How many products do you layer on your face? {Your Opinion}

[Source: Google Images]

So, how many products do you apply on your face every morning and night and I am not talking about makeup here. Just skin care products.

Morning Routine

• Toner 
• Serum (optional)
• Moisturizer (with spf optional)
• Sunscreen
• Eye Cream 
• Compact / Foundation to give a matte effect or dewy look

Night Routine

• Toner
• Serum / Facial Oil (optional)
• Night Cream
• Eye Cream

When one applies so many products on their skin, it is pretty much a possibility that the products may break you out or the products might not be compatible with each other. And, there is another possibility - the products may clog the pores big time!!! So, it is always better to keep the routines simple and use minimal products so as to let the skin not be suffocated.

So, how many products do you prefer to use? 

Also share your opinions on:
How long do you leave the conditioner?
Is Vanity Silly?
Hair Mask first or Conditioner?
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Face Mask Sheets or Face Masks?

Double Cleansing to get rid of Makeup {Skin Care}

As you all would already be aware, makeup is terribly drying for skin. But, not to worry since there are lot of cleansers and other products available to wash off the makeup from your face. But, with make up, it is always better to cleanse your face twice. This is called Double Cleansing. First round of cleansing would be to get rid of the makeup and all the dirt in your face and second round would be to clean your face properly to free it of all traces of the product.

Why should everyone do double cleansing?

Double cleansing can be done even if you do not wear make up. It is especially useful for people who spend a lot of time in sun or dusty areas. Everyone uses sunscreen now a days. Sunscreen has the same chemical structure as does the other makeup products because of which a simple cleanser will not be able to get rid of the sunscreen completely from your skin. This applies even if you prefer either chemical or physical sunscreens. Thus, a need for double cleansing.

Ways to remove make up from face:

• Double Cleansing (which I am going to explain shortly)
• Oil Cleansing Method (OCM) 

How to Double Cleanse your face?

• Use a makeup removing cleanser to wash your face first. You can instead use any makeup removing gels or cleansing milk or cleansing oil which ever suits you best. Generally, oil + water is the best way to go for double cleansing. You can also start with removing makeup with wiping tissues first.
• Cleansing should be done in circular motions with upward strokes just like a facial massage. Do not forget the delicate eye area, the area around the lips and the ears, your neck and the upper part of your chest. Cleansing should be done wherever you have applied sunscreen or any body part that has remain exposed even if it is feet. And, an area which tends to go ignored most is along the hairline.
• Wash off the cleanser thoroughly with cold water splashes. Let your skin relax a bit and let it dry. Now, check for the dirt and grime in your skin. If your skin is completely clean, you can proceed with a minimal amount of cleanser for the next wash. If not, a little more with a little of massage would be necessary. So, it is always advised to devote time and clean your face first time diligently removing all the makeup from everywhere otherwise you might need to wash your face 3-4 times which is never advisable. 
• Follow with washing your face next time and you are done. 

Some precautions to take care of:

• Never try to scrub off your makeup. This will instead cause your makeup to get into the pores. So, if you are planning to scrub, remove the makeup first and then follow with the cleansing and then use the scrub. 
• Do not be too harsh on your skin. Use gentle products which are not drying. Cleansing oils are very much available these days. Making use of them would be much more sensible for any skin type even oily and sensitive.
• Do not over wash your skin and body. And, moisturize well after removing the makeup. And, no double cleansing would not be too drying for your skin unless you are over doing it.

Homemade Cleanser

In a bowl, pour adequate amount of milk and add 5-6 drops of almond oil. Almond oil is best at removing make-up and lactic acid in milk aids cleaning of the skin moisturizing it simultaneously. Mix them. Refrain from adding anything else because you want to clean your face. At max, I would suggest you to add only lemon juice in case of oily skin as it controls the oil production. Take a wash cloth or sponge, dip it in the mixture and apply it to your face in circular motions as advised above. Follow with your favorite cleanser or with milk again and you would get a glowing skin.

Ten assorted body scrubs

Exfoliation is one important routine of skin care which has to be followed regularly and what better than going for homemade recipes. You can indulge yourself as much as you want without a thought to the cost of your scrub. Here are ten different body scrubs which are extremely easy to prepare and extremely beneficial for the skin. You can substitute the ingredients of these recipes with something available easily in case you are not able to find any. 

How to avoid wrinkles during sleep?

Don't we all love to sleep like Garfield????

A wrong sleeping posture has been attributed to the increasing premature wrinkles on our faces. This is for people who do not sleep flat on their backs. And, if I am not wrong, many of us actually fall under this category. Many people do not feel comfortable and get deep sleep if they sleep flat on their backs and since childhood, we get used to sleeping on our sides and on our stomachs. Personally, I feel there is nothing wrong with that but it is certainly true that sleeping in those postures creates folds on the skin which on a prolonged time develop into fine lines and then deep crevices in the skin. So, if you want to avoid that happening to your face, you should practice sleeping straight on your back. Or, you can find various other home remedies to get rid of wrinkles here.

Well, I am not very sure I would ever be able to follow this advice. So, I started searching out for alternatives. The simplest answer which I thought was to apply a little on oil around the eye area to prevent the skin from wrinkling. Yes, it is as simple as that. You can take a drop or two of coconut oil, castor oil, almond oil or vitamin E oil straight from the capsule and massage it gently into the skin around the eyes and also on your lashes. Take care not to let the oil enter your eyes. This way, you skin remains moisturized around the eyes and does not get wrinkles. And, applying the oils like coconut, castor, vitamin E and almond also makes sure that the already fine lines go away. And, the added benefit of massaging the eyelashes with oils is that it ensures better growth of eyelashes. Just remember to wash your hands properly before applying the oil. You can substitute the oils with any natural body butter you have. Shea or Cocoa butter will also do a good job. And, you can also go for milk cream or white butter which is the perfect home remedy for removing the tan and darkening around the eyes due to exposure to sun. But, sleeping on your back still remains the best way to keep the wrinkles at bay.

Night Time Skin Care Routine

Are you one of the people who believe in an elaborate anti-aging skin care routine at night to counter all the damages done to skin in the day? Or, are you the one who believes that skin has the ability to heal itself if left to itself? I, for sure, belong to the second category. I have incredible faith in my skin and its healing powers. I believe that night time skin care routine should consist of just one thing and that is cleansing. Removing make up or cleaning your face of all the pollution and dirt is important. Applying a mix of chemicals on your face really is not a good idea as it loads the skin with a lot of baggage and might block the pores and hinder in the self-cleaning or detox process of the skin. So, why not try to leave your skin just nude and let it enjoy the freshness of itself whole night. Anyhow in the morning, one has no other option but to apply layers of chemicals on the face to prevent drying, tanning, make up, et cetera. 

There is a downside to leaving your skin nude in the night. Your skin might feel tight after cleansing. Well, if it is not too uncomfortable, try ignoring it and go to sleep. Your skin would feel fine by morning. And, in some days, you will fall in love with the idea of leaving your skin as it is. If you are uncomfortable with the tightness in your skin, you can resort to applying a drop of your favorite oil (coconut oil, olive oil, almond oil, jojoba oil or any other). It will nourish your skin from inside. So, next time you go to sleep, try this new night time skin care routine and see how your skin feels in the morning. 

Follow certain tips to complement with this skin care routine:

• Get an undisturbed sleep.
• Maintain a regular routine.
• Do not cover your face while sleeping with the blanket.
• Keep a window open in the room to allow fresh air in the room. Fresh air is good for skin.
• Wake up in the morning and do some face exercises.
• Instead of washing your face in the morning, try simply wiping your face clean with a wash cloth. You can even cleanse your face with raw milk.

I am sure your skin will feel as great as mine. And, the best thing is that you will face less breakouts if you follow this routine.