The 3-Step Facial Skincare Basics

If all you have is not more than ten minutes a day to freshen up before the day gets busy, all you have to do for your basic facial skincare regime are these three things:

Cleanse

Cleansing your face daily is the first and most essential step, which also forms the foundation of any good grooming routine. Facial cleansing is important as it washes away the oil and dirt accumulated on the surface of your skin. Avoid bar soaps as much as you can as it very drying, taking out too much moisture from your skin than necessary.

Men’s skin normally has large pore and active sebaceous glands. This means to say that while these glands produce sebum to keep your skin naturally moist, they can at times produce too much sebum, causing your face to be oily. If you neglect to wash away the excess oil, dirt can accumulate on your skin, within the large pores, and result in clogged pores and overtime, blackheads.

Complement your cleansing process with a facial scrub to help you dislodge all the clogged dirt and oil within your pores. Unlike your regular facial cleanser, facial scrubs contain small beads or particles that help dislodge dead skin cells and help remove any clogged dirt. It will smooth your skin, eliminate the dullness that results from normal pore clogging and dirt build-up. Exfoliation also softens hair follicles for a closer, less-irritating shave and allows the skin to better absorb moisturizers. You only need to exfoliate your skin two to three times a week. You don’t want to over scrub your face.

Depending on your skin type, look for a facial cleanser and scrub that is suitable and effective for your cleansing routine. Simply rotate the use of your facial cleanser and facial scrub daily to achieve healthy, radiant, and balanced skin.

Tone

When you cleanse your face with a facial cleanser or facial scrub, you have removed the dirt and oil on the surface of your skin. This means to say that your unclogged pores are now open and susceptible to the entry of more dirt and oil.

A skin toner helps you close your pores, refresh your skin, remove excess oil, and reduce shine on your skin. After shaving, you can apply a little toner on your face and wipe over the problem areas. If you’re busy at work and have no time for cleansers or scrubs, applying toner is a quick alternative to remove excess oil that can build up during the day and freshen you up.

Moisturize

Now that you have closed up your pores, you need to replace lost moisture in your skin. Even if you don’t have dry skin, people with greasy or acne-prone skin can also be dehydrated. A moisturizer helps protect your skin from environmental aggressors, prevent it from getting too dry or feeling tight, conditioning your skin to keep it young and healthy-looking.

Besides, if your skin is well moisturized, it can prevent razor burn, it can also make shaving a far more pleasant process.

This may sound absurd to some of you guys, but a moisturizer with SPF will also provide a critical shield against the sun. Harsh UVB rays cause the skin to burn, but it’s the UVA rays that can lead to long-term damage on your skin like deep lines and skin cancer.

Published on Wednesday, September 28th, 2011 under Grooming Guides