I love going to Barnes and Noble, even if it’s just to browse. Something about being around a ton of new, crisp books excites me (I’m a geek on the low 
). My trip isn’t complete unless I browse the beauty books and the urban fashion mags. I ran into a book by Rona Berg called Beauty: The New Basics, which is pretty much a bible for all things beauty. It covers everything from makeup to natural beauty, and she even throws in some homemade recipes for ladies who are budget-conscious. One of my favorite parts is when she breaks down the basics for good skincare. Growing up, I always washed my face with soap and water. BIG no-no. Soaps contain harsh detergents that can irritate your face, and yes, that pertains to those “beauty and complexion” bars on the market. I’ve use a beauty bar before, but only sporadically. I found that using it every day can irritate the skin and leave unsightly burns. So let’s get down to the basics:
First, make sure that you’re cleansing properly. Cleansers help to remove dirt and oil without drying out your skin. They contain three main ingredients: oil, water, and surfactants. Oil is used to dissolve and cut through the oil on your face and surfactants are used to cut through all other grime that may be present. Water is used to wash everything away. She also states that washing your face before going to bed may be sufficient enough to keep your skin clear and healthy. Washing with plain, lukewarm water in the morning is enough to get rid of any dirt that’s come about overnight. Everyone raves about Cetaphil ($11.49), a drugstore cleanser that isn’t full of chemicals. It’s on the inexpensive side and leaves great results.
Second, and my favorite step, is to exfoliate. Exfoliating is great because it removes that layer of dead skin that sits right on the surface and leaves you with skin that is instantly brighter and more supple. And it’s cheaper than going to the spa! This process serves a great purpose: it helps to push those dead cells out of the way so that desirable skin cells can make their way to the surface. My favorite brand of exfoliants is Queen Helene ($4). They’re cheap and really get down to business. The first time I used one, it left my skin the softest it’s ever been. I’d recommend this product to anyone that needs a great scrub.
Third: always moisturize! Berg dubs this a “beauty law” and any woman should know why. If your skin doesn’t retain enough water then it will feel tight and dry. There are several options when you want to choose a specific moisturizer. Women with oily skin may want to opt for a gel-based moisturizer as opposed to an oil-based one. Women with dry skin may go for a balm or a cream-based moisturizer to help with the appearance of the skin. A good, inexpensive moisturizer is Olay Complete lotion ($11). It’s light but it leaves a great feel to the skin and leaves enough moisture behind to assure you that you’re getting what you need.
Finally, you want to make sure you use sunscreen lotion to protect your skin. Too much sun can lead to dry, leathery skin (as we all know thanks to our orange tanning friends) that is not attractive. Before I read this book, I thought that you were only supposed to wear sunscreen when you’re going out into scorching heat but Berg suggests that it’s so important that she does it every morning. Ultraviolet light is the number one cause of premature aging in women; “it breaks down collagen and erodes the skin’s support structure”, Berg says. Using a moisturizer with an SPF of anywhere from 8-15 should cover you when you’re just doing day to day errands. A higher SPF should be used for any other type of outdoor activities. You can also try a foundation or tinted moisturizer with SPF in it to help. Try Smashbox Sheer Focus Tinted Moisturizer ($30).
I love skincare and I can thank my ex-boyfriend, a.k.a. my pizza face, for that. I had the worst acne with the worst timing ever! Luckily, I became more adamant about my skincare routines and really got down to business. My acne was gone within a year and thankfully it hasn’t returned. Take care of your skin: it’s the one thing that will tell the world what’s really going on with you. If you’re stressed, your skin will snitch. If you’re eating way too many oily foods, your skin will snitch. Just take care of it and yourself!
