Step out into the Sun with radiant skin!

With the harsh summer heat and long exposure to the Sun your skin begs for nothing but relief. Your skin makes up the largest organ in your body, protecting the insides. So it becomes your duty to protect your skin from the harmful effects of the sun and also the pollution.

All skin types require a daily routine of cleansing, toning and moisturizing. If good skin is what you want for a long time to come, then 10 minutes a day is all you need to spend.

Your day should start with cleansing your facial skin with an appropriate cleanser meant for your skin type. Avoid chemical based products as they harm your skin in the long run. Splash some warm water on your face and neck so that the pores open up. Do not use hot water since it will harm the sensitive skin layers. Take a few drops of the cleanser that you have chosen on a cotton ball or swipe and apply it onto your skin gently and wipe away with upward strokes so that the surface dust will be cleaned. If you have oily skin, make sure all the oil is cleared up and use a different cotton ball to wipe away the second time. If you are using a face wash for cleansing, use soap free cleanser.

Once this is done, it is followed by Toning. Use an alcohol free toner so that the opened pores are closed and the pH balance is restored. Rose water, cucumber, sandalwood based toners, etc would be good options. The toner is taken in a cotton ball and applied all over the face and neck with upward strokes. While the skin is still moist from the toner, apply a suitable moisturizer on the face and neck. Make sure that the moisturizer is appropriate for your skin type as it may lead to extreme oiliness if your skin is already oily or may not work well if you have very dry skin. Turmeric, sandalwood, almond, cocoa butter, neem, tulasi etc are some of the moisturizer bases.

With this regular routine twice a day you will not only have good skin but also feel relaxed and clean. You can also go for a herbal facial once a week for exfoliation and removal of dead skin cells. This will further help in the regrowth of skin cells and lets your skin breathe!

And lastly, but most importantly, apply a good sunscreen with SPF 15 and over, 20 minutes before stepping out into the sun to stay protected. Sun screens tend to make your skin oily so for people with oily skin, sunscreen in the form of gel is available which serves the purpose. (by Ayurvedanews.com)

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