wake up and right before you sleep. Since acne starts in the pores, keeping the pores clean is one of the best ways to keep acne from plaguing your skin.
by: Simon Jones