What is a Skin Care Program?

Sometimes when someone knows much about something, they forget to oultine the basics. So, here goes.

A skin care program is a specially designed system to care for your face, body, skin, etc. There are essential steps you must follow to get your skin to look great, and to enhance the overall health of your skin. In addition, there are also supplemental products you may need to use for extra problems you may have with your skin.

Some of those problems can be wrinkles, age spots, acne, super dry skin, super oily skin - you name it and there is a product for it.

Often times people try to use all-natural products, which is fine. But, be warned, if it is all natural, you need to use it within 2-3 days and keep it in the fridge to prevent spoilage and decay. If it doesn't . Cosmetic companies go to great lengths to test their products and make sure they have a good shelf-life (meaning, that they will last a while in a room-temperature environment).

Be sure to use the same products from the same cosmetic line. The reason is this: each cosmetic line pH balances their products to work together in harmony. So, if you use a cleanser from Noxema, and Oil of Olay moisturizer, you are confusing your skin - it doesn't know what to do!

Also, people are unaware of using a skin care system for your skin type: dry, normal, combination, oily.

A Skin Care Program has these basic 5 steps:

1. Cleanse: apply a cleanser to a wet face, rub it in gently, and remove with a wet wash cloth. This gets off the oil, dirt, and grime.

2. Exfoliate: done 2-3 times a week. Apply to a wet face, rub in gently and remove either rinsing off with water, or remove gently with a wet wash cloth. Some exfoliators are so vigorous that you need to remove it with a water rinse so as not to aggravate your skin further. An exfoliator buffs off the dead skin cells that contribute to clogged pores which result in acne and black/whiteheads.

3. Freshen - otherwise called a toner. This finishes cleaning out your pores, then closes them to help them from getting clogged. You usually apply this with a sponge and swipe downwards on your face. It is a product you leave on.

--Many skin care lines have a 3-in-1 cleanser that combines the 3 above steps into one bottle to save time and effort.

4. Moisturize - apply sparingly, you don't want globs of moisturizer dripping off your face! If you have the right moisturizer, it should absorb into your skin fairly quickly. Many moisturizers come with sunscreen. If yours doesn't, apply a sunscreen that has an SPF between 15-30 (anymore doesn't provide any statistical amount of extra protection) before your moisturizer.

5. Protect: usually comes in the form of a foundation. You can use a powder, cream to powder, liquid, or cream foundation, depending upon your skin type. This helps lock in the moisture and keep contaminants out. It acts as a barrier between your skin and the world.

So, if you have acne, you might need extra products to fight the acne. If you have wrinkles, be sure to get something with anti-aging properties.

The most important thing to remember is that taking care of your skin is a worth-while process. If you don't have an allergic reaction, you need to use the brand of product you choose for at least 12 weeks to truly see if it is right for you. (It takes that long for skin to do a complete turn-around).

Some product lines give instant results and you can tell it is right for your skin. With others, the opposite is true, you can tell pretty quickly that it is not going to work for your skin. This is more often true if you get a product line that isn't right for your skin type.

If you have never used a skin care program, expect your face to be slightly irritated and even feel itchy as your skin is purged of contaminants. This sensation should only last 2-5 days, depending upon your skin type.

From experience, if I go without my skin care program due to illness or going camping, my skin will feel mildly itchy for an hour after I use my skin care program - and will do this for a couple days as it helps my skin get back to normal.

Don't be tempted to just get a anti-wrinkle cream, or a night-time rejuvinating system, and call that your skin care. Cosmetic company's are expert marketers and know how to advertise. Something like that is a supplemental product that should be used along with your regular skin care, not as a stand-alone product.

Be sure to Subscribe to our Zap Wrinkles Blemish Free Skin Newsletter and get the Free Skin Care Guide by submitting your info to the right. Your info is always kept confidential and is never shared with 3rd parties...ever!

Remember, take care of your skin because your face is the first thing people see!

Choosing Flattering Eye Makeup Colors

Did you know that everyone can wear every eye makeup color if they know where to place it on their eyelid and how much to use!

Here are some general tips of using eye colors that will intensify and accent the natural beauty of your eye color. These are the best eye colors to use for blue eyes, hazel eyes, green eyes, and brown eyes! Though these are the best, don't be afraid to dabble in other shades and play with your eye makeup colors!

Blue Eyes: stick with browns and creams and shades of bronze. You can play with a little bit of color of any shade in the accent portion of your eye (the outside corner) or as a subtle eyeliner.

Hazel Eyes: Browns and pinks bring out your eye color best.

Green Eyes: creamy white, browns, and purple accent with a neutral purple eyeliner will make your eyes pop!

Brown eyes: Creams, browns, and an accent of dark blue make your eyes look phenomenal!

Finish off your makeup application with eyeliner and mascara for a complete look. If something appears to be missing, look to your eyebrows: Do they need to be tweezed, filled in, etc.? Eyebrows are what frames your face.

Be sure to Subscribe to our Zap Wrinkles Blemish Free Skin Newsletter and get the Free Skin Care Guide by submitting your info to the right. Your info is always kept confidential and is never shared with 3rd parties...ever!

Remember, take care of your skin because your face is the first thing people see!