I used to think that water alone was good enough- its all I used to do- rinse my face morning and night with cool water.
Then I went to Dermalogica and they did a skin analysis and told me how much dead skin was stuck on my face! At my (then aged 21) age it didn't matter too much to my skin overall as I never wore anything but eye make up (no moisturiser or SPF or skin make-up) and only ate fresh fruit and vegetables (I had anorexia at the time) but she let me know how wrinkles and fine lines can be formed:
It starts off with dead skin cells which are left on your skin. They become jammed into pores and the pores widen to be able to cope with them. As you go along, the pores widen so much that the skin becomes slack, lifeless and looks greyer. Then wrinkles start to appear.
I then began using skin care products. Soap and water. It did dry out my skin though and I got a collection of white dry skin patches on my face. So I swapped to an exfoliator and used that every day. My skin still remained patchy. I reduced this to three to four times a week and was bought (as a gift) Clinique extra mild facial wash and the white patches went away.
I also found that as I was cleansing properly, I was getting tight skin. I worry about tight skin as it makes me think of selophane streaching, who hasn't seen just how much selophane stretches when its tight? and does it shink back again? no! Seems like an instruction to create wrinkles so I apply moisturiser night and day now.
It sounds like a faff, but I have some rules:
1. I only buy skin care I feel enticed or posative about- this makes me want to use it every day and so I never forget. It does mean I spend more money on my skin care, but its better to do that and actually enjoy what I do then buy something I only use 3 times before giving up on.
2. Only chose skin care that does not worry me: animal testing, parabens, bad reviews all concern me. I research what I pay for as I do spend what feels like a lot. Again, I do not want an excuse to not use or waste my money.
3. I drink enough water every day: 3 or 4 litres is my current level- but I do excercise for 2 hours 4 days a week and 1 hour on saturday. I drink enough water and it makes my skin excellent. Same goes with eating well. It means I don't have to spend more money on brightening systems or many other skin problems.
If you find your getting spots with what your using, you may need to alter it and try different ranges. Your skin could be quite fickle and need you to start on sensitive skin ranges until it gets used to the fact that it does not have as many dead skin cells on it. Your skin is very fragile and if it feels there is a difference, it will try to alter itself to compensate for the difference, so once washed if its not used to being washed, may create excess oils. What you would need then in that respect is something very mild. Keep tabs on your skin, your needs will change with time. The only way you know is by watching the signs before they turn into spots, irritations or whatever else.
Once you start looking after your skin, and get over the 6 week "I can't be bothered with this anymore" mentality, (which does go away and you do get used to it) your skin will look alot better, trust me!
Since looking after my skin, my skin is a hell of alot brighter, feels so smooth- I never really had any spots in the past anyway, but my skin itself just feels baby soft- something it was never really before. It also feels less tight- easier to smile, and I don't get such an oily residue or white-head spots if I apply sun care cream which I did used to get.
