As most of us know, our skin is our body's largest organ. So it only makes sense that we want to treat it well and give it the proper care it deserves -- especially since our face is what we present to the world.
Every person has different skin, from dry to normal, from oily to combination, from acne-prone to supersensitive. So knowing how to treat your skin type is essential to achieving that healthy glow you dream of. But regardless what kind of skin you have, there are a few basics steps every person should incorporate into their daily skin-care routine, to maintain a fresh and healthy complexion.
The first step in your skin-care regime should be to find a cleanser that works for your skin, one that provides a thorough cleansing and doesn't cause skin irritation.
Why you need a cleanser
According to beauty expert Paula Begoun, author of Don't Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me, "gently cleansing the face, avoiding harsh cleansers or bar cleansers, is crucial for the basis of good skin care."
And, she adds, you should wash your face with tepid or lukewarm water. "Hot or cold water will irritate the skin and irritation causes skin problems, not the least of which is the breakdown of collagen," she says.
Particularly when we head into the warm summer months and find ourselves spending a greater amount of time in the sun, doing activities that cause us to sweat, proper skin care becomes increasingly important.
"It's important to cleanse the skin, especially if you've been outside a lot," says Dr. Nowell Solish, a Toronto-based dermatologist, citing environmental elements as a factor that affects how our skin behaves.
But Dr. Solish stresses the importance of finding a cleanser that's just right for your skin type. "If [your skin is] really dry and you're using a very strong cleanser, you're just going to irritate your skin," he says.
Begoun agrees. "A cleanser for oily skin will be too harsh for someone with dry skin, and a cleanser for dry skin will be too emollient for someone with oily skin," she says.
Page 1 of 3 — Read more about why you need to use a cleanser on page 2
