Masks are great for deep treatments. The mask you use and your skin type should regulate how often you use them. If you are using a different mask other than the one in the video be sure to check if it has special instructions.
The basic rules for masks is to use them AFTER you have thoroughly cleansed your face and follow the instructions precisely.
YOU WILL NEED:
FACIAL MASK
COTTON BALL/PAD
1) Apply the mask gently to your face with the cotton ball/pad (don't use the cotton pad to scrub it in).
2) In circular motions spread and massage the mask into your skin for 2-5 minutes.
3) Let the mask set and thicken on your face.
4) Gently was the mask off (splash some water on your face to loosen the sugar and honey that is not absorbed so it doesn't scratch your face as you wash the mask off)
5) PAT you face dry
*from here you would apply toner or facial moisturizer.*
Thursday, July 16, 2009
THE FACE BASICS: Step 2-Toning and Moisturizing
Throughout the year your skin is going to react differently according to the severity of your weather patterns, seasons, and skin type. Toners help like back up plans. They should remove and help dissolve dead skin and oils, refresh your skin, and balance your skins moisture and oil levels. Use toners as often as you need them AFTER you have cleansed your face.
YOU WILL NEED:
TONER
I prefer to use a natural toner as it does not contain alcohol or questionable ingredients. You don't want one that has a lot of *stuff* in it because this is going to be sitting on your skin until you wash it again. The link below is the best recipe I have ever used for a mask and a toner and I have tried a lot. Natural is the way to go if you can.
1) Apply toner gently and evenly to your face with a cotton ball/pad.
(DO NOT RUB-The cotton provides enough abrasion. Note: if it stings, it means your skin has abrasions or scratches on it-which means you may have washed your skin too roughly or a pimple has erupted).
2) Let the toner air dry a little; don't let it dry completely or your skin will feel taunt and dry.
3) PAT a dime-sized amount of aloe vera gel all over your face, especially around your eyes and lips. Keep patting gently until it is absorbed
4) PAT on a small (pea sized) amount of facial moisturizer. Use it mainly where you get dry skin, then lastly over your oily areas. Also dabble on your favorite wrinkle cream in the needed places. Be sure to use something that provides some SPF protection.
YOU WILL NEED:
TONER
COTTON BALL/ PADS
ALOE VERA GEL
FACIAL MOISTURIZER
ALOE VERA GEL
FACIAL MOISTURIZER
I prefer to use a natural toner as it does not contain alcohol or questionable ingredients. You don't want one that has a lot of *stuff* in it because this is going to be sitting on your skin until you wash it again. The link below is the best recipe I have ever used for a mask and a toner and I have tried a lot. Natural is the way to go if you can.
1) Apply toner gently and evenly to your face with a cotton ball/pad.
(DO NOT RUB-The cotton provides enough abrasion. Note: if it stings, it means your skin has abrasions or scratches on it-which means you may have washed your skin too roughly or a pimple has erupted).
2) Let the toner air dry a little; don't let it dry completely or your skin will feel taunt and dry.
3) PAT a dime-sized amount of aloe vera gel all over your face, especially around your eyes and lips. Keep patting gently until it is absorbed
4) PAT on a small (pea sized) amount of facial moisturizer. Use it mainly where you get dry skin, then lastly over your oily areas. Also dabble on your favorite wrinkle cream in the needed places. Be sure to use something that provides some SPF protection.
THE FACE BASICS: Step 1-Washing It
I have oily skin and it's sensitive to a lot of strange things. I also get acne and shine spots (ruins my make-up). Over the course of the different seasons my skin will have different problems-in the Winter my face is very dry, in the Spring/Fall it's like combination skin, and in the Summer it's oily. This method of washing your face will work for all skin types year-around.
YOU WILL NEED:
FACIAL CLEANSER
A TOWEL
A HOT/WET WASHCLOTH (optional to prep face)
I prefer to use a gentle cream cleanser because:
1) Doesn't dry out or irritate skin.
(DID YOU KNOW (DYK)? Oily skin is very dry because it lacks moisture=water)
2) Works for all other skin types (dry, sensitive, combination, and oily)
3) The oil in skin is resistant to water. You can wash your face but still have pores clogged with that thick waxy oil that causes pimples and blackheads which traps bacteria under your skin. The non-cream and non-oil soaps don't do so well of a job at removing oil during the wash without overdrying and irritating the skin.
(DYK) The oil on your face is actually good? It reduces the look of age and locks in moisture. If you agitate or off-balance your skin, you will produce more of it (not so much for dry skin types). That's why strong acne products can be bad for you-they fix the pimple but set your skin up to make more :(
WASHING THE FACE:
1) Soak a washcloth in very warm water (as hot as you can tolerate it). Squeeze out the excess water quickly and press the cloth to your face. (this will open your pores and soften the oils in your skin as well as killing bacteria in the pores.)
*You should not have water dripping from your face as you just want the heat and steam to prep your face for a deeper clean.
2) Apply the facial cleanser to face without diluting it with water.
3) Spread the product in circular motions.
*Mainly use your fingers to wash your face. If you use your palms be gentle because they are rougher than your fingertips. DO NOT SCRUB your face-this damages the skin which will cause it to be irritated (RED skin), cause your skin to blemish or promote acne (more places for bacteria to effect), and make you skin look older/worn (wrinkles and poor complexion tone).
4) PAT your face dry with your towel
(DO NOT RUB it dry for the same reasons you don't scrub it and because it remove too much moisture=water from your skin) Try not to use the same towel you dry your body with after bathing
*At this point you can use a toner or mask for a deeper clean (exfoliating/moisturizing/acne treating). Remember that your facial wash is for daily washing and your mask is for deep treatments or if you need to seriously clean and reset you face. I recommend you do it at least once a week. Toners help re-balance your skins acidity, moisture, and oil levels-DO NOT use a toner that contains alcohol. Make a day/hour your beauty time.*
YOU WILL NEED:
FACIAL CLEANSER
A TOWEL
A HOT/WET WASHCLOTH (optional to prep face)
I prefer to use a gentle cream cleanser because:
1) Doesn't dry out or irritate skin.
(DID YOU KNOW (DYK)? Oily skin is very dry because it lacks moisture=water)
2) Works for all other skin types (dry, sensitive, combination, and oily)
3) The oil in skin is resistant to water. You can wash your face but still have pores clogged with that thick waxy oil that causes pimples and blackheads which traps bacteria under your skin. The non-cream and non-oil soaps don't do so well of a job at removing oil during the wash without overdrying and irritating the skin.
(DYK) The oil on your face is actually good? It reduces the look of age and locks in moisture. If you agitate or off-balance your skin, you will produce more of it (not so much for dry skin types). That's why strong acne products can be bad for you-they fix the pimple but set your skin up to make more :(
WASHING THE FACE:
1)
*You should not have water dripping from your face as you just want the heat and steam to prep your face for a deeper clean.
2) Apply the facial cleanser to face without diluting it with water.
3) Spread the product in circular motions.
*Mainly use your fingers to wash your face. If you use your palms be gentle because they are rougher than your fingertips. DO NOT SCRUB your face-this damages the skin which will cause it to be irritated (RED skin), cause your skin to blemish or promote acne (more places for bacteria to effect), and make you skin look older/worn (wrinkles and poor complexion tone).
4) PAT your face dry with your towel
(DO NOT RUB it dry for the same reasons you don't scrub it and because it remove too much moisture=water from your skin) Try not to use the same towel you dry your body with after bathing
*At this point you can use a toner or mask for a deeper clean (exfoliating/moisturizing/acne treating). Remember that your facial wash is for daily washing and your mask is for deep treatments or if you need to seriously clean and reset you face. I recommend you do it at least once a week. Toners help re-balance your skins acidity, moisture, and oil levels-DO NOT use a toner that contains alcohol. Make a day/hour your beauty time.*
WHAT IS BEAUTY ANYWAY?
It doesn't matter how pretty or ugly you are on the outside-your inner beauty will make or break you. The most gorgeous nymph-like person can be the most hideous thing if they are shallow, cruel, pessimistic or insensitive. They would only be as good as a flame to a moth-attract them...then burn them). On the opposite end, someone who is disturbingly ugly who has depth, compassion, optimism or sensitivity can leave you marveling at a living oxymoron.
We all fit in there somewhere with good and bad traits on the outside and inside. But there is one thing we can change (without chemicals or plastic surgery) that will make the difference in whether we are beautiful or not. Throw away what the world says you are and just be you. Go back to when you were a small child, before people called you names or coo-ed at your adorable face. Remember that feeling? If you can't, look at nature. One of my favorite examples is the dog because their nature is similar to ours. They have personalities ranging from aggressive to passive, but naturally they have open eyes for learning, playing, living, being-without any known (as far as we know) knowledge of what is pretty and what is not. If you care to look farther, it is very much the same throughout nature. Be who you are naturally.
I recommend you read Don't Be That Girl, by Travis L. Stork and Leah Furman. I know it is a female related book, but think males should read it too. It points out a lot of things we do that make us less beautiful to ourselves and to others. The book helped me notice and get rid of the parts of me that were behaviors learned to cope with and fit into a negative environment. There is a section within it on friendship and how to be a good partner as well. In taking that advice I was able to become a better friend, person, and companion. (If anyone knows any good books that may be more suited for males, send me a recommendation!).
We all fit in there somewhere with good and bad traits on the outside and inside. But there is one thing we can change (without chemicals or plastic surgery) that will make the difference in whether we are beautiful or not. Throw away what the world says you are and just be you. Go back to when you were a small child, before people called you names or coo-ed at your adorable face. Remember that feeling? If you can't, look at nature. One of my favorite examples is the dog because their nature is similar to ours. They have personalities ranging from aggressive to passive, but naturally they have open eyes for learning, playing, living, being-without any known (as far as we know) knowledge of what is pretty and what is not. If you care to look farther, it is very much the same throughout nature. Be who you are naturally.
I recommend you read Don't Be That Girl, by Travis L. Stork and Leah Furman. I know it is a female related book, but think males should read it too. It points out a lot of things we do that make us less beautiful to ourselves and to others. The book helped me notice and get rid of the parts of me that were behaviors learned to cope with and fit into a negative environment. There is a section within it on friendship and how to be a good partner as well. In taking that advice I was able to become a better friend, person, and companion. (If anyone knows any good books that may be more suited for males, send me a recommendation!).
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