Looking after your skin is one of the most important routines that should be apart of your day, every day.

Everyone should have a basic skincare routine in place.

A basic skincare routine consists of:

• Cleanser
• Toner
• Moisturizer

Oil is not the enemy! We all need some oil on our skin to protect our skin from the environment, by using soap on your skin as a cleanser you might as well be sending a soldier into battle without a gun. If you like that squeaky clean feeling after cleansing that is not a good thing. When your skin feels like that it means that you have removed too much oil, when you remove too much oil from your skin your skin will produce more oil to replace what has been removed. This can cause breakouts and a shiny complexion; also it doesn’t give your skin a way to defend itself.



When cleansing your skin you should use your fingers as your applicator. If you use a brush, sponge or a loofah, they could irritate your skin and they could also over stimulate your skin causing more oil to produce or make your skin dryer.

Your skin is a very delicate organ and I think that we tend to forget how delicate it is, using your fingers is the most delicate way to cleanse your skin. Move your fingers in small circular motions on your face and neck, rinse with luke warm water. Cleanse your skin morning and night.

After you have cleansed your skin you should follow up with a toner. Using an alcohol free toner is the best way to remove any dirt that may be left after cleansing. You see a cleanser may not be able to remove everything deep down in the pores like a toner.

By applying a toner on a cotton pad and swiping the cotton pad over your face, you should see some dirt appear after doing this step. It is best to purchase an alcohol free toner because alcohol will strip your skin of oil and you end up with the problem that I was talking about previously. The only time someone should use a toner with alcohol is if you have extremely oily acne prone skin.

When looking for a moisturizer for your routine all you need is a basic moisturizer that is water based, light is texture and has a sunscreen of at least 15 in it for the daytime. By having a sunscreen in your daytime moisturizer, you will be protecting your skin from the harmful effects of the sun’s UVA and UVB rays. The difference between UVA and UVB rays are:

UVA - are the rays that cause skin aging and wrinkling and contribute to skin cancer. The UVA rays pass through the ozone layer, which is why we are exposed to them all year round no matter what the weather is. These rays penetrate the dermis area of the skin which is located under the epidermis which is the outer layer of the skin. The Dermis contains the collagen and elastin which are like the metal coils in a mattress they keep everything firm and tight. When UVA rays penetrate the dermis the collagen and elastin takes a hit and slowly will begin to show sagging and loss of firmness in the skin. UVA rays are also the rays that are used in sun tanning beds. No tan is a healthy tan so it is very important that you where a moisturizer with a sunscreen of at least SPF 15 in it everyday.

UVB - these are the rays that cause sunburns, cataract and skin cancer. Melanoma is the most dangerous form of skin cancer, it is thought to be associated with severe UVB sunburns that occur before the age of 20. Most UVB rays are absorbed by the ozone layer but still enough of them pass through to cause serious damage. It is very important if you are out in the sun to where a sunblock of at least SPF 15. UVB rays cause hyper pigmentation and sunspots on the skin.

Hyper pigmentation it is usually a harmless condition where the skin becomes darker in colour the the normal surrounding skin. This darkening occurs when an excess of melanin, the brown pigment that produces normal skin colour, forms deposits in the skin. Hyper pigmentation can affect the skin colour of people of any race.

A good way to get started is to purchase a skincare kit that contains all of your basic products in one kit. This way you can try these products and they are all by the same company. When you start to mix and match products from different companies you will not be receiving all of the benefits that these products have to offer. Mixing and matching can also cause breakouts.

A great starter skincare kit to purchase is the B. Kamins Starter Kit normal/combination skin, which is available at The SkinStore.com .

The B. Kamins Starter Kit contains:

• Vegetable Skin Cleanser (2fl.oz/ 60ml)
• Hydrogen-Ion Moisturizing Toner- Alcohol Free (2 fl.oz/ 60ml)
• Day Lotion SPF 15 (0.5 oz/ 15g)
• Diatomamus Earth Masque ( 0.5 oz/ 15g)

The B. Kamins Starter Kit is a great value at $50.00, you get to try the whole line together for the best results.

Your skin will start to glow with youthful vitality when you start to incorporate a good skincare routine into your day. It will only take a couple of minutes a day to use these products. When you feel comfortable with your routine you can add a night cream, and an eye cream.

For night time you want to use a night cream which is rich in antioxidants to help aid your skin in repairing itself from the damage of free radicals (UV rays, pollution, cigarette smoke) of which our skin is around during the day. Night creams are particularly beneficial for women past the age of 30, whose skin is generally drier and less able to fight damaging free radicals. Try to choose a night cream that is hypoallergenic, and noncomedogenic ( meaning it will not clog your pores). You want a cream which is easily absorbed into the skin, apply an even thin layer and you will wake up with refreshed, dewy skin in the morning.

A night cream that I recommend is the BABOR Pure Night Cream which is available at SkinStore.com. BABOR Pure Night Cream is a rich, clarifying night cream. Its luxurious texture is easy to apply and will bathe your skin in moisture. It lifts surface impurities and regulates the skin, while soothing redness and diminishing irritations.

Selina