The Facts about Beauty

Stay young and healthy by looking after your skin.

cleansers ...

A skin cleanser should be used regularly to remove dirt, prevent the build-up of grease and to remove dead cells. It is important to use a good cleanser so regular cleaning does not damage the skin. The products used must be well formulated and mild to the skin. more about cleansers

toners ...

The purpose of a skin toner is to clean your skin and balance the pH (or the level of acidity) in readiness for the product you are going to apply next. If you have been using a good cleanser you should not really need to use a toner.

However, there are times when you have cleansed yet feel your skin is just not quite right. This is often the result of the pH of your local water. The waters pH (or hardness) varies greatly from place to place. Your skin, however is happy with a pH of around 5.5 - ever so slightly acidic. In situations like this, a toner can help. more about pH

For example, you may use a water based cleanser to save using a toner but because the local water has a high pH imbalance (also called hardness) your skin is left feeling uncomfortable. This is quickly detected by the bodies nervous system that reacts by secreting oil to neutralize the imbalance. more about toners

moisturizers ...

Dehydration affects all skin types and is the most common problematic skin condition. If the skin becomes dehydrated, other skin conditions develop and existing skin conditions get worse. Moisturizers are products designed, not to add moisture to the skin but rather, seal in the moisture provided by other products like toners or hydrators. They also aim to provide lubrication to the skin. more about moisturizers

exfoliating washes ...

These are used to remove dry or flaky dead skin which will allow your moisturizer to penetrate deeper into your skin and access the newly exposed areas. Exfoliating washes, like other skin products such as sun block, tretinoin, bleaching creams help prevent or even reverse the signs of skin aging.

skin types ...

Essentially there are three skin types, dry, oily, and combination. You may find yours is a composite of more than one type. For example, dark skins tend to get more dry or more oily than pale skins. more about skin types

winter skin care ...

Clean, moisturize and protect are the three keys to keeping your skin happy and healthy. In winter, try to avoid products with alcohol - tend towards using lukewarm water for cleansing.

A good start to winter for normal to oily skins is getting a facial mask. This will soothe and deep clean your skin gently removing the summer skin damage. For normal to dry and sensitive skins, remove the dead skin cells gently with exfoliants. A good facial scrub should be used once or twice a week . If you notice any brown spots and sun damage use a bleaching agent.

The sudden temperature changes of winter can cause tiny, broken blood vessels on the face. When outdoors, use a scarf around your face to protect your skin as well as protection against windburn.

In the middle of winter, you may be tempted to visit a tanning parlor. This is not a good idea. Stay away from tanning beds altogether. The only safe sun tan comes from a bottle.

summer skin care ...

Almost all the damage done to the skin is caused by the sun. Ultraviolet rays stimulates melanin production, which is why we tan. However, it also creates free radicals (ions) which destroy the lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids in our skin. Sunlight also damages the connective tissue (collagen) that keeps our skin firm, elastic and young looking

To combat the suns onslaught apply skin creams containing vitamins A and E. These bring antioxidants to the surface of the skin which consume and expel the damaging free radicals. Vitamin C is also able to reverse some of the sun's damage by promoting collagen production.

If you are intent on spending long periods in the sun, the best protection for your skin is to use sun block - preferably a SPF 30! And always wear a hat and sunglasses. You must get into the habit of using a sunscreen - any sunscreen is better than none at all.

sunscreens ...

Sunscreens are critical to good skin health but they also give us a false sense of security. If you care for your skin you must use the best possible protection when outdoors.

For the face, you should use a sunscreen in your makeup base but don't rely on it as your only protection. Makeup will not protect you from the sun's damaging rays. Layer your makeup over a proper amount of SPF moisturizer.

glycolic acid ...

Made from sugar cane, glycolic acid is the most active and beneficial of the Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA). Glycolic acid has two uses in the care of skin - to create more collagen and as an exfoliating agent.

After being applied to the skin in low concentrations, glycolic acid triggers the formation of new collagen to strengthen skin cells which reduces wrinkles on the skin’s surface. Glycolic acid has been proven to be effective in the treatment of acne.

Higher concentrations of glycolic acid are used to exfoliate or remove the dead surface cells on the top layer of the skin. The results give a brighter appearance with a fresher texture. Some fine lines and age spots can also be removed. The application of glycolic acid in higher concentrations is best performed by a skin care salon. The process or 'peel' usually takes around 10 minutes after which the patients feel a slight stinging sensation.

keeping your skin healthy ...

Some critical skin care advice.

• Use sunscreen wherever the suns rays are bright and that includes the snow and ice - the sun is your enemy.
• Wearing sunglasses for eye protection and to stop squinting which causes wrinkles.
• Do not smoke. Smoking causes the skin to age prematurely as well as loosing its natural tone.
• Avoid drinking excessively. As with smoking, alcohol dehydrates the skin and causes the skin to age prematurely.
• Use humidifiers if you live in a dry climate.
• Gently exfoliate dead cells to allow the skin to breathe and regenerate.
• Use sunscreen wherever the suns rays are bright and that includes the snow and ice.
• Avoid cracked skin which can cause infections or acne. Use moisturizers frequently if you have dry skin.
• Avoid frequent hot showers as they are hard on fragile winter skin.
• To keep dead skin exfoliated.
• Reduce stress which contributes to premature aging.
• Drink plenty of water to quench a thirst and replenish the moisture drawn away from the skin by evaporation.
• Get plenty of sleep. The body requires this time to repair and rejuvenation itself.
• Eat a well-balanced diet and exercise regularly to increase the flow of nutrients and oxygen to the skin
• Be very careful when removing eye makeup. The skin around the eyes is very delicate.
• Use a mild cleanser at least twice a day, particularly after perspiring.
• Clean cosmetic brushes and makeup pads with soapy water at least 2 to 3 times a week.
• Always remove all makeup before going to bed.
• Try to change your pillowcases every few days and wash your sheets to remove the microscopic dust and debris that can accumulate.