Look good to feel good ☺

I'm probably one of the few people that I know of that is really into face care. I do it for myself, not to impress, not because I'm vain, but because I personally am not a fan of imperfections on the face and if I can take care of them myself, then I will ☻
 

My view on face care is that it is very important and should be an essential part of your every day routine. The face holds so many target areas to work with - under your eyes, around the mouth, your nose, your forehead and your face. Depending on your situation, you could be battling with dry skin, oily skin, combination skin, wrinkles, dull skin, acne (ie. blackheads), etc. We live in a world where first impressions can be everything, so if you can look your best, why not do it? Unfortunately we, as the human race (generally speaking), initially base our opinions on others on their appearance, rather than one's manners, behavior, intelligence and personality. We don't meet someone with our hearts, we meet them with our eyes, so it is understandable as to why we are the way we are. But, that still doesn't change an infinite fact - it's what's on the inside that counts.

 

 

Secondly, I think that it is critical to feel comfortable in our skin. When you look good, you feel good. That statement doesn't just apply to your face, but to your body (so always eat healthy - but more on that later!). Apart from looking good on the outside, feel good on the inside. If you're not happy internally, it'll show externally.

 

 

Growing up, I reall always seeing my mom exemplify an excellent face care routine. Even now, she still holds that same dedication. In grade eight, I was hit hardest with the unlucky stick. That was the first time I started dealing with acne. I remember freaking out and not understanding what the heck was going on, and as a female teenager about to begin highschool the following year, I knew I needed to fix this problem fast! I looked online (google was my best friend then!) for a solution: "how to get rid of acne". Then came a bunch of at-home solutions, that to be frank, I didn't really have the patience for then. I wanted something that was created soley for the purpose of my problem, that would almost guarantee me results, not just a waste of time. I remember going to the mall and just looking around at stores that could hold the answer to my prayers.

 

 

Now this is where The Body Shop comes in. I've been a faithful costumer for about 5 years now. The Body Shop has many divine products that really do achieve what they claim to do, and apart from having products worth buying, their prices are affordable. Throughout time I have made some fabulous discoveries from brands like Aveeno, Clean & Clear, Clearasil, Nivea, Loreal, Freeman and Skinplus (a brand from Spain). The thing is, some consumers tend to go for what is more expensive, and big, known brands that claim to perform miracles (appealing advertisement tactics also lure you in!) but really never do. Sometimes one forgets drugstore products that are capable of doing much more than a big brand product (that makes you pay more for less).

One thing I always share with my friends that ask me for skin care advice, is to have a routine! That is how I got rid of my acne and remain with a clear face. Whether you have normal, dry, oily or combination skin, it is important to have a morning and night routine based on your skin type - this would include a face wash, a toner [essential], and a moisturizer with a minimum of spf 20 in it. If you feel like you have the time, add an under eye cream with vitamin E.

 

 

My routine isn't concrete throughout the week. My facewash and my moisturizer changes depending if it's day or night, but my toner remains the same.

 

 

Remember, it is more than likely that you won't be seeing results the very next day when you use a product. To achieve results, you must be consistent with the products you use, and you must use them day and night. Even the worst cases of acne can be blessed from the simplest products.

A quick list of some of my favourite products are:

1. The Body Shop Tea Tree Blackhead Exfoliating Wash [whether or not you have acne/blackheads, it really helps to prevent them]
2. Aveeno Positively Radiant Moisturizer
3. The Loreal Paris Waterproof eye makeup remover [sincerely the best make up remover I've ever had!]
4. The Nivea aqua effect refreshing toner for mixed, oily skin [mattifying and my current toner]

     5. The Body Shop Seaweed Mattifying Day Cream [I swear by it!]

This is just a list of a few wonderful products that I am infatuated with, the ones named have been in my routine for a long time now so they are beyond recommended!

* If you are battling with acne scars, I suggest using an exfoliating face wash like the face wash I first named in the list, it really does help! Exfoliation assists in getting rid of the dead skin cells. The scars won't be gone in one week but with dedication they will surely fade and you will love your skin :)

 

A few tips:
- If you don't watch what you eat and eat everything your little heart desires (like me), then I would enforce a skin care routine on you vs. someone who takes care of their skin via diet.
- Never pop a zit or squeeze a blackhead with your fingernails! This can lead to acne scars. Use face wash and wait it out, trust me, the better solution!
- Drink lots of water!
- If you are a girl, sleep with your hair tied up, away from your face.
- First thing to do when you wake up is wash your face! Get it over with so you won't forget to do it and then it'll become a natural process.
- Face care is just as important for boys as it is for girls.
- Even if you don't have pimples, still wash your face, tone, and by golly, moisturize!
Finally, do this for yourself. Take care of your skin because it's YOUR skin. But don't get obsessive over it. Results will come.

Sometime this week I will post an in-depth list of my products, their prices, where I got them and how they work.
My hope is that this post served whoever is reading this well and that you do not fail to forget: what is on the inside reflects on the outside.


[If you have any questions please leave a comment!]

Have a wicked Wednesday! ツ
Note: All the face care related advice that I post on here is spoken from personal experience, I'm not a professional. Not every product works the same for every person. If you have a certain skin condition that may be affected by any facial products, please consult a professional before use.