It is impossible to walk into a department store without passing a bustling cosmetics department. Big brands and small compete with each other seven days a week, offering advice and products to make us look and feel more beautiful in our own skin. With an increasing reliance on scientific terminology to give their messages added credibility, most members of the general public end up baffled when they pop out for a new tub of moisturiser.

But for all the technical terms and confusion, there are really only a few key rules for having the best possible skin. SkinCeuticals is an American company that straddles the cosmetic and pharmaceutical fields, offering high-quality products that are used both domestically and professionally, for example by cosmetic surgeons. They have identified five steps to better skin: cleanse & tone; prevent; correct; moisturise; and protect.

We’re all familiar with the “cleanse and tone” stage, although it is not something everybody does as a regular part of their skincare routine. Many people consider it an act of pampering and, of course, many more of us are simply too busy to do it. But it really is a fundamental step that we should all take the time to do every so often. It gets rid of build-ups of oils and other impurities and exfoliates your skin, leaving you less prone to blackheads and spots. But choose the right cleanser to work in balance with your skin, however. Using the wrong type for you could leave you dry or affect your natural pH.

Prevention involves keeping the world outside from penetrating your skin. That includes everything from grime, soot and dust to the harmful UV rays that are emitted from the sun. The products required to do this are usually creams that act as a barrier between you and the world, but you mustn’t forget the basics like a good sun hat. As the saying goes, prevention is better than cure, so keeping on top of this particular regime will work wonders.

Next is correction. No matter what products you use on your skin, eventually your age will start to show. This is not necessarily a bad thing – our age says a lot about us. But sometimes we feel parts of us are ageing beyond our years, and that’s where the correction of blemishes, wrinkles and loose skin comes in.

Fourth is the big one: moisturising. It’s the most common skin treatment and it’s the easiest to maintain as a daily routine, too. But it’s impossible to understate the importance of skin hydration to keep it supple and firm. The cosmetics manufacturers have realised that we’re too lazy to carry out all the five steps and nowadays it’s not uncommon to see ingredients from them in our moisturisers.

Finally we come to protection. Once again our old friend the sun plays a part; protection is largely about making sure its rays don’t affect our skin, and protective creams go the extra mile when it comes to this end. This stage is similar to prevention but is probably less of a routine thing and more a reaction to circumstances – so if you live in the UK, the need might not be so pressing.

Science has long been a factor in skin care so Sally often reports on products like Skinceuticals whose whole range is science-based. Myth and hearsay is rife in this market so skin care products that have hard science behind them are well worth considering.

Science has long been a factor in skin care and Sally reports on suppliers like http://www.skincare-online.com/ whose range contains many science-based ranges. Myth and hearsay is rife in this market so skin care products that have hard science behind them are well worth considering.

Author Bio: Science has long been a factor in skin care so Sally often reports on products like Skinceuticals whose whole range is science-based. Myth and hearsay is rife in this market so skin care products that have hard science behind them are well worth considering.

Category: Wellness, Fitness and Diet
Keywords: