The SECRET to Great Make- up! :)

   Hi there lovelies! Do you want to know the secret to Great make-up? I'm sure you do! So here it is! 

credits to  http://johansson-coaching.com/2012/05/31/the-secret-to-happiness/  for this photo. :)

             The SECRET to really beautiful make up is HEALTHY SKIN! Yes! It really is the secret. To get the flawless look to any make up look to is have a good canvas, which is your skin. Truly, no amount of foundation or concealer can fake beautiful and flawless skin. So you might be asking how can we achieve healthy skin? I will be sharing with you my basic skin care routine. But remember not everything that I do or put on my skin might not work for you. I don't have perfect skin but I make sure to keep it as healthy as I can. :) 

SKIN CARE BASICS 101

Here are 5 simple steps to healthier skin:

Step 1: Cleanse

credit to eucerincream.org for this photo

           For this first step I recommend "Double" cleansing. Use a cleansing oil, cold cream or make up remover to remove all traces of make-up especially waterproof make up. Remember never to rub too hard or to tug the eye area as this will damage the delicate skin on this area.

             Next, wash your face using your favorite facial wash, rinsing with water is not enough. Remember that different skin types need a specific type of  cleanser. Try to stay away from bar soaps as they tend to dry the skin more. For Dry skin types it is better to use a creamy type of cleanser, while for Oily skin types it is better to use clear/clarifying cleansers. For sensitive skin, always make it a habit to read the product labels and make sure it states that it is specifically for sensitive skin. For acne prone skin, (though I specifically stated above to stay clear from bar soaps this is one exception), based on experience from patients, I recommend that you use the white variant of safeguard, don't apply the soap directly on your face make the soap foam on your hands first then use this to cleanse your face. Once you have found the cleanser that your skin responds to try to stick with it. :)

               I also find that using lukewarm water is best when cleansing the face.

Step 2: Exfoliate

             This is the step that most people neglect to do, but I find that this is very important. This will help remove dead skin cells and this also help in making your skin glow. So how should we exfoliate? You can take a soft wash cloth or a facial sponge (I find that Konjac sponges work really well), place a dallop of your favorite cleanser and then massage it onto your skin in a circular motion. Take your time and don't rush, avoid tugging your facial skin. If you don't like to use sponges or washcloths you can also use facial cleansers with beads or microscrubbers. But remember that exfoliation should only be done once a week, since too much exfoliation will cause redness and/or drying of the skin. for those with sensitive skin try to limit exfoliation to your T-zone.

Step 3: Tone

             Toners actually remove any remaining traces of debris or residue after cleansing. It also restores your skins pH. as with cleansers there are also specific toners for different skin types. Some toners also have herbal ingredients and these actually sooth and refresh the skin. Use a cotton pad/ quilt type cotton, dab a small amount of the toner and sweep in an upward motion all over the face and neck. 

Step 4: Moisturize/ Hydrate

credits to http://www.fulmasti.com/moisturizer-dry-skin/

                For me this is the most important step of all. Cleansing and exfoliating strip the face of its natural oils which help hydrate and protect the skin therefore restoring the moisture is very essential. Moisturizers are not only for Dry skin types but for all skin types, just try to look for one which suits your skin type.Applying the right type of moisturizer will help delay the signs of aging and will make your skin feel smoother and softer. Use your finger pads to apply the moisturizer, apply a generous amount and massage it all over your face in an upward circular motion and dont forget to apply moisturizer to your neck area and decollete.  Let it sit for about 10 minutes before applying make up. Avoid using too much moisturizer though as this can also clog your pores. 

                But the best way to moisturize or hydrate is to DRINK water! Drinking 8-10 glasses of water everyday is the best way to go. If you don't like to drink too much water because you find that it is too cumbersome to go to the loo due to too much drinking of water you can try to EAT water. How can we do this? Try to eat food which have a high water content such as cucumbers and watermelons. :) 

Step 5: Sunblock 

credits to  http://www.healthcare9.com/2012/08/anti-aging-101-skin-care-tips-for-women-in-their-20s/ 

                Too much sun exposure is the culprit of skin damage and premature wrinkles. Therefore it is imperative that we use sunscreen. It doesn't matter if you live in the tropics (like here in the Philippines) or if you live in a temperate country, we all need to protect our skin from the harmful effects of UV rays. You can apply sunscreen during the day when you are most exposed to the sun, at night time you can skip this step as too much sunscreen can also harm our skin. 

You may be asking what products do I use? well for now my HG skin care routine products are from Celeteque. I usually buy this travel sized set because I am always on the go. This set has a facial wash, a toner, and a moisturizer. Sometimes I switch my moisturizer to Olay, since it is light and also doesn't feel oily when I use it as a base under my make up and it also has sunscreen! :) For exfoliation I use Ponds flawless white naturals exfoliating facial foam.

credits to  http://bloggers.com/post/pondrsquos-flawless-white-naturals-gentle-exfoliating-facial-foam-7495276 

credits to  http://www.drugstore.com/olay-complete-all-day-uv-moisturizer-with-vitamins-e-and-b3-spf-15/qxp17073 

I hope that you have learned a lot from this my lovelies! Do you have other tips for healthier skin? Share them on the comment box below! :) Do you have questions regarding skin care? Post them below and I will try to answer them. :)  

*Disclaimer: I am not yet a dermatologist, I am only a Medical student as of the moment but I will try to answer your skin related questions to the best of my knowledge.:)