How do you make your skin smooth and flawless?

[audreyhorne]

i use olive oil every day (i use retinoids so very dry) and vit e oil from cvs 2x a week and my skin is super soft

 

[poptheglock]

I didn't know where to post this question, but I'll give this thread a try.
Is it a big no-no to use a cleanser and a toner from two different skin care brands?

I used Exuviance skin products for many years, but I wasn't a huge fan of the "Gentle Cleansing Creme", but the toner, "Soothing Toning Lotion" was greeeat! Recently I have been using a skin care set from Dermalogica, with the "Special Cleansing Gel" and "Multi-Active Toner", and now I have the opposite problem, love the cleanser and not so much the toner. So I guess my question is, could I combine the Dermalogica Cleanser and the Exuviance toner?

of course you can mix different skin care brands. i use a dermalogica cleanser, a toner from decleor and a cream fron avene. it works the best for me!

 

[eternitygoddess]

I'm quite confused about the number of terms being thrown around: exfoliants, scrubs, moisturizers, cleansers, SPF, toners, etc. Do we need ALL of them?

What is the proper steps/procedure for a daily facial regimen? Is it apply facial wash, then exfoliate, then moisturize, then apply sunscreen?

What are the key/basic facial care products that every girl should have on her nightstand?

 

[sill]

I think a good cleanser, a gentle exfoliant (not a scrub) and a sunscreen are the basic products one needs. But of course there are so many other fun products out there

 

[eternitygoddess]

So how often are you supposed to apply each? And in what order?

Also, has anyone used Pond's Cold Cream Cleanser?

 

[brokenenglish]

I'm quite confused about the number of terms being thrown around: exfoliants, scrubs, moisturizers, cleansers, SPF, toners, etc. Do we need ALL of them?

What is the proper steps/procedure for a daily facial regimen? Is it apply facial wash, then exfoliate, then moisturize, then apply sunscreen?

What are the key/basic facial care products that every girl should have on her nightstand?

Ida!!!! We need you!!!

Until she gets here I will try to help.
Exfoliating is removing dead skin cells and should really only be done once a week tops.
I have been doing it once a week with Ren Glycolatic Peel and have had great results. I follow it up with Fresh Black Tea Moisture Mask to sooth any post peel irritation. (my skin is crazy sensitive)
Like I said that is just once a week.

My daily routine is just cleanse, moisturize and SPF. I know a lot of people use toners btw cleansing and moisturizing but that never fails to break me out no matter what kind of toner I use.

My friend's grandma who is 88 swears by Pond's Cold Cream and has amazing skin. She also has never had a sunburn in her life and thinks that made a huge difference.

 

[eternitygoddess]

What are toners?

I hope Ida can write a comprehensive guide that breaks this all down.

 

[brokenenglish]

^ Toners are meant to restore your skin's PH balance between cleansing and moisturizing.

 

[eternitygoddess]

No wonder the cosmetics industry is a billion dollar business. The loads of stuff we girls must buy.

Maybe I should switch professions...

 

[Deleted member 106803]

I never use toners..

 

[cookymonster]

I'm quite confused about the number of terms being thrown around: exfoliants, scrubs, moisturizers, cleansers, SPF, toners, etc. Do we need ALL of them?

What is the proper steps/procedure for a daily facial regimen? Is it apply facial wash, then exfoliate, then moisturize, then apply sunscreen?

What are the key/basic facial care products that every girl should have on her nightstand?

A basic morning routine usually goes in this order: cleanse, apply toner (an optional step, IMO), moisturize, and put on sunscreen. A night routine would be the same except you don't need the sunscreen This doesn't seem too bad--some Korean and Japanese skincare lines advertise a 6-7 step cleansing routine.

By the way, a scrub and exfoliant is basically same thing. I think a scrub is more suggestive of an exfoliant with "scrubbing" agents like beads, ground almonds, or silica. If you have sensitive skin, an exfoliant w/o scrubbing agents is a better bet.

The frequency of exfoliation is just something you have to experiment with and is dependent on your skin type and how well your skin can tolerate a particular exfoliant. People with oilier skin and large, easily-congested pores may need more frequent exfoliation--perhaps as much as 3 times a week. Someone with sensitive and generally clear skin probably only needs to exfoliate once a week.

On the days I exfoliate, I skip my usual cleanser and just use the exfoliant. The reason I do this is because I use a 0.5% salicylic acid cleanser, which already has exfoliating properties. I found that using both in succession is really overkill on my combination but sensitive skin. Perhaps this omission isn't necessary with a mild cleanser, not too sure about this one.

 

[The_Ida]

I am gone for one weekend and everything falls apart Well, you people have said it all anyway, I'm going back to the beach

 

[Fashionturnip]

I have a day moisturiser with spf 15...but i tend to find it very thick and creamy..does anyone know of something with a good SPF that doesnt clog the pores? OR a product that i can use after my moisturiser that is just SPF? Normal sunscreens give me spots after a few days use on holidays....Thanks!

 

[eternitygoddess]

Is it okay to use sunscreen right after using a cleanser? I feel strange about putting globs of thick cream on my face right after I just cleansed it.

 

[sill]

Well I don't cleanse in the morning because I feel that it's enough if I cleanse at night, so in the morning I just put on some toner and sunscreen. Plus, if I cleanse my face in the morning it looks kind of red/blotchy for a while which is not a very good look...

 

[The_Ida]

I don't use moisturizer during the day at the moment, just La Roche-Posay SPF 40. But usually I do use moisturizer before SPF, you don't apply it all at once...just let the moisturizer sink in before putting on SPF.

 

[superbeautiful]

I got the Philosophy cleanser because I've heard a lot about it, but after two weeks of using it I haven't noticed much improvement. I got an exfoliater and mostourizer as well which I use on a consistent basis (exfoliater 3x a week, mostourizer daily). My skin is normal, not too oily, and my problem area's are always just a couple pimples on each check, and small bumps on my forehead. I want radiant, smooth porcelan skin (like everyone else does) and I just turned 20 so I don't feel as if it should be that hard of a task to do.

Should I keep using the Philosophy cleanser or try something else? I have a big wedding to attend in a couple weeks and I really want to look my best.
What about masks? Should I invest in a facial?

 

[Miwi]

just let the moisturizer sink in before putting on SPF.

Me too.
Instead of toner in these hot days (and also as a refreshment during the day or on the beach) I use mineral water spray from Avene and Vichy.

 

[IAmLordZen]

I have oily skin and put on moisturizer only at night and spray-on SPF during the day. However, despite my avoidance of talcum-based powders, my skin is still horribly oily. I usually have to use lots of oil-blotting paper per day. Any solutions to this perhaps?

 

[diesanni]

I couldn't life without a toner, it just feels wrong to me to not use one and I get irritated when I discover a skincare range I want to try but find that they don't offer a toner.

Toners offer all kinds of special benefits, first of all they remove all the dirt that might be left on your skin after cleansing as well as removing all traces of the cleanser itself and restore the ph-value (?) of your skin. Just run a cotton ball trenched in any toner over your face and then watch the result. You'll be surprised how much dirt and grime you'll find still left after cleansing.

Toners also prepare your skin for absorbing your moisturizer. A lot of tones also offer special treats like mattifying your skin, a mild peeling and refining pores. Toners containing alcohol are also perfect to disinfect before and after a deep cleanse.