The secret behind clean, healthy skin

The basics of skin care
Keeping your skin clean is important, as this allows it to function more efficiently and look healthier. What you use to cleanse your face is a matter of personal choice. Simple soap and water works for me, but you may choose to use alternatives to soap, like oatmeal or plain yogurt. And your mom is right; you should never go to bed with a dirty face! You need to remove all of the dirt and debris from the day and let your skin breathe and rest at night. There really is such a thing as "beauty sleep."

Toners and astringents are a great addition to your skin care regime. They help deeply cleanse the skin and remove any traces of other cleansers. They also help restore the skin's natural pH, or acidity, which is important for combating surface bacteria and keeping your complexion clear. Astringents are usually alcohol based, making them a bit harsher on the skin and more suited to oily skin types. Toners and fresheners are water based and more appropriate for normal and dry skin types; they can also be used throughout the day to energize and clean your skin.

Exfoliate weekly
One word you will hear a lot when it comes to skin care is exfoliation. This is a step that many people don't do or don't do regularly. Exfoliation involves gently scrubbing your skin and removing the oldest dead skin cells. Exfoliating your skin weekly will help unclog your pores and keep your skin really clean. There are several simple scrubs you can use that work well for all skin types, such as superfine sugar, cornmeal, ground nuts, and wheat germ. People with oily or normal skin can use scrubs weekly; those with dry or sensitive skin may want to exfoliate their skin once every two weeks.

Facial masks - fun and effective
Facial masks are another fun and effective weekly beauty treatment that will keep your skin clean and glowing. There are many different types of masks, and the advantage of making your own is that you can create a mask suited to your skin's needs. For example, if you're stressed-out and your skin is reflecting that, you'll want to choose a calming and cleansing mask, like one made with fresh strawberries. But if your skin is really dry or maybe sunburned, you should use soothing and moisturizing ingredients, like aloe or avocado.

Sun protection
I cannot overstress the importance of sun protection. Skin cancer is on the rise among young women, yet it's preventable if you take the right precautions. Use a good sunscreen on your face every day; even during wintertime and cloudy days the sun is still out. A good sunscreen is something you'll have to purchase because they're hard to make at home using household ingredients. Look for products that help block both UVA and UVB rays, and look for these three ingredients in particular: titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, or avobenzene. According to the FDA, these are the only ingredients that give full-spectrum protection to your skin.

Beauty Smarts: What Does SPF Mean?
SPF stands for sun protection factor, and the SPF number tells you how much sun protection the product will provide. For example, if your skin usually turns pink in 10 minutes out in the sun, an SPF of 8 will give you 8 times the protection, so you can be in the sun for 80 minutes. Likewise, an SPF of 15 would give you 150 minutes of protection. Remember, it's always a good idea to be protected. The sun is your skin's greatest enemy!

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Excerpted from EcoBeauty, by Lauren Cox Copyright © 2009 by Lauren Cox.

Excerpted by permission of Ten Speed Press, a division of Random House of Canada Limited. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.