Skin Care Tip & Info

Fresh Tips on Getting a Fresh Face for Your Big Date

Advice Seeker: Dear April,

I have a great date planned with an amazing lawyer I've had my eye on for months, but I've got one major problem -- my skin! Thanks to the harsh winter cold, my combination sky is covered in dry spots and breakouts! I don't want to gross him out. Do you have any tips for how I can get more perfect skin?

Sincerely,

Simply Pimply

April Masini's advice:

Dear Simply Pimply,

Between changes in our body, changes in the weather, and changes in our diets, it's no wonder we suffer from the occasional facial freak out! Winter skin is affected primarily by temperature changes, dryness, chapping and wind-burning.

The best way to combat these skin issues:

1. Moisturize to eliminate as many temperature changes as possible.
2. Hydrate to prevent dryness — not just by moisturizing, but by drinking water and running a humidifier in several rooms in the house to add moisture to heated air.
3. Wear sunscreen even in the Winter. The glare of the sun off of the snow can burn your skin. Protect your skin from chapping with products like Vaseline or specialty skin products.

Below, more tips and advice on skin care from my book, for women, Think & Date Like A Man.

Skin

The most important thing you can do to get beautiful skin is to drink water – eight glasses a day – and get enough sleep. Stress in your life will show up in your skin.

Another way you can improve your complexion is exercise. Getting the blood circulating and sweating out toxins will give your skin a beautiful and healthy glow. Sex is also great for your complexion – in addition to being fun, and a good workout!

Ways skin is negatively affected:

Stress
Hormones
Pollution
Sun
Smoking
Alcohol
Lack of sleep
Lack of exercise
Lack of hydration
Climate (windburn and chapped skin)
Medications
Over cleansing
Not removing makeup

Beautiful skin starts with clean skin. Always remove your makeup at night, even if you're exhausted. Cleanse your skin each evening. Over cleansing is one of the biggest mistakes women make, stripping their skin of natural moisture. Always clean your skin with a gentle cleanser and warm water.

Exfoliants that are gentle help get rid of dead skin, and dirt we can't see that clogs our pores. Scrubs, like exfoliants, are cleansers that contain particles like sand, or crushed fruit pits that perform the same function as exfoliants. As you clean your face, the particles gently massage and remove junk from your skin, and increase circulation. This can leave your skin glowing instead of dull.

Toners, astringents and clarifying lotions should be applied with cotton balls to clean skin, and remove dirt and oil that your cleanser or exfoliant left behind. Some of them are slightly harshly because they contain alcohol to chemically kill the germs. If you're sensitive, choose a non-alcohol based toner.

Masks are great deep cleaning or moisturizing treats for your skin once every two weeks. Always apply them to freshly cleaned skin.

Monthly facials can be wonderful treats for your skin if it is not too sensitive. Sometimes breakouts can follow a facial, so go makeup free for a few hours after your facial.

Pesky pimples? Try the following tricks:

– A dab of toothpaste on the pimple before bed. Wash it off in the morning. The same ingredients that kill germs that cause cavities may just kill germs that cause breakouts.
– Calamine lotion
– Visine reduces the red from eyes – and zits.
– Preparation H reduces swelling – and not just you know where!
– Tea Tree oil

Moisturizers become more important the older you get. A special moisturizer for the eye area is important because the skin in that area is thinner and more sensitive than the rest of your face. If you purchase a moisturizer for your face, and you don't like the way it feels there, use it on your hands, or other parts of your body. A nighttime moisturizing cream will be a little heavier than daytime, and is only for those with dry skin.

Skin type tips:

Oily skin:
Don't wear moisturizer or foundation when you exercise. As your pores open to release toxins, the moisturizer or foundation will invade the pores, and can clog or irritate them, causing breakouts. Exercise with a nude face. When you do use moisturizer, use one that is specialized for oily skin. When you exfoliate, don't overdo it just because your skin is oily. This will only aggravate and activate the oil glands. Treat breakouts with over the counter products. If your skin is problematic, see a dermatologist. Go to war on blackheads with regular deep cleaning facials.

Dry skin:
Cleansers with milk in them are more nourishing than soaps, which can further dry already dry skin. Avoid toners with alcohol-based astringents.

Sensitive skin:
Use jojoba and chamomile based products as well as hypoallergenic and fragrance free items. Stay away from alcohol based toners. Milk based lotions or cleansers are nourishing. Vitamin E is wonderful for skin. You can take vitamin E capsules and pierce them with a pin and squeeze the oil from the capsules directly onto any scar tissues that you wish to give a more supple texture to. Vitamin E also heals chapped lips and ugly, dry cuticles.