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There’s lots of misinformation about skin care. There are also many old-wives’ tales about how to take care of your skin, and some of these are right. However, lots of the information is well-intentioned but wrong advice. The problem is that skin care is tricky. How you care for your skin should be based on your skin type. While each person needs to find the skin care strategies that work best for them, there are some tried and true rules. Most of these rules may violate some of the rules you’ve heard elsewhere, but they are the ones that work best for all skin types. You may wonder how I learned the information listed below. I’ve talked with natural and conventional make-up artists and skin experts, and over the last ten years, I’ve literally tested thousands of products and reviewed natural beauty products.

1. You Don’t Need to Use Hot Water to Get Your Face Clean

Truthfully, some people with sensitive skin can find hot water irritating and it can cause redness. For people with normal skin, hot water dries out the delicate skin which leaves it susceptible to issues that range from acne to a flaky red dermis. Use mildly warm or air-temperature water to wash your face. You’ll still get the job done, but you won’t irritate your skin.

The hot water rule also applies to the rest of your body. You may like burning it up in the shower, especially when the outside weather is cool, however, you’re only guaranteeing that you’ll have irritated skin.

There are a number of great products out there to help improve skin and to fight acne – we’ve heard a lot of good things about Proactiv. It may well be worth a look.

2. Oil is Great For Your Skin

Many people ignore the old-school way of using vegetable oils as a skin moisturiser. I remember hearing about my grandmother getting ready for bed by lathering up her hands with olive oil and putting on her cotton gloves. I can’t be the only person whose heard stories like that.

You can use coconut oil to wash your face or slather it on your body after a shower. You can do the same with olive oil and sesame oil. You just need to decide which smell you prefer. After you use the oil a couple of times, you’ll find that your skin, whether it’s dry or oily, will even out. It will either feel naturally moisturised or less oily.

Many of the high-end products are formulated to include skin protecting oils. That’s because they work. You can use sea buckthorn or argan oil on your face if you want, to begin with a lighter lipid. Here is a good piece on the subject.

3. Exfoliating Does Not Mean Scrubbing

If you scrub your face with many of the store brand scrubs, you may find them too harsh for your skin. Also, harder and more frequent face washing can actually lead to more acne and skin issues, not less. Instead of using store brand cleansing scrubs that contain toxins and chemicals, you can naturally exfoliate with fruit.

Don’t use fruit if you’re allergic to it because it may cause a reaction. Rub a fresh pineapple chunk, mashed strawberry or the inside skin of a fresh mango on your face. Leave the natural AHA fruit acids on your skin for a few minutes, then rinse. This is the best exfoliator you can find. This method may be too much for a person with sensitive skin, but it works well for others.

4. Eat A Healthy Diet

What you put on your skin is not as important as what you put in your body. Eat a healthy diet that contains lots of veggies, fruit, whole grains and lean proteins. Drink lots of water and get plenty of sweat-drenching exercises. You’ll also want to minimise the amount of alcohol you drink and don’t smoke. Doing these things will do more to help your skin than any expensive moisturiser, cleanser or serum. It will also help you feel good.

5. Chocolate Doesn’t Cause Acne

Chocolate is not the reason for your breakout. However, it may be caused by pasta and bread. There have not been any conclusive studies establishing a relationship between chocolate and acne. However, studies have shown that there is a connection between breakouts and high-glycemic foods.

Alicia Joy