Most people know how to treat their skin, hair and nails. But "knowing"
in the beauty world is often a practice in misinformation or overly
general advice. That is, we may know what to do, but we don't know how
to do it. Or how to do it properly. It's time to finally know what you
"know," with real secrets and actual truths about beauty maintenance.
From skin irritants to mani-pedi prep to getting the most out of your
hair, these are beauty secrets that every woman should know.
SECRET: Your Skin Cleanser Is Making Things Worse (Maybe)
Cleansing can
irritate even healthy skin, never mind sensitive or “problem” skin, and
many cleansers are guilty. How then should you best cleanse without
further irritation? The solution, regardless of skin type, is to look
for a gentle cleanser that dissolves dirt and excess oil without leaving
the skin feeling tight or tingly — nothing with detergents, alcohols,
fragrances, irritants or ingredients that block pores. Think that means
going natural? No. Among the list of irritants are lemon, mint, cinnamon
and essential oils.
Stop Avoiding Exfoliation; Start Glowing
How do some
women achieve that enviable perfect, “glowing” skin? Genetics plays a
part, to be sure. But even good genes need help. It comes in the form of
exfoliation. Exfoliating your skin allows skin-care serums and creams
to perform better through improved penetration. Brightened skin – that
“glow” – is the immediate benefit. Word to the wise: Those with active
acne and/or rosacea should only exfoliate with salicylic acid, pending
approval from their dermatologist.
Want Sweet Skin? Try a Sweet Scrub.
Regular
facials are essential to maintaining healthy skin – and at-home facials
can work just as well as pricey spa treatments. There a number of ways
to get pro treatment at home, but look first to sugar, one of nature’s
great skin-sloughing agents. Applying a sugar scrub in gentle circular
motions, followed by a lukewarm wash and pat-dry, can do wonders for
your skin. Follow with a light steam by boiling a pot water, removing it
from the stove and standing over it for a few minutes.
The Body Scrub You Haven't Tried
Faces often
get preferential scrub treatment, while our poor bodies are neglected.
From scuffed-up feet to dry, scaly skin on your legs, elbows and arms,
our bodies can take a beating. Oftentimes, our daily “scrubs” (read:
soap) are the culprit. There’s an easy feel-like-new remedy, though. And
it might be in your kitchen. Mix coconut oil, kosher salt or sugar, and
some minced basil into a paste, and scrub away. Again, steam helps. But
doing this regularly helps even more.
