In the messy, polluted world of today, sometimes it’s hard to keep our skin safe and clean. The high levels of harmful gasses, smoke and dirt in the air coupled with UV rays can leave our faces permanently damaged. Wrinkles and hyperpigmentation are lurking around the corner, so skin care becomes one of the most important aspects of our beauty routines.
How do we keep our skin clean and how do we make sure it stays soft and blemish-free? Here, we have a few types of products that can help you cleanse, renew, and keep your face beautiful.
Clay masks
We all know we’re supposed to use a gentle cleanser every day, but it won’t be enough on its own. Our faces need deep cleansing occasionally, but it also needs the benefit that face masks can provide. They can deliver active ingredients to our skin, and they are very good at treating problems and keeping our faces radiant.
Red clay can help fade acne scars and sun spots, and it can also purify and brighten our skin. Other types of clay have different benefits, with some of the most popular being French green clay, which tightens the pores and improves circulation, and bentonite clay, which is great for sebum control. You can even make your own mask by mixing the clay powder of your choice with some water, unsweetened coconut yogurt, and a few drops of argan oil.
Charcoal scrubs
The holy grail of cleansing, activated charcoal is a powerful ingredient that keeps gaining popularity in the beauty community. Efficient blackhead removal is no longer a dream because activated charcoal draws bacteria, dirt, and excess oil out of our pores and to the surface of the skin.
Try this charcoal scrub by Blaq.
Using the right kind of scrub can help get rid of terrible, stubborn blackheads, and keep your skin clear and soft. Just make sure not to use it too often, because excessive exfoliation can damage your skin. Once or twice a week is more than enough.
Peel-off masks
Peel-off masks are in some ways similar to scrubs in the sense that they can help you get rid of dirt, dead skin cells and bacteria from your face. You can use them on your own, or after you do a scrub for that extra level of cleanliness.
Black peel-off masks are very in right now, and most of them are charcoal based and very effective.
Oil-blotting sheets
For people with combo or oily skin, the greasy midday sheen is probably the most annoying thing in the world. We put on flawless makeup and then the sweat and sebum shine through, and our foundation starts falling apart, and we look like we have a disco ball stuck to our foreheads.
In case you don’t want to direct traffic with the power of your oily shine, blotting sheets are a life-saver. These are very thin paper sheets that you can gently press to the parts of the face where you need some oil-control, and they will quickly soak up any excess and leave you looking clean and matte again.
Try Mai Couture Blotting papers.
Konjac sponges
These little sponges are all the rage in Japan and they boast some amazing cleansing and healing properties. They are small, rough, and made with the ground roots of certain plants that are native to Asia.
They are completely natural products that are non-toxic and full of certain vitamins and other ingredients beneficial to the skin. They are good at promoting healthy circulation and exfoliating our faces, but do bear in mind that they have a short shelf-life, and they need to be changed frequently.
Home remedies
Working on a shoestring budget? No problem, some of the things you already have lying around the house can be great for cleansing. Use a tablespoon of brown sugar, a teaspoon of olive oil and cinnamon and you’ve got a perfectly natural scrub on your hands. If you want a cheap facial toner, turn to diluted apple cider vinegar. It’s good for acne-prone skin and it’s easy to make. Mix one part apple cider vinegar and two parts water and keep it in a small bottle. Dab it on your face gently after you’ve cleansed.
If you want your serums and moisturizers to work properly and deliver all the ingredients to your skin, you have to keep it clean. A clear face is the most necessary step to proper skin care, so make sure to have the right products if you want a healthy, natural glow.
What are your favorite ways to maintain clear, healthy skin? How do you supplement your regular cleanser?
Also by Sophia: For A Life Of Good Skin, Start Using These Dermatologist-Backed Ingredients Now
Related: The Diet That Made Kate Hudson Breakout—& The One That Cleared Her Skin
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Photo: Peaceful Dumpling, Blaq, Mary Hood Luttrell, Petit Vour
