Proper Skin Care
I’ve always been very self-conscious of my skin- the color; texture; clarity; evenness and overall appearance of it. I used to be a tomboy so I acquired a lot of “war wounds” which have left me quite a few scars to prove it. From scrapes to burns to rough and dark elbows and knees- I decided to take charge and take care of my skin once I became “a girl.” 
I get a nice amount of compliments on my skin and its overall clear complexion. While I still have a ways to go and skin care is an ongoing process, I want to share some tips to proper skin care that I’ve picked up along the way. I’m no genius; I read plenty of magazines and taken plenty risks on acquiring “pretty skin.”
Tip 1- Keep it simple: Cocoa butter is your friend, Shea butter is Cocoa butters’ best friend; get acquainted!
What it does- Softens rough patches on your skin while evening out skin tone. They’re also good to fade stretch marks.
Tip 2- Learn your skin type (dry, oily, combination, sensitive) and use products that cater to it.
What it does- Provides the care you need to get the skin you want.
Tip 3- Exfoliate. Get a shower gel that has exfoliating beads in it, and if your face can handle it do the same for it as well.
What it does- Removes dead and rough skin and brings forth softer and brighter skin that’ll glow.
Tip 4- Use sunscreen EVERY time you step out! (A lotion or moisturizer that has an SPF of at least 15 would also do the trick).
What it does- Protects your skin from harmful sunrays, keeps skin tone even and also serves an anti-aging regime. Sunscreen does a number of things for your skin, learn about the benefits and take heed.
Tip 5- Wash your face with more than water! Use cleansing products that tailor to whatever problem you are battling with- blackheads, pimples, acne, clogged pores; the list can go on and on.
What it does- by using cleansing products it fights the problem for you and couples well with the next tip…P.S. Don’t go to sleep with a face full of makeup on, that’s a no-no!
Tip 6- Eat right. What you put in is what you get out. Eat fried foods all day everyday and your pores will be clogged with grease. Drink plenty of water and the impurities of your skin will be flushed out creating clearer skin.
What it does- Not only will eating right help you to maintain a healthy lifestyle, it is like servicing an engine. You have to take care of your body for it to run right. Mistreat your body and skin and you’ll never get the results you want.
Tip 7- Ambi. Enough said. Like Cocoa & Shea butter, it is an evener. But Ambi has specialized products suited for brightening dark spots and evening skin tone. They have products for face and body.
What it does- Evens out skin tone and brightens skin. If used regularly and properly it will create FAST results.
Bonus Tip- Don’t be picky! Please, Please, PLEASE DO NOT PICK AT YOUR SKIN. I know it’s a nervous habit at times or you “just can’t help it,” but all it’s going to do is leave a scar and make the problem bigger. Trust me, I’d rather you sit on your hands than to pick at your skin! J
These are just little tips that I’ve picked up on my journey to getting and keeping my clear, glowing, and even skin. Check out http://www.free-beauty-tips.com/skincare.html for a plethora of blogs on beauty & skincare. Feel free to share some tips you may have as well!
Good luck & Be Blessed
Gossiper
4 comments
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Another tip, that I live by: Ever since the “Scar Improvement” products came out, i.e. Mederma, ScarZone, etc, I have used these religiously (no pun intended). Reason: They improve skin by shrinking and improving the appearance of scars, well a wrinkle can fall into the same category as a scar. Even though I am not old enough for wrinkles yet, how I take care of my skin now will determine how well I age. It has been proven that these creams or oils can reduce the appearance of wrinkles, tighten skin and help improve elasticity.
I always had oily skin, which led to enlarged pores. I began using ScarZone about 2 years ago and after about 6 months, my pores had dramatically reduced. I used ScarZone for about 2 years, until I noticed my skin had become immune. I researched other scar creams and now I am using Bio Oil.
In only about a month of use I see a huge difference in my complexion and my pores are being reduced even future. I will use Bio Oil until immunity, then move on to the next product.
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Great advice! One of the tips I was debating on inputting and forgot about is using pre-anti-aging products. Starting off early is a good idea!
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Good tips!!! I was recently introduced to Ambi’s moisterizer with SPF and I really like it. Also I am using a night anti aging product and over all I like the results thus far. I have been using both for about a month now.
Like Cosmo…Chic said – I think my skin become immune at some point too…every year or so I have to switch up and I too have oily skin.
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Yes, you do get “immune” to products after so long. Your body will build resistance to it after so long. Same goes for hair, body, and face. So after a year switch up products but keep it similar to what you were using before. For instance, I have sensitive skin so I always stick to Neutrogena. They have different products that tends to my problem areas. I tried to switch to Biore’ (because it’s fancy) but that did more damage than anything I’ve ever tried before!
My new battle to conquer is blackheads on my nose, so I am going to try those nose strip-things, wish me luck!