The first step to consider before searching for must-have skin care tools is to determine which skin type a person has. We've all heard and known that skin types are the following: dry, normal, oily, or combination. From knowing your skin type, you can then proceed to consider what kind of skin care tools you need to keep so as to maintain the best skin that you can have, and consistently be able manage given your lifestyle. Also note that the kind of skin care tools you will need, will be based on other factors including your genetic build up, your current health, plus your age.
When we say skin care, we usually have in mind those tools we use to take steps in caring for our "facial skin." However, our skin covers our body from head to toe. As such, would you believe, even your "nails" and your "hair" are considered part of your whole skin? So your skin care tools will also have to consider skin care essentials for your whole body, (but which for most people start with the face, as this is the part most seen and noticed by others).
In coming up with this article, this author relates his hands-on experience from taking care of his facial skin, and his being a member of the male species (this maybe be more helpful to male readers, with no intentional offense meant to female readers who are generally perceived to know more about must-have skin care tools). The author possesses "oily" facial skin that has caused him a lot of difficulties in dealing with pimples (even up to his age now), and has eventually prompted him to seek help from a dermatologist who has coached and helped him improve his skin care techniques.
As advised by the author's dermatologist, he has followed and kept stock of "must-have skin care tools" to take daily care of his skin (which tools he has conveniently kept in a tiny vanity bag with his toothbrush in case he has to travel or stay overnight in another place):
1) a "cleanser" which will be used for washing away the superficial dirt on your skin. This can be in liquid form which needs water to use. It can be in the form of a specially formulated chemical that foams on your face and gets dried in a minute or two until you are ready to apply the next "tool."
2) a "toner" which you will use to deep cleanse your skin. For the remaining superficial dirt that has not been washed away by a cleanser, the toner will then help in getting this eliminated.. Another job for the "toner" is to bring your skin back to its normal pH balance. This concept serves to measure the acidity and basicity of a solution, of which your skin also shows. Though not absolute, the pH balance will be a good indicator of the health of your skin. Using a toner also helps to massage or soothe your skin, after you have washed it by a "cleanser."
3) a "skin protector" which can be any moisturizer that you can use and has powerful components against daily and harmful exposure to the sun (especially when you are out under the sun by 10am up to 3pm). Usually, the higher the number of the "SPF" (sun protective factor) shown on the label, the better is the skin protection provided. It is best to use this protector at least 30 minutes before you get your self exposed to the sun.
4) a "hydrator" or the moisturizer that you will put on your skin when you retire for the night. Usually, this has special ingredients that replenish the natural liquids and other components of your skin.
Most reputable skin care companies purveying the tools described earlier have packages that will fit in any skin type. Most companies would even encourage the user to use the whole package for best results.
Please note that you will have to follow a regimen so that these tools will do their most effective work on your skin. You will need to wash your face at least twice a day, once in the morning together with your other morning rituals, and at the end of your day before you go to bed. As can be heard and verified from all who have followed a skin-care regimen, this will take a lot of patience and discipline. It can even be challenging to some given many other disrupting activities that get in the way.
Also, you need to find time to sleep and rest well, at least a minimum of 6 hours (depending on your age) so as to allow the body to rejuvenate from daily excesses.There's also the need to consider following and implementing a good diet designed for your own body needs, which in turn will complement greatly your over-all skin care regimen.
Plus, of course, there's the need to follow basic hygiene practices, which will go a long way in skin-care practices. As advised and encouraged by health practitioners as well as by personal development specialists, it's best to take a bath everyday (as this is critical to keep your own good health, thus contributing to your efforts to keep youthful-looking, healthy skin). Take heed of this, as even certain cultures equate the process of taking a bath on a daily basis as part and parcel of their skin care regimen. Japan, for example, is known for the practice. And its people have the same word for "beautiful' and "clean" (or "kirei" which denotes a lot of meaning, that can be best elaborated on in another article).
