A regular skin care routine is necessary for blemish free skin as it keeps the skin cleansed and moisturized. A face wash, face scrub, moisturizer and toner are vital to any skin care regimen.
Face wash: A good face wash forms the basis of any skin care routine. Make sure that your face wash is meant for your skin type and that it suits your skin. It would be wise to experiment with a few face washes before you settle on one that best suits you. You can also make your own natural face wash. You can use soap nuts to make the base of your face wash. Boil a handful of nuts in a small saucepan of water, strain it and pour the liquid into a bottle for storage. If you have oily skin, use equal amounts of orange juice and this soap nut liquid for your face wash. The orange juice will help to dissolve the excess oil without leaving your skin dry. For medium skin, mix equal amounts of this soap nut base and honey which helps to nourish the skin. People with dry skin can add equal amounts of coconut milk or milk and the base. Both coconut milk and milk have fatty acids that will help to keep dry skin well moisturized.
Face Scrub: A face scrub not only cleans the skin of dirt and grime on the surface, it also exfoliates the skin and gets rid of the upper layer of dead skin cells. Regular exfoliation keeps your skin fresh and glowing. It also reduces blemishes and scars. If you have oily or normal skin add a teaspoon of sugar to the face wash mentioned above. Scrub your face with this mixture using gentle circular motions. If you have dry skin, grind a few walnuts and almonds and use this powder along with your milk and soap nut cleanser to gently exfoliate your skin. Nuts are high in fatty acids and nutrients and will help to keep your skin healthy and moisturized.
Moisturizer: A moisturizer helps the skin to retain moisture and therefore increases its elasticity. Use a moisturizer after you wash your face, to seal in the moisture on your skin. You can use a mild moisturizer or an aqueous cream daily to keep your skin soft and smooth. If you have dry skin, you can add a few drops of coconut oil and/or olive oil to an aqueous cream to enrich it. If you have normal skin, you can add a drop or two of Vitamin E oil to the cream, and if you have oily skin you can add 2 drops of lemon oil to the cream. Lemon oil is citric in nature and will help to control excess sebum production.
Toner: Most cosmetic toners contain alcohol which can leave your skin dry and leathery. You can make your own toner by mixing cucumber juice and rose water. After you wash your face, use the toner to shrink your pores. You can then finish off by using your moisturizer.
In addition to this, you should use a face pack once a week. A face pack made from Fuller’s earth helps to deep cleanse the skin. Fuller’s earth is a type of clay that can extract excess sebum from the pores and therefore helps to keep the pores unclogged. You can add lemon juice to your face pack if you have oily skin or a dollop of fresh avocado paste if you have dry skin.
