FACIAL OILS

Contrary to popular belief facial oils can benefit any type of skin - even oily skin.

The reason why many women are reluctant to use facial oils is because nobody likes to have greasy oily skin but this is not the case when using facial oils.

As the facial oils are rapidly absorbed into the skin the surface is not left greasy and oily.

With the active ingredients that are in these oils there are many benefits that can be had from using them.

Many of the natural health clinics will use and supply these facial oils and there is nothing quite like having a facial massage from somebody using good-quality facial oil.

There are different types of facial oils for the various skin types and these are all designed to address different problems.

Some people combine these facial oils with aromatherapy.

Most of these face treatment oils use 100% pure plant extracts.
Some of the common essential oils that are used include sandalwood, cardamom, lavender, blue orchid, geranium, lotus extract, and more.

These oils are used to help restore and comfort the skin, while reducing reddening and irritation.

Other oils such as hazelnut help prevent moisture loss and are excellent for anti aging.

Oils are used for normalizing the skin and revitalizing and toning the epidermis.

The best time to use these face treatment oils is at night as an alternative to night cream.

After you have thoroughly cleansed and toned your face you will apply the oil to your face and neck while it is still damp.

Avoid excess oil around the eye area.
Once applied, you can gently remove any excess oil with a soft tissue or face cloth.

It is particularly beneficial to use oils on the forehead, nose and chin.
Massage the oil gently into these areas and also on your cheeks.

If you've never used face oils before you should try as you might be surprised how well you like it.

FACE MASK

Face masks are another treatment used for cleansing and rejuvenating the skin.
There are various types and the most common of these are the clay or mud masks, epidermal treatment masks, non-hardening masks and peel-off masks.

We will look briefly at each type of mask starting with clay or mud masks.
Mud masks are used as a way to remove impurities from the skin including flaking skin, dead skin cells and even excess oil.
While these are only temporary measures they do go someway to cleansing the skin and that can only be good for you.

The mud is applied to the skin and allowed to harden for between 15 and 45 minutes.
After this the mask is washed from the skin along with the impurities.
Depending on the type of mask that you purchase they can have added ingredients that will assist with the cleansing process.

Epidermal treatment masks are somewhat more convenient and for many people more effective.
They consist of sheets that are applied to the skin.
These sheets have ingredients infused in them that assist in face cleansing. These ingredients often include moisturizers, antioxidants and alpha hydroxy acids.
These are good for people who have sensitive skin as they can deliver the required cleansing properties with less chance of irritation.
They are excellent for the removal of blackheads where strips are placed on the affected area and left to react with the dirt and sebum.
When the strip has done its job and is removed from the skin the grime will be removed with the strip.

Non-hardening masks are applied to the area to be cleaned and left for a few minutes before being removed with a cloth along with any impurities.
Non-hardening masks are ideal for people with sensitive skin and can be used more often than the other types of masks.

The final mask in this group is the peel-off mask.
These masks are also very convenient as they come in a tube or a bottle as a gel and can be spread over the skin and once again left for a short while until they dry thereby forming a skin.

This 'skin' is then peeled off the face along with the impurities that were in the pores of the face.
There are various strengths of peel-off masks and while there are many that can be used on most skin types, people with sensitive skin need to test first to see whether a particular brand might be too intense.

FACE CLEANSING TIPS

If you wear makeup often you should get into a good routine of cleansing, toning, and moisturizing your skin every evening.

By getting into a good routine of cleansing you help to hold back the aging clock by maintaining your skin in better condition.

Cleansing will remove all the old makeup that has been on your face throughout the day.
It would also clear away the accumulation of grease and grime that is collected on your face through the day from your working conditions and even from your hands as many people tend to touch the face often throughout the day.

Pull your hair back from your face to ensure that you clean all of the skin right to your hairline.

When cleaning off mascara from around the eyes, be very careful not to stretch the skin.
When working around the eyes use cotton balls or cotton buds to remove the mascara and eye shadow using a quality cleansing lotion.
This is one area that you have to be particularly careful as the skin is most delicate around the eyes.

Over the rest of your face you can apply the cleansing lotion using your hands.
Massage the cleansing cream into the skin particularly those areas where you are prone to blackheads and other skin blemishes are.

By massaging the cleansing cream into the skin it will help to ensure that any buildup of makeup grease and grime will be removed from the pores of the skin and reduce the possibility of further skin problems such as acne.

Once you have thoroughly applied the cleansing cream all over your face you can gently remove it with a tissue or cotton ball in preparation for toning.

Even though you have used a cleansing cream at night it is always wise to get into the habit of washing your face first thing in the morning.
This will ensure that you are starting with a clean foundation in the morning before applying your makeup.