60 Second Skin Care Routine - Video Tutorial

"60 Second Face Care Routine"
For some, a face care routine has been a natural part their adult lives. But for many, it is yet another thing that they are supposed to do but just don't have time for. Something they think is a good idea in theory, but in practice it's not so easy.

Well, guess what? It doesn't have to be a production. As a matter of fact, it takes less time than it does to brush your teeth. And it really IS a good idea to do on a daily basis. 

Think of a good natural skin care cleansing and care routine as the foundation for your anti-aging efforts. Why? Because it removes make-up, dirt and pollution that your skin has "acquired" throughout the day. All of these things weigh down your skin and clog pores, which can add to sagging and increase the chance of wrinkles and fine lines. This routine, combined with healthy eating, exercise, and avoidance of sun can help you keep wrinkles at bay and keep you looking your best.

Every morning and evening, we recommend that you follow these basic steps: Cleanse, Tone, Prevent and Moisturize.  One evening or morning per week, we recommend that you add a fourth step as well: Exfoliate.

Step 1: Cleanse. Choose a cleanser that is gentle but effective enough to do the job without drying or leaving a film. The cleanser should be free of harsh detergents like sulfates and free of chemical fragrances which can irritate skin. 

To cleanse properly - dampen skin with warm, not hot, water. Squeeze a small amount of cleanser into the palm of your hand, then rub gently into skin on face and neck. Rubbing in circles, then pushing outward toward the edge of your face is the most effective. Rinse thoroughly with warm water.

Try:  

You're Fresh  for normal/combination skin
Oasis for Faces for dry/mature skin
At Long Last for oily/problematic skin
Milk No Cookies milk cleanser for all skin types

Step 2: Exfoliate. Once per week, it is beneficial to remove the surface debris from your skin. Sloughing off the dead skin cells helps to reveal  fresh, smooth, rejuvenated skin as well as reduce fine lines and wrinkles and even out skin tone. Exfoliation should be done carefully and not more than one to three times per week to avoid over-exfoliation.

There are two types of exfoliators - physical and chemical. A physical exfoliant is one that uses some type of physical scrub like crushed seeds or microcrystals. It is recommended to avoid crushed-seed type as they can have sharp edges and actually cause micro-tears in the skin that can cause further damage. Microcrystals are preferable, as they are gentler on the skin and gently but very effectively smooth and renew skin.

A chemical exfoliator is a simple and highly effective way to exfoliate. These are also called "at home peels" or fruit acid gels. The result is the same as with a physical exfoliant.

Exfoliating should be done after cleansing, but before toning. For a physical scrub, a small amount should be used on slightly damp skin to avoid irritation. Working in small patches, rub the exfoliator with your fingertips in a circular motion, taking care to avoid eyes. Rinse thoroughly with warm water. For a chemical/gel type, simply apply to clean, dry skin and leave on for 1 to 3 minutes (lower end for more sensitive skin), then rinse with cool water.

Try: 
Starting Over microderm scrub 
Break Free fruit acid gel

Step 3: Tone. After cleansing (and exfoliating, if appropriate) applying a toner is the next step. Toner is an often-skipped or ignored step, but it is one that is highly important. A good toner that is free of alcohol and is non-drying and natural can help to remove the last traces of make-up and cleanser, as well as balance your skin's pH to ensure that your face is going to be ready for the moisturizer.

Toner can be applied by dampening a cotton ball with the toner and stroking it across your face. Alternatively, toner can be spritzed onto your face and either left to absorb, or gently removed with a cotton ball.

Try: 
Even Ste(pH)en for normal/oily/combination skin
Soothing Harmony for dry/sensitive skin

Step 4: Prevent.  This is a critical step to really help slow down the aging process. In this step you apply targeted products that address specific issues - whether it is your eye area, lips, neck, forehead or smile lines, you want to find the products that work for you.

When applying eye cream or serum around the tender eye area, take care not to tug at the skin under eyes. The best way to apply is to use your ring finger (the weakest finger) and gently tap the product around the eyes and even the eyelids. 

Try:
Eye Can't Believe It eye, lip and neck cream
Double Duty eye cream for dark circles and puffy eyes
Like Magic anti-aging serum
Super Hero antioxidant packed serum  
Clearly It serum for acne-prone skin 

Step 5. Hydrate. The final step is hydrating your skin -a wonderfully rewarding step if the proper moisturizer is used.  Keeping skin hydrated helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines while keeping skin fresh and healthy.

A good moisturizer should be free of harmful chemicals, have naturally effective moisturizers and be free of artificial fragrances which can irritate skin. Good moisturizing ingredients include Jojoba oil, Shea Butter, Vitamin E, Hyaluronic Acid and Aloe. If your skin is not highly sensitive, alpha-hydroxy acids can help to work on fine lines. 

Applying a moisturizer should be done quickly after toning to maximize the benefits. Gently rub the moisturizer into the skin on your face and neck, which is often overlooked. Use long upward and outward strokes to minimize stress on the skin.

Try:
Nature Nurture anti-wrinkle cream for normal/oily/combination skin
No Worries anti-wrinkle cream for sensitive skin
QuenchCoat anti-aging cream fro dry/mature skin
Bright Idea skin brightening cream for all skin types

And that's it. While it may look like a lot when it's written out, but it does take only just about a minute. Start using this routine and your face will be grateful! And don't forget to check out our skin care systems that you can customize to fit your specific needs - PLUS you can save 10-20% over buying the products individually!