Are you messing up with your face?
Everyone wants glowing skin, regardless of age, the state of internal health, or the skincare procedures they follow. In fact, “glowing” skin seems to be the sales pitch for many cosmetic products. Our skin type is the basis of skincare so that we can select products accordingly. We also need to adjust skincare routines according to the changing seasons.
Healthy skin has a natural protective film on the skin surface, known as the acid mantle. It is made up of the oil secreted by the oil glands and the sweat from the sweat glands. This film is slightly acidic in reaction and protects the skin from bacterial activity. Alkaline, chemical or caustic substances can disrupt the acid mantle, by altering the pH or acid-alkaline balance of the skin. Soaps can be alkaline. People with oily skin tend to wash their face frequently to reduce oiliness and add a glow. However, too much soap and water washing can disrupt the acid mantle and leave the skin predisposed to bacterial attack and conditions like acne. It can also make the skin dull. Therefore, it is better to select cleansing products according to skin type. If you wish to use soap, it should be a mild one, or it can be a face wash, containing ingredients like “Tulsi” and “Neem.”
The cleansing procedure that we adopt should help to remove surface grime, cleanse without disturbing the normal balances and also keep the skin surface free of dead cells.
This brings us to Exfoliation, a procedure that has become an integral part of skincare. It is said to remove dead skin cells, brighten the skin and add a healthy glow. The build-up of dead cells can make the skin coarse and dull. The pigment can also increase wherever the dead cells accumulate, producing an uneven colour tone and giving the skin a blotchy appearance. Exfoliation is done with scrubs, which comprise of grainy substances in a softer medium, like gel or cream. The scrub is rubbed on the skin with small circular movements, to soften dead epithelial cells and help their removal. The skin looks brighter after using a scrub, so one feels encouraged to use a scrub often, or even daily. However, the indiscriminate use of scrubs also removes the skin’s protective barrier and leaves the skin more prone to problems like skin-sensitivity, redness, flaky skin and also acne. For dehydrated and sensitive skin, with rough, reddish patches, one should avoid scrubs. If there is acne or rash, scrubs should not be used. Harsh scrubs and peel treatments can leave the skin more sensitive, instead of adding a glow.
Subscribe to read the full article: