Step 1: Cleanse
Cleanse morning and evening with a skin recovery cleanser. Choose the best cleanser for your skin type.
Pull your hair back off your face and wash your hands first, then rinse your face with warm water. Put a small amount of cleanser (about the size of a nickel) on your wet hands. Rub your hands together to create a lather. Apply lather on wet face, using your finger tips to gently massage the cleanser all over your face and neck area. Rinse your face with clean tepid water. Water that’s too cold will break your capillaries. Gently pat your face and neck dry with a clean soft towel.
Step 2: Facial Toners
Facial toners with no alcohol should be used on a daily basis after cleansing. The toner will remove any excess residue left by impurities on your skin. Facial toners shouldn’t be washed off as they contain antioxidants beneficial for your skin.
Apply a small amount of facial toner on a cotton pad/ball. Gently sweep the cotton pad/ball over the face (avoiding eye area) to remove any impurities and leave the skin PH balanced.
> Best Facial Toners for your Skin
Step 3: Exfoliate
Exfoliate two to three times a week to remove the outer layer of dead skin cells on your face and neck. This will allow healthier cells to appear on your skins surface.
There are two types of exfoliates:
1. Alpha Hydroxy Acid, abbreviate AHA, generally best for normal to dry skin
2. Beta Hydroxy Acid, abbreviate BHA, generally best for normal to oily and blemish prone skin.
>Best Facial Exfoliates for your Skin
- Before you exfoliate, cleanse your face to get rid of any makeup and dirt on your skin. After you have cleansed, apply exfoliate following the directions on the package. Be gentle when you scrub, you don’t want to damage your skin. Rinse the exfoliating product off your face with warm water. Use a towel to pat your skin dry. Apply any intensive treatment, serum or antioxidant afterwards and then moisturize
Step 4: Antioxidants
Antioxidants/ Cell Signaling products are available in toners, moisturizers and serum bases. You probably will need two different products if you have combination skin. For example if you have dry patches you may need to apply a rich serum in those areas of the skin, while oily areas of your skin will probably work best with antioxidants/cell signaling substances available in a toner or light moisturizer.
> Best Facial Antioxidants for your Skin
- A.M./P.M. – Apply an antioxidant/cell signaling product (according to directions on packaging), after you have cleansed, toned and exfoliated the skin (if you’re exfoliating); before you moisturize.
- Oily skin or oily areas of combination skin work best with antioxidants that are in the form of a toner loaded with cell signaling ingredients in a silicone or water-based serum (alcohol free).
- Dry skin or dry patches of combination skin work best with a serum or moisturizers loaded with antioxidants and cell signaling substances. It’s important to make sure that the product is packaged in an opaque container (no jars) to keep antioxidants stable.
- Very dry skin or dry patches are best suited to products with an anti-rich serum.
Step 5: Moisturizers
Moisturizers for daytime should include a sunscreen with a broad spectrum SPF of 15 or greater and should be applied everyday even if you are working inside. If there is any type of light, skin damage can occur.
- A.M. Moisturize with Sunscreen – Apply moisturizer with sunscreen liberally in the morning at least half an hour before you head out for the day; that’s how long it takes for the sunscreen to work. Follow directions on package when applying moisturizer. If you are planning to be outside use a sunscreen with a broad spectrum SPF of 15-30 and re-apply it every 2 hours; even if it says it’s waterproof. Don’t forget to apply moisturizer to the neck area.
>Best Daytime Moisturizers with Sunscreen
- P.M. Moisturize with a night moisturizer for your skin that has antioxidants and is full of cell signaling substances to help repair and combat free radicals you have been exposed to during the day. Follow directions on package when applying night moisturizer.
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