by Hollie Domiano

Created on: March 21, 2008   Last Updated: April 24, 2008

Here are a few tips for basic skin care:

Never, never, NEVER use "just plain soap" on your face. Many soaps contain harsh perfumes and other chemicals which are drying to the skin. Even the soaps labeled "castile" or "pure" still have the same components of sodium hydroxide (lye, which is very caustic) and fat or oil. Would you want to put "Grandma's Lye Soap" on your face? I don't think so.

There are many types of cleansing products formulated specifically for the face. Take a look at your local drugstore. There are so many creams, lotions, potions, and other neat stuff. "Which one should I buy?" you ask. Here's a quick guide to the right skin cleanser for you.
For normal to dry skin, you'll want to look for a "cream" or "milk" cleanser. These will get the "down and dirty" of old makeup, environmental pollutants, and all kinds of other facial oily junk. These cleaners will wipe off with a tissue, and contain some oil, which makes these products less drying. I found out recently that my own skin had changed from oily to dry because of my age. I now use a skin cleanser for normal to dry skin, because I had stripped out too much oil from my face.

For normal to oily skin or combination skin, you'll want a water based cleanser. There's a wide variety of foams, gels, bars, liquids, creams, and other things. These rinse off with water, rather than wipe off with a tissue. Make sure you buy a cleanser which won't dry your skin.
"My face is clean. Can I start putting makeup on now?"
Uh-uh. Hold on there. Before you start putting on your face, you have to get it ready. This means you should prepare it with toner and moisturizer.

"Toner? Moisturizer? Why?"
What toner will do is remove the excess makeup and dirt that the cleansers haven't gotten. I recommend using an alcohol free toner for any skin type. My personal favorite is witch hazel. It has very little alcohol, has a very light natural fragrance, and best of all, it's CHEAP! Look for it in your drugstore's cosmetics section. If it isn't there, try looking in the section with men's shaving products. Chances are, your male friends or family members will use witch hazel as an after shave lotion. The next time you put on makeup, raid the bathroom. If you see witch hazel on the counters or in the cabinets, snap it up.

Moisturizers will replenish the natural oils removed by cleansing and can also protect against those villains of the environmentthe dreaded UV rays.
UV (ultraviolet) rays, whether they be UV-A or UV-B, are dangerous, no matter what you do. Many moisturizers contain sunscreens. If you will be outdoors for most of the time, and even if you're not, buy a moisturizer with an SPF (sun protection factor) of at least 15. You needn't buy anything expensive. Many cosmetics counters and drugstores will have such moisturizers on hand.
PABA (paraaminobenzoic acidit's a mouthful, isn't it?) is the main active ingredient in many sunscreens. Considered a member of the B-complex vitamin family, PABA is also manufactured in the body from folic acid. Make sure to eat your veggies!
Though PABA is considered a good ingredient by many, it also has a downside. Manufacturing of PABA-free sunscreens has become more prevalent because of allergic reactions to products containing the vitamin. When you buy your sunscreen, make sure to read the label. We'd all like to have normal skin, but many of us don't. Even after passing through my teen years with the typical adolescent acne, I still have an occasional breakout.
Now that you've cleaned, moisturized and toned your face, you can put on makeup if you wish.

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