Facial Steps - How to Do a Home Facial For Dry, Normal and Oily Skin

Knowing how to do a home facial using your favorite homemade facial recipes is a brilliant way of giving your skin a quick pick-me-up, to exercise it by activating circulation and for bringing nutrients and oxygen to the surface. You can do a home facial using homemade face masks or you can do a steam facial. Nearly all face masks contain a high percentage of water; the rapid evaporation that follows application causes them to be cooling, soothing and contracting. Doing a home facial is an excellent way to pamper yourself, relax, and improve your complexion.

Follow these professional steps to do a home facial, it takes about half an hour.

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Step 1 Smooth your hair away from your face and neck, tie or clip it back out of the way.

Facial Steps - How to Do a Home Facial For Dry, Normal and Oily Skin

Step 2 Apply a cleanser using skin contouring motions (see below):

Neck: use long alternating strokes from your collar bone to jaw line.
Cheeks: from the centre line, smooth upward and outward from your chin to your ears, nose to temples; stroke your nose bridge downwards and the sides outwards.
Forehead: stroke upward, in high arcs to your hairline.
Eyes: using one tip, finger pat, starting in the centre between your eyes, making a semi-circle going outward both above and below your eyes.

Step 3 Tissue or rinse off depending on cleanser.

Step 4 With a cotton wool pad, apply your toner to remove last traces of the cleanser.

Step 5 Dot a light moisturizer on your forehead, cheeks and chin; blend in.

Step 6 Rinse with clear lukewarm water.

Step 7 Apply a mask all over your face and throat; leave a free circle around your tender eye area.

Step 8 Cover your eyes with cotton wool pads soaked in milk or a non-alcoholic freshener. Leave the mask on and relax lying down for 20 minutes.

Step 9 After 20 minutes remove all traces of the mask, blot your face and throat with a towel; finish off with a thin film of moisturizer.

Homemade Facial Recipes

You can use the following natural homemade facial recipes when do a home facial; leave them on for a minimum of 20 minutes, and then thoroughly rinse off with clean lukewarm water.

Crushed strawberries: use them alone or mixed with oatmeal.
Ripened pears: give an astringent action to oily skin.
Cabbage leaves: apply the juice from a few green cabbage leaves.
Cucumber mask: grind or mash enough to cover your face; this is refreshing.
Honey mask: 2 tablespoons of honey and ½ teaspoon of lemon juice or cider vinegar.
Brewers' yeast facial: 1 teaspoon of powdered yeast and 2 teaspoons of warm water; adjust consistency so it spreads like a paste.
The beaten white of an egg - with the optional addition of ¼ teaspoon of lemon juice or cider vinegar; good for oily or balanced skin.
Another version of an egg-white facial is to beat it with a tablespoon of skimmed milk.
Mix an egg yolk, a few drops of cider vinegar and a little vegetable oil; good for dry skin.

Steam Facial

You will find giving yourself a steam facial is stimulating. Steam encourages the pores to push out dirt and impurities; it promotes perspiration and stimulates circulation.

If you have sensitive skin or broken veins do not be tempted to do a home facial without seeking advice from a professional first.

Steaming with herb infusions is most beneficial. Pour boiling water over herbs in a bowl; make a towel into a head tent and steam your face over the bowl for 10 minutes. Blot your skin dry, tone, then moisturize.

The following herbs cans be used individually when you do a home facial or combined for your homemade steam facial:

For cleansing, soothing: camomile, lady's mantle, nettle, rosemary, thyme.
For tightening: peppermint, elderflower, tincture of benzoin, gum arabic.
For drying: yarrow.
For healing: leek, comfrey, fennel.

When the mask is taken off, you will notice the blood vessels have expanded and your skin looks rosier; fluid from the enlarged blood vessels plumps up the inner layer, smoothing the skin and compressing the pores.

There will be a definite improvement in the appearance of your skin, and although this 'mask effect' is temporary, the skin is exercised and stimulated.

Experiment with different facial masks to find which suits your skin the best.

Be warned though; don't do a home facial using a mask you haven't tried just before a major event such as your wedding or an important date. The action of the mask will bring all the impurities in your skin to the surface. This could mean you will have a mild breakout for a few days.

If you have oily skin you need to use a mask twice a week, if you have dry or normal skin, you only need to do a home facial once a week.

Facial Steps - How to Do a Home Facial For Dry, Normal and Oily Skin

To hydrate your skin for a more youthful, firmer appearance follow these 5 simple steps to kick-start your anti aging skin care program for dramatic results...

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Foundation Makeup - Should You Use Liquid or Powder?

Foundation makeup is the key to whether your makeup will look good or bad. The application of a foundation will help to smooth out your skin tone, conceal blemishes and give you a more healthy glow. Applying makeup without a foundation base can actually enhance unsightly skin problems, rather than conceal them. But before you head out to the store, here are some basic rules that should be followed when making your product selection.

How Do I Choose A Foundation Makeup Base?

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First, you need to select the correct color for your skin tone. Often times, people choose foundations that are either too light - making them look pale and washed out - or too dark - which often leaves a line of makeup between the jaw and neck. Generally, you will look like you're wearing a mask. The foundation color that you choose must blend in with your natural skin tone.

Foundation Makeup - Should You Use Liquid or Powder?

Also keep in mind that your skin tone color will change with the seasons. In the summer, you will most likely need a slightly darker foundation color, as your skin will tan somewhat (even if you don't purposely suntan - you still need to go outside sometimes.) In the winter your skin will lighten again back to its original tone and you should use your natural base color foundation makeup.

Deciding Between Liquid and Powder Foundations

The next decision is to determine whether you would prefer powder foundation or liquid foundation makeup. This tends to be more personal choice, although there are pros and cons to both types.

Most women seem to prefer the liquid foundation base. It appears to be quicker and much easier to apply. As well, once blended into the skin, liquid foundation makeup appears more natural and lighter, giving the skin a smooth, even appearance. However, how it is applied can also make a difference. Applying too much will cause streaks and spots that look "heavier" then others on your skin. Using a makeup sponge rather than using a fingers can help a lot with creating a smooth, even appearance. Apply a small amount of liquid foundation at a time and blend in carefully.

Another advantage of a liquid foundation is that it absorbs into the skin rather than sitting on top of it, so you get a more natural skin tone appearance. It also comes in a variety of bases to suit women with dry skin, normal skin, oily skin, combination skin, and sensitive skin types.

Powder foundations are a less popular choice, but can work just as well as liquid foundation makeup. It's easy to apply and there is less blending involved. They are also great for people that have very oily skin, as the powder will soak up the oil and prevent a greasy appearance. You can also carry a compact powder case with you on days when you need to do a slight touch up to your makeup or on days that are hot and humid, to rid your face of shine.

A slight problem with powders, however, is that they can look like they are caked on your face if applied to heavily or after a couple of hours in warm weather. They also tend to rub off on clothes easier since the powder sits on top of your skin.

Another Choice: Liquid-Powder Foundations

Liquid-powder foundation combinations are another choice that is gaining in popularity. The foundation makeup comes in a compact, much like powder bases, but contains a somewhat creamy mixture. Application of this foundation gives a smooth appearance, like a liquid, with the absorption benefits of a powder. However, you have to be careful when applying this type of foundation, since a heavy hand will give you a caked appearance. Like liquids, the key is to apply it lightly and blend well. This combination is not the best for people with dry skin as it will also give you a patchy skin appearance. Choose this type of product if you have normal to oily skin.

If this is the first time you are going to buy a foundation, you should visit a make-up counter that allows you to try out the various products or seek out a professional make-up artist to help you with your selection. For those that have problem skin, such as severe acne breakouts, you should visit a dermatologist first. They can help you with making a wiser choice on the type of foundation makeup would work best, plus provide you with other skin care options to help clear up underlying problems.

Remember, the best makeup techniques start with a good foundation that is appropriate for your skin type and skin tone. Be smart and take the time to research what is out there before spending money on any product. You'll be happy you did.

Foundation Makeup - Should You Use Liquid or Powder?

(c) Rose Smith, owner of Wedding Themes and More has been helping couples plan theme weddings for nearly a decade. Get great tips, advice and ideas on how to plan a fabulous themed wedding celebration at http://www.wedthemes.com

7 Beauty Tips For Acne Prone Skin

Acne. Boy do I hate it. Those pimples popping up all over my face back in my teenaged years. Even now, I do get acne outbreaks when I am stressed, or use the wrong skin care product. I've been to many doctors who are able to clear my acne, until the next outbreak.

Part of the reason is oily skin. Greasy skin that traps dirt and skin debris clogging up pores make your skin pores an excellent breeding place for bacteria. The bacteria multiplies and voila. You have acne.

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All is not lost. If you have oily skin that is prone to acne, here are 7 beauty tips to help keep the pimples away.

7 Beauty Tips For Acne Prone Skin

1. Keep your HANDS off your face.

You hands, after touching so many things, opening the door, picking up a bag, things we do everyday, are covered with bacteria. The last thing you want is to put that bacteria on your face. Touch your face often with your hands, or worse still, pick those pimples with your fingers, and you will see the pimples multiply.

2. Keep your HAIR off your face.

If you have oily skin, you probably have oily hair. Oily hair brushing against your face adds to the oil. Oil, sweat and skin debris are a great way to clog the pores in your skin, leading to more pimples. If you notice pimples appearing on your forehead, or your cheeks and chin, typically where your hair might brush against, your hair could be the culprit. Wear a hairband, use hair clips to keep your hair off your face, tie it into a pony tail, or get a hair cut.

3. Wash your face 3 times a day with a good acne cleanser.

I got that tip from a doctor. I washed my face when I woke up, at lunch time and at bedtime with a cleanser that is meant for skin that has acne. My skin cleared when I stuck to the routine and used only skin care products meant for skin with acne. A bar of soap meant for washing your face does the trick just as well.

4. Stick to acne skin care

Every time I stray from that point, I end up with a major acne outbreak. Always. Everytime I see my pals with exceptionally radiant skin, I want to use whatever they use. I would switch to richer, anti aging skin care as a preventive measure, worried about wrinkles appearing when I get older. That backfires every time. I end up with more pimples. Stick to good acne skin care products [http://www.everythingbeauty.info/acne.htm].

5. Relax

Did you notice how pimples tend to appear more before a stressful event. Exams. A big date. A presentation. Stress wreaks havoc on your skin. Ok, pimples can also pop up due to hormonal imbalances, like just before your period.

6. Sleep

Your skin heals itself when you sleep. Your entire body heals itself in your sleep. A night without sleep may lead to more pimples. Make it a habit to leave your worries behind and get a good night's sleep. Work out more earlier in the day. Get some exercise before evening. It helps.

7. Stay away from pressed powder compact.

Yup. You heard me right. I got this tip from a friend. Her friend used a pressed powder compact to hide her acne. Instead, the more she used it the worse it got. Just think. By mid day, your skin gets oily. You take out the powder compact, and use that powder puff to apply pressed powder on your face. Now, your face would already have dirt, bacteria and oil on it. Pat your face with that powder puff and now that puff picks up the dirt, bacteria and oil. You put it back into the compact. The bacteria happily breeds in there. Then you take out the compact again and pat more powder, mixed with oil, dirt and bacteria onto your face, picking up more gunk, putting in more gunk into your compact. The cycle goes on. A better bet would be to use blotting paper to blot off the excess oil instead. Then you can throw the paper away after use. Use the blotting paper meant for your face like the ones found at [http://www.everythingbeauty.info/blotting%20paper.htm]

About this powder puff thing, make it a point to wash your powder puff and all your make up brushes regularly, with soap and water. Then dry them completely before you keep them. Guess that would make it an 8th tip right?

Oily, acne prone skin needs a lot of care. The bright side is that oily skin is slower to show signs of aging than dry skin. Take care of your skin and you'll probably look younger than your peers as the decades go by.

7 Beauty Tips For Acne Prone Skin

You can find more information about how to deal with acne at acne remedies and skin care for teens [http://www.sisadvice.com/teenskinwoes.html]. The writer is the webmaster of http://www.sisadvice.com

The Best Cleanser and Face Wash For Oily Skin

The best cleanser and face wash for oily skin helps reduce oil production that give you skin that "shiny" look, while improving tone and reducing pore size.

What are the Causes?

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Chronic or acute oiliness is often the result of over-active sebaceous glands.  Sebaceous glands secrete sebum (oil) that helps hydrate, moisturize, and nourish the skin and hair.  On the face sebaceous glands are most concentrated on the forehead, nose, chin and cheeks.  This encompasses the "triangle" area referred to many dermatologists.

The Best Cleanser and Face Wash For Oily Skin

Warm weather, changes in barometric pressure, and high relative humidity stimulate oils and increases the chance of an overly oily complexion.  Physical exertion, strenuous exercise and hot working or home environments can exacerbate the problem.  And the problem can be extensive.

Excess oil production can trap dirt and bacteria that lead to enlarged pores, inflammation, and redness.  A primary contributor to acne is the infection that develops when dead skin cells, yeast, and oil combine.  Irritation, redness, and mores severe problems such as psoriasis, eczema and cracking can occur.

Take the Shine Away

The best products - face cleansers and washes - for cleaning an oily complexion are formulated with Zinc PCA and gentle surfactants that clean trapped oils and dirt from pores, while leaving dermal layers hydrated.  The trick is not necessarily regulation, but improving the health of your skin and avoiding drying.  While dryness temporarily makes us feel like we've licked the complexion problem, excessive drying and lost moisture is not good.

The best washes use Hyaluronic Acid to retain moisture along with DMAE, Green tea and Panthenol to soothe, protect from cell damage from oxidization and to help shrink pores.  Used in combination you get effective control of excessive secretions and improved dermal health - providing long-term control for a health, clean complexion.

The Best Cleanser and Face Wash For Oily Skin

Visit SkinEnergizer online for the best Oily Face wash for a clean, clear complexion.

Find advice, tips and recommendations for regulating oil, cleaning bacteria, and avoiding acne, inflammation and eczema. Zinc PCA products regulate secretions, while providing vital hydration. For more severe or acute oily complexion, use an advanced-formula Oily Face Toner.

Oily Skin Care Tips - Get Rid Of Those Pimples And Greasy Spots On Your Face Forever

Oily skin is not a disease, its just a skin texture that makes you uncomfortable from which you want to get rid of. Due to lack of proper guidance and information on oily skin care available, it has turned into one of the major skin problems resulting into pimples, acne, blackheads and many more.

Several factors are said to be responsible for the aggravation of an oily skin:

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CAUSES OF AN OILY SKIN

Oily Skin Care Tips - Get Rid Of Those Pimples And Greasy Spots On Your Face Forever

1. Heredity is quite responsible for an oily skin, but so do hormones. Pregnant women sometimes notice an increase in skin oil with the changes in hormonal activity. So do women going for birth control pills.

2. Stress can also lead in the overdrive of the oil glands.

3. The wrong cosmetics can easily aggravate an otherwise mild case of oily skin.

Some of these causes are within your ability to control, but others you will have to learn to live with.

In most of the cases, oily skin can be treated at home. But sometimes, the situation demands more than just a home remedy. You need to call for a doctor if you develop sever acne or notice notice any sudden change in your skin. Otherwise, go for these tips and try them at home:

TIPS ON OILY SKIN CARE

1. Keep your skin absolutely clean - You might be quite aware of the fact, that oilier the skin, the dirtier it looks and feels. And to get rid of this, keep your skin clean by washing it at least twice a day.

Generally, some doctors recommend you to use detergent-type soaps on your face. As a substitute to it, you can add 1-2 drops of dish washing detergent to your regular soap.

While some doctors condemn the use of detergent-type soaps as they are too harsh for your oily facial skin. Instead they recommend glycerin soaps to be used to clean your face twice a day.

If using a detergent soap irritates your facial skin then try the glycerin soap,easily available over the counter.

2. Give Aloe-Vera a Try - This wonder plant of the household is the best at absorbing skin oils. Slice open a leaf and smear the gel on your face 3 times a day. Let it dry. Or you can also keep a small amount of gel in the refrigerator during the summers for a refreshing face-lift.

3. Wipe with Astringents - Wipe the oily spots on your face by rubbing alcohol or a combination of alcohol and acetone that helps degrease your oily skin. Many drugstores even sell pre-moistened, individually wrapped alcohol wipes that are really portable, you can carry them in your purse for quick touch-ups all day long.

4. Carry Tissue papers with you - Paper facial tissues are the best substitute of astringents as they help soak up excess oils in a pinch. Get those special oil-absorbing tissues from a cosmetic counter that are very in removing excessive oils between cleansings.

5. Rinse your face with cold water - Simply splashing your face with cold water and blotting it dry a couple of times a day is equivalent to applying chemicals to your skin. These cold water rinses remove excessive oils from your face.

6. Say NO to moisturizers - Do not ever go after those tempting advertisements compelling you to buy facial moisturizers for oily skin. These are the fatal temptations taking you to disastrous skin. Instead apply a sunscreen on your face before facing the sun or going outdoors. And yes, do not forget to check the labels for products especially designed for oily skin.

7. Make your own scrub - Make a paste of a small amount of ground almonds with honey and apply as a facial scrub for removing oils and dead skin cells. Now gently massage this paste on your face with a hot washcloth. Finally, rinse with cold water.

Another scrub from oatmeal mixed with aloe vera can prove to be very beneficial for you. Rub gently on your skin and leave on for 15 minutes, Then rinse thoroughly. And if suffering from acne on your face, then you should probably skip the scrub, as it can aggravate your already-irritated skin.

8. Apply Masques on your oily face - Masques prove to be very beneficial in reducing the oiliness. Either Clay masques or you can mix Fuller's Earth (easily available) with a little water and make a paste. Apply this paste to the face and leave on for about 20 minutes and then rinse off.

9. Go for water-based cosmetics only - Try to make your skin breathe by living without make-up, especially foundation. Using make-up or foundation that are oil-based blocks the pores of your skin thereby resulting in blemishes. And if necessary, then use water-based make-up only, especially spot concealers rather than coating your entire face. In general, prefer stick with powder or gel blushers, and avoid cream foundations as much as possible.

10. Tie up your hair properly - Keep your hair away from your face as oily hair accompanies an oily skin.

11. Do not touch your facial skin - Avoid touching your face throughout the day as your hands deliver excessive oils and dirt.

12. Choose a powder for you - For that extra shine-free protection, use simple products for your oily face such as Johnsons Baby Powder. This makes a superb face powder when fluffed lightly over your makeup.

13. Splash on the hot suds - Hot water is a great solvent. So, warm water should be used to wash an oily face and that with plenty of soap. Hot water plus soap dissolves skin oil better than cold water and soap.

So, what say now! You are just a few clicks away from getting a new fresh and non-oily skin! Go ahead and check out for the home remedies for oily skin care at my health blog.

Oily Skin Care Tips - Get Rid Of Those Pimples And Greasy Spots On Your Face Forever

Navneet Brar loves to share the natural home remedies for oily skin care through his articles. For much more reliable information on skin-care and health related problems, visit his website www.top54u.com.