With the right skin care regimen and diet it is possible to get a flawless complexion that you had always craved for. An ideal skin care routine consists of cleansing, toning and moisturizing. Although it seems like a simple beauty regimen, you will be surprised to know that there are not many people who follow this routine. A balanced diet, exercise and a stress free lifestyle, also contributes in helping you attain healthy skin.
Use a Cleanser
Using a good cleanser is a prerequisite for healthy skin. It is absolutely necessary if you want to get a blemish free complexion. It removes dirt, oil, grime and makeup from your skin. Cleanse your face two to three times a day; use an antibacterial face wash if you are prone to acne and a mild face wash if you have sensitive skin. Avoid using soap on your face as soap with its high pH, may strip your skin of all its natural oils and make it dry and flaky. Make sure that before going to bed you remove all traces of makeup from your skin. Use a foaming cleanser if you have dry skin and a gel based cleanser if you have oily skin. Also exfoliate your face with a mild face scrub once a week to get rid of dirt and dead cells. Avoid the use of scrubs with abrasive and rough particles as it might damage your skin.
Use a Toner
After cleansing your face the next step to get healthy skin is to apply a skin toner. A skin toner penetrates the pores of the skin and helps it get rid of excess oils and impurities. Skin toners restore the natural pH value of the skin. A wide variety of skin toners or astringents are available in the market and you can buy them according to your skin type. People with dry or sensitive skin should avoid the use of toners as they tend to further dry the skin. Always use toners that are free of alcohol as they tend to strip out moisture from the skin. The best way to get healthy skin is to use a toner that is completely natural like rosewater.
Use a Moisturizer
Apply a good quality moisturizer to hydrate your skin. As we age our skin becomes dry and wrinkled. Moisturizers help restore moisture levels in our skin, which may have depleted due to change in the climate or due to aging. It acts as a protective layer between the skin and the environment. It is a good idea to apply a light moisturizer which also contains sunscreen with an SPF of above 25 during the day. The advantage of using light moisturizers is that the skin can easily absorb them. You can also try moisturizers which have light reflecting pigments that will minimize the appearance of dark circles and spots.
Proper Diet
If you want a healthy looking skin, you need to eat nutritious food. Eat fruits like blackberries, blueberries and strawberries as they are high in antioxidants and help protect the skin against free radicals. Limit the intake of coffee and carbonated drinks as they are high in calories and drink at least 7 - 8 glasses of water every day. Include green leafy vegetables like spinach and celery as they help the skin to look younger and protect it from photoaging. Eat fatty fish like salmon, mackerel and sardines which are high in omega 3 fatty acids. Omega 3 fatty acid nourishes the skin and it helps in reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. To get rid of stretch marks, fine lines and wrinkles use a lotion which contains alpha hydroxy acids and retinoids. You can reduce age spots and liver spots by using a bleaching agent that contains kojic acid and hydroquinone. Do not use too many products on your skin as this might lead to inflammation of the skin.
Now you know that to get healthy skin, cleaning, toning and moisturizing is a must. If you treat your skin with care, you will be blessed with a glowing and blemish free complexion. Hope this guide helps you have great looking skin.
