An Easy Step To Feeling And Looking Like A Million Bucks - Part 1

 

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Cleanse and exfoliate for smoothness

Sounds easy to do but the truth is that most people don't truly understand what it is means to cleanse and exfoliate the skin nor how to do it properly. Most of us are guilty of over washing and exfoliating our skin, even I was guilty (exfoliating everyday, YIKES!!). Here's a quick lesson on the skin.

The skin is made up of 3 basic layers:

- The epidermis

- The dermis

- The subcutaneous tissue.

(For the purposes of this article, we will be focusing on the epidermal and dermal layers of the skin. The sebaceous glands reside in the subcutaneous layer of the skin and secrete oil to lubricate and waterproof the skin and hair.)

The epidermis is the outer layer of the skin, it's what everyone visibly sees and refers to as 'skin.' The visible skin is simply cells that flatten out and move towards the surface to be discarded and the process of a cell moving up to the surface can take anywhere from 14-28 days. It is crucial that those discarded cells are effectively removed from the skin but not so much that oil production becomes excessive. If you over wash your skin and strip away the beneficial oils of the skin, the skin will respond with an over production of oil.

The dermis is the inner layer of the skin. I like Chizu Saeki (a famous Japanese esthetician) likening the dermis to muscles. When you take care of your muscles, whatever you wear look great because of toned muscles. The dermis and muscles support the epidermis by retaining moisture and nutrients and plumping the fibrous structures that determine the tone and resilience of your skin.

Why do we clean the skin

Cleansing the skin cannot be over exaggerated. It is the basis for getting the million-dollar look every woman wants. It removes the dead cells that come to the surface of the skin as well as acne causing bacteria. You can use your fingertips and hands or cotton pads. Here are a few cleansing tips:

- Wash your face in the morning and evening

- Use plenty of lukewarm water

- Use a good cleanser, one that will not upset the pH balance of your face, cause dryness or irritation.

- Note that make-up removal is not the same as cleansing your skin. You will need to the time to remove the make-up and then properly cleanse your skin.

Why do we exfoliate?

Exfoliating helps to promote smoothness by deep cleaning clogged pores in areas such as your forehead, chin and wings of your nose. Exfoliated skin:

- Promotes smoothness

- Evens texture

- Retains make-up well

- Produces relatively little oil

- Is less prone to breakouts

- Should be done once or twice a week (remember, over washing can lead to over stimulation of the sebaceous gland, causing oily skin).

Exfoliating is equally important in all skin care regimes especially for skin that is already at risk to breakouts. However if you suffer from adult acne and already have open sores, please see a dermatologist for proper care. Additionally, if you have a tendency to breakout during your period, you can get ahead of it by exfoliating as well as drinking plenty of water, avoiding poor nutrition and smoking.

In conclusion, achieving the type of beauty you desire is well within your reach. It all starts with understanding the basics of skin care, starting with cleansing and exfoliating to achieve optimal smoothness. Stay tuned for suggested techniques to cleanse and exfoliate your skin as well as another 4 steps for achieving the beauty you desire.