Finding The Right Skin-Care Regimen For You - And Sticking With It.

The basic condition of your skin has a lot to do with your genes, but it's you who is responsible for it's general upkeep, so don't slack. Not to state the obvious but everyone has different skin. We even have different skin depending on where on the face it is. Likely, you have combination skin, some dry and some oily (like me!) but this can change from day to day, week to week, depending on the weather, what's happening in your life, your hormones or many other factors. So, finding just one products that's going to answer all of your problems can be difficult, as much as skin-care companies would like us to believe that it's easy to classify and categorise all of us. If you've ever gone to see a facialist and watched her prescribe products you'll know how varied the array can be. Unless she has her own product line, each item will likely be from a different source and if you think about it, they'll be for different types of skin. To find your ideal mix, start doing your research.. ask a dermatologist, facialist you come into contact with, use the Internet as the library of info it is. (Make sure it's reliable though) I've learnt so much information online from forums, and blogs such as Zoella. 

What you will hear from people you should listen to is that you must give a new regimen time to work. The path to clear skin is not an overnight hike. It's a journey. Our skin works in cycles: every few weeks the skin cells regenerate (which is partially why it can take a spot so long to fade), so you should plan to give your skin at least one cycle, possibly two, to adjust to a new set of products and begin to react favourably. Think of it like a healthy diet and exercise plan.. it can take a couple weeks for your body to acknowledge that it's time to kick into gear, at which point it begins to show improvement. The other thing to keep in mind: if a product sounds too good to be true, it probably is. 

What Do You Do About Your Skin? Do You See Anyone?

Once you find a product combination that works, stick with it! It's a common misconception that once you've 'cured' your acne, rosacea or eczema, it's gone for good. Not so! You must continue to maintain your routine if you'd like to maintain your results. Don't backslide after you've put in so much hard work!

Even if you're diligent about your skin-care routine and diet, between makeup and pollutants in the air, toxins will inevitably find their way into your skin and will need to be extracted. That's why I firmly believe that everyone should have a good facialist, who can provide the occasional deep cleansing and guidance on product choice. It doesn't have to happen every month or even every other month - a couple of times a year is enough depending on the condition of your skin.