6 Things You Should Never Do To Your Skin

There are many articles informing people about what they should do for better skin. From cosmetic surgery to essential oils, there is a myriad of advice to consider. Often these gurus forget to tell us what we should never do to our skin. Certain habits can cause your skin to breakout, get irritated and appear older before its time. Consider these 6 things you should not do to your skin.

Popping Pimples

It gets so tempting to pop a pimple. It comes to an ugly head and you just want to get rid of it fast. Never pop that pimple, no matter what anyone else tells you. It can lead to further breakouts, skin irritation and scarring. Resist the temptation to pop a pimple and handle it with patience instead. Use an acne remedy with tea tree oil. Apply a bit of mud mask to the pimple to dry it out. It might take a bit longer but the results won't leave you with a worse skin situation.

Soaking Up The Sun

The warm weather comes and you can't wait to get in the sun. In fact, you're so eager you forget essentials such as sunscreen and a hat. Make sure to apply sunscreen each time you are outside. Even in cloudy weather, you can get a sunburn. Avoid premature aging and skin cancer by wearing a hat and sunglasses and applying 30+ SPF sunscreen all the time.

Harsh Toners

You have breakouts or blackheads and you just want to get rid of them. Your skin might be oily and you need to reduce the shine. Never use harsh toners with alcohol that can strip and dry your skin. Ultimately, you skin will react to them and get even oilier. Select a gentle toner made with natural ingredients that helps to heal your skin rather than harm it. Follow up with a moisturizer and pamper your skin by using exfoliators and facial masks.

Rubbing Your Skin

When people are rushing, they tend to rub their skin and may not even realize it. They want to remove traces of mascara or dry their face after washing so they can head out the door in the morning. Unfortunately, this excessive rubbing pulls your skin and can lead to fine lines that make you looker older before your time.

Sleeping with Makeup On

If that special someone expects you to look perfect in the morning, the expectation is unrealistic. Never wear makeup to bed so you can appear more attractive in the morning. The makeup is drying your skin and irritating the sensitive skin around your eyes. Cleanse your skin, remove all traces of makeup and apply a moisturizer before bed. Over time, this skin care regimen helps you to look better without makeup.

Quit Bad Habits

Did you ever notice the fine lines around the mouths of people who smoke? It's just not an appealing look. Smoking dries out your skin and leads to fine lines, cancers and other awful health conditions. Quit smoking for clearer skin. Excessive drinking can also lead to dehydration that shows on your skin and may cause puffy eyes. Consume less alcohol and drink more water for a more youthful appearance.

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Taking Care of the Delicate Skin Under Your Eyes

The skin around your eyes is thinner and more delicate than skin on the rest of your body. As a result, this area can show signs of age earlier than other parts of your face. Taking proper care of the skin under your eyes can keep it looking smoother and more youthful for years to come.

Never Rub Your Eyes

Rubbing your eyes can irritate these sensitive surrounding tissues. Pulling the skin makes it loose and subject to fine lines. Use eye drops if you have red or dry eyes rather than rubbing them to try to make them feel better. Never use forceful motions to apply or remove eye makeup. Use a special sponge or brush applicator to apply eye makeup. Take it off by using a special eye makeup remover with a soft cotton puff. Avoid harsh cleansers that could dry out the skin around your eyes.

Use a Special Eye Area Moisturizer

The skin around your eyes is thin and requires additional moisture. Invest in a special eye cream to use before bed and prior to applying eye makeup. Cleanse your skin and eyes before bed to remove all traces of makeup. Slather on a thick layer of moisturizer to infuse this area with moisture while you sleep. Use a gentle upward patting motion to apply moisturizer around your eyes. Wash and dry your face again in the morning and apply a thin layer of eye cream to the area. Let the skin absorb it before you apply eye makeup. Use an eye makeup primer on your lids if you are concerned about eye shadow creasing or wearing off.

Getting Rid of Dark Areas Under Your Eyes

Always try to get at least six to eight hours of sleep each night. If you have dark circles under your eyes. use a non-irritating, non-comedogenic concealer to camouflage them. It should be a creamy formula in a shade or two lighter than your skin tone. Use a tapered brush or sponge to apply the concealer from the lower inner corner of your eye to the outer corner. Gently blend the concealer until it is invisible. To set it, use a small brush to apply a little mineral powder to the area.

Reducing Puffy Eyes

After a long day, our eyes sometimes look swollen and puffy. Reduce the swelling by placing a chilled slice of cucumber on each eye for 10 minutes. You can also soak cotton balls in chilled soy milk and place them on your eyes for a few minutes to minimize the swelling for a smoother look. Avoid salty foods that can make your eyes look puffier. What you eat is often reflected on your skin.

Make sure your eyes are part of your daily skin care regime. Often we remember to cleanse, moisturize and exfoliate but might forget the sensitive area around our eyes.  Get plenty of rest and avoid pulling this delicate skin when you apply makeup, put in contact lenses or put on moisturizer. Taking care of your eyes today will keep them looking more youthful tomorrow.

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Basics About Skin 101

Many people might not think of skin as an organ but it is the largest organ in our bodies. We need skin to maintain the proper body temperature and protect our internal organs from damage. We also get our sense of touch through our skin. It covers our entire body and has pores that let in certain elements and release others. What we put on our skin matters because it is absorbed into our bodies.

Three Layers of Skin

Our skin actually consists of three layers. The subcutaneous layer is the deepest layer of skin, followed by the dermis in the middle then the epidermis on the outside. The skin contains blood vessels, nerve endings and sweat glands as well as hair follicles. The layer we see is the epidermis. Eating healthy foods matters because they have an impact on the health of all our layers of skin. We use natural skin care products to improve the health and appearance of the epidermis.

How the Epidermis Works

New cells are formed at the base of the epidermis. They move toward the top of this layer of skin, which takes up to a month. The older cells on top die and come to the surface, which is what we see. We lose up to 40,000 dead skin cells every minute. In a year, we lose about nine pounds of dead skin cells. A whopping 95 percent of the cells in the epidermis work to create new cells. The remaining 5 percent of the cells in the epidermis product melanin, which gives your skin color. This is also was makes it possible for your skin to get a tan. It is important to wear sunscreen when you are exposed to the sun to protect your skin against damage and possible cancers. You should also wear a hat and sunglasses to protect your face from the sun.

Taking Care of Your Epidermis

Cleansing your skin twice daily is important to remove dirt, makeup and dead skin cells. Exfoliating is the ultimate way to slough off dead skin cells and reveal fresher new skin. Many people exfoliate once a day. After you wash your face with warm water, you can close the pores with a refreshing cold rinse. Then dry your skin completely using a soft towel. Never rub your skin, which can cause irritation and fine lines. Use a toner after you wash your face to remove any remaining traces of grime. Now your skin is ready for a moisturizer. The richness of your moisturizer depends on the dryness of your skin and your anti-aging goals. Even people with oily skin need a light moisturizer to maintain the proper balance. To have glowing skin, use a facial mask once a week. Usually a mask remains on your face for 20 minutes or longer. It might be rinsed or peeled away to make your epidermis look its best.

Skin is our most visible organ. Knowing more about your skin and how it works makes it possible to give it the highest level of care and respect.

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