DO’s & DON’T’S of Skin Care
DO’s & DON’T’S of Skin Care
When Should You Wash Your Face?
You can dry your skin by washing it too much, so once a day is fine for most people. In the morning, rinse your face with lukewarm water. Use a soft towel to pat it dry. At night, wash with a cleanser or gentle soap gets rid of the day's dirt and makeup. If you exercise, play sports, or have PE, you may want to wash your face afterward with a gentle cleanser. Sweat can clog your pores and make acne worse.
Don't Wear Makeup to Bed, Clean Your Face at Night too
When you're tired, it can be tempting to go to bed without washing your face. But leaving makeup on your skin can clog your pores and cause acne. So wash it off with a gentle cleanser or makeup remover. Use a soft wash cloth or cotton pads. If you use acne medicine, now's a good time to put it on -- when your face is clean and you won't be putting on makeup.
All About Acne
Why does acne usually start when you're a teen? Puberty causes your body to make more hormones, which lead your skin to make more sebum, an oil that comes from your pores. Too much sebum and dead skin cells can clog pores and trap bacteria inside. The germs thrive and acne starts. It can show up as whiteheads, blackheads, and pimples.
How to Treat Acne
Don't pop those pimples! That can lead to infection and scars. Instead, try acne-fighting products. They come as lotions, creams, gels, and cleansing pads. Follow the directions carefully. If you use them too much or too often, they can irritate your skin and cause more blemishes. Just be patient -- they can take 8 weeks to work.
Hiding Blemishes
To make zits less noticeable, you can cover them with oil-free makeup. Foundation may help cover large patches of acne. Concealer covers smaller areas. Green-tinted color-correcting concealer may cancel out redness. You also can hide acne and treat it at the same time. Some tinted creams and concealers contain salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide to help dry the blemishes. Stop using any product if it bothers your skin or causes more acne.
The Dangers of Tanning
You may like to be tan, but you hurt your skin when it changes color from the sun or indoor tanning. UV exposure can make you more likely to get skin cancer -- now or later. It can also lead to wrinkly, leathery-looking skin and spots. Regularly using tanning beds raises your chances of getting melanoma (the deadliest skin cancer) by 8 times.
Fake Tans
For a safer tan, try sunless self-tanner. It stains your skin and comes in many forms, including lotions, sprays, and towelettes. Or try airbrush tanning, where a salon expert sprays the tan right on your skin. For a quick fake tan, try some bronzer. It's a brush-on powder or tinted cream that gives the look of a fresh tan. But remember -- you'll still need to protect your skin from the sun.
Choosing Makeup
If you wear makeup, choose products that have "no acnegenic" or "noncomedogenic" on the label. They should be less likely to cause acne or clog pores. Look for makeup that's water-based and not oil-based. Some products have expiration dates, even though they aren't required. Most of the time, you'll need to replace eye makeup first. For example, don't use mascara longer than 4 months.
Makeup Safety Tips
Don't share makeup or makeup tools. Use fresh applicators when you try on makeup in stores. Don't apply eyeliner inside your lid, because it may irritate your eye. If you've had an eye infection, buy new makeup so you don't reinfect yourself. Never put on makeup in a car or on the bus. A bump or swerve could make you scratch your eye or get makeup and germs in it.
False Advertising
Seeing a model's perfect skin in an ad may make you want to buy the product. Don't be fooled. It takes a team of stylists and professionals to get them to look that great. Graphic artists can digitally remove pimples and freckles. Lighting experts use light and shadow to show the model's best features. CVS drugstores have pledged to move toward non-retouched photos in store displays.
Other Things That Bug Your Skin
Try to avoid habits that can cause acne, redness, and scars. Don't pick at your skin -- especially pimples. Keep hairspray and gel away from your face. They can clog pores. Don't wear tight headbands or wool hats that can irritate your skin. Don't smoke. It can age your skin and make it yellow and dry.
Food and Sleep for Healthy Skin
Keep your skin healthy by eating smart. Fill your plate with veggies, fruits, and whole grains. Choose lean proteins like chicken, fish, lean meat, beans, and eggs. Avoid foods that are high in cholesterol, trans fats, saturated fats, salt, and sugar. Get plenty of sleep to avoid dark circles, fine lines, dull skin, and other side effects of bad rest. Relax! Even stress can make you break out. And stay hydrated.