Sat Feb 25, 2006
FACE IT!
If you’re like me, it can be a challenge keeping your facial skin supple and radiant during the winter months. Following are a few of my personal favorite steps, tips and tools to keeping your face looking healthy and moisturized.
Step 1: Start by gathering your beauty arsenal and developing a routine. Start with cleansing basics.
Tip 1: Use proven cleansers which combat dirt, but don’t strip your skin of its natural protective oils and emollients.
Facial cleanser recommendations: A tried and true brand is Cetaphil. It is recommended by dermatologists and is available at your local pharmacy chains. I love Cetaphil’s Gentle Daily Facial Skin Cleanser and Cetaphil’s ‘Regular’ Daily Facial Cleanser. Both cleansers remove daily makeup, however if you tend to wear heavier makeup, I recommend using their regular daily facial cleanser. It’s designed to work on normal to oily skin, but works well on dry skin as well.
Step 2: Select a moisturizer which works overtime to keep you looking radiant.
Tip 2: Next, apply your moisturizer immediately after cleansing while your skin is a little damp— it helps seal in the moisture! Find a good moisturizer which you can use both day and night. I don’t know of many women who actually need one moisturizer for day and another for evening. Honestly, you often need just one! I think what’s most important is to adapt your moisturizers to the season.
Facial moisturizer recommendations: These are my faves! For when it’s really cold outside- I either use Cetaphil’s Daily Facial Moisturizer with SPF 15 or if I can manage to splurge, I’ll use Susan Ciminelli’s Special Reserve Cream— it’s pricey, but worth every penny and the scent is super yummy. You can’t find a more decadent facial moisturizing treat! When the weather is transitioning into spring, I love Lorac’s Oil Free Moisturizer— its unique formula is light, but works hard at replenishing your skin's vital moisture and is a wonderful primer for your foundation. For the spring and summer months, I adore Kate Somerville’s Quench— a delicious serum with a refreshingly innovative consistency designed to be soaked up by your skin and leave you glowing.
Step 3: Treat yourself to easy, at-home spa treatments.
Tip 3: For extra defense against dry skin, try incorporating occasional facial saunas and relaxing gel masks to the above regimens. The effects will be lasting and help gently cleanse away impurities. What’s the point of layering moisturizer on top of flakey, dead skin? Your skin is your canvas; it needs to be clean and supple for a naturally radiant complexion.
Spa treatments recommendations: I find that Homedics’ Facial Sauna provides a soothing steam mist which cleanses and refreshes. Susan Ciminelli’s Hydrating Gel Mask works well to hydrate and combat signs of fatigue and aging. I love both of these products because they work quickly to provide lasting results with little effort. Try doing these treatments regularly.
Step 4: Highlight, don’t mask!
Tip 4: It is not necessary to cover up your entire face with foundation, nor is it necessary for your coverage to be heavy. There are a lot light formulations today designed to even out your skin tone while providing some naturally looking color.
Color cosmetic recommendations: I love Stila’s Sheer Color Tinted Moisturizer with SPF 15. This is a goof proof way of adding a warm glow and natural coverage while providing an extra veil of moister to your face. If you have light to medium skin coloring, try Sheer Color in Dark to give your skin a little tanned effect. Another easy trick for quick color is to use POP Beauty’s Cheeky Cake in Beach Beauti—a fun tin containing dual color— a versatile peachy blush and a soft bronzer. These products travel well…a bonus for the girl on the move!
If you need help locating these products or could use further suggestions, please contact Maritza De La Guardia at Maritza or visit her online at www.beautygram.com
Article by Maritza De La Guardia of beautygram.com.
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