"Skin care basics to help you maintain a healthy glow"

Skin care basics are for everyone, young or old, male or female, every climate and every day. Find out more about the type of skin you have and the care your it needs.

We all have it...skin. It’s the ‘glue’ that holds us together and makes us who we are, in a manner of speaking. When we’re young, taking care of our skin can be the furthest thing from our minds. It’s funny how that daily routine moves up in the list of our priorities as we get older and everything starts to change.

Skin care basics are a great place to start for anyone who wants to make sure they are caring for, and protecting, their skin. If you don’t do it, no one else will.

First, what type of skin do you have? There are four main categories of skin types, and, to keep things interesting, our skin type can be affected by our age, health, climate, etc.

• Normal Skin is the most common, and can be identified by an overall even tone, pores that aren’t too large and a balance of moisture (that means it is not overly oily). If you can go through the day and don’t have to wipe the oil from your face, or wash your face a couple of times, you probably have normal skin
• Oily Skin has a tendency to become, well, oily, after several hours, leaving you with a greasy feeling and probably wanting to wash your face. This can be particularly pronounced on your nose, forehead and chin, also known as the T-zone, because of the number of oil glands found in that area of your face.
• Dry Skin is just the opposite of oily skin, as you might expect. If dry skin is your skin type, you may feel a tightness across your face, have skin that tends to be flaky, possibility irritated, and sometimes a skin condition called eczema can result.
• Combination Skin is exactly what the type says...attributes of both oily and dry skin. Most people find that their T-zone is oily (forehead, nose and chin) while the rest of their face is dry. If this sounds like your skin type, you might want to use two different types of cleansers on your face that will address both dry and oily skin as appropriate.

Keep in mind that your skin type can change as you get older, as your health changes, as you move from one climate to another, as your hormone levels change. What does that mean as far as skin care basics are concerned? Pay attention to your skin. You might need to change or adjust the type of skin care products you’ve been using.

Here are some everyday helpful skin care basics and tips:

Proper cleansing
Be aware of your skin type as defined above and clean your face accordingly. Oily skin may need to be cleansed at least twice a day; dry skin just once.

Remember to use care when cleansing your face and not be too abrasive with scrubbing as well as rubbing your face. This is your skin we’re talking about, not the laundry. Use a gentle touch.

Toners - are they right for your skin?
Don’t assume that your skin needs a daily toner, particularly a toner that has alcohol in it. These types of toners can strip oil away from the surface of your skin and cause it to create more oil, which is not the result you desire if you already have oily skin.

Daily Moisturizing
Your skin type, and age, will be the determining factors in how often to moisturize. Oily skin? You can most likely skip this step, unless you want to use a moisturizer in certain spots, like under your eyes.

If you have normal skin you might want to select an oil free moisturizer to use sparingly.

Dry skin can benefit from daily moisturizing as it will help the feeling of skin tightness.

Here are some skin care basic DOs and DON’Ts, which we should all be well aware of, but it never hurts to emphasize again. So....

Don’t smoke, and if you are a smoker, quit. Aside from the obvious health and longevity benefits, you will stop the creation of premature wrinkles that smoking causes.

Stay out of the sun. Easier said than done for some, based on your lifestyle, profession and overall climate. If you are in the sun, use sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 and reapply as necessary. Wear a hat that provides protection for your entire face and neck.

Stay hydrated. Drink at least eight glasses of water a day; hydrate your skin with moisturizer as noted above.

Be good to your skin by giving it the care it needs every day. Don’t scrub too hard or use hot water on your face, particularly.

Special skin care situations

In addition to all of the great information here, there are nuances and differences between men and women when it comes to good skin care.

Read more about Skin Care for Women

Most women struggle with the issue of how to lose cellulite so learn more about that.

Read more about Skin Care for Men

Little ones need special attention! Read more about Baby Skin Care

Here are some special tips for Sensitive Skin Care

Seasonal changes affect our skin for sure, so read more about Summer Skin Care and Winter Skin Care

All of these skin care basics can help you to achieve the healthy glow, both inside and out, that comes from beautiful skin!

The information on this website has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This site does not provide professional advice in any way, and all information here is intended as general news only.