Get A Good Skincare Regime

If you suffer from breakouts or imbalances in your skin, a good skin care routine is a great way to make it more stable. Although we all start out with the best intentions, the trick is to really stick to your regime for the best result – no more falling in to bed with a full face of make-up on!

Start following these simple skincare guidelines and you'll start to see the benefits on your complexion in a matter of weeks.

Find out your skin type

The products that will suit you best depend on what kind of skin you have. If your skin often feels tight after washing and you sometimes get flaky patches you have dry skin. If you get spots or oily patches on your T zone (forehead, nose and chin) but sometimes dry on your cheeks then you have combination skin. If you are more prone to spots and sometimes have trouble with shiny skin then you have oily skin. If you often suffer skin irritations and reactions to products then you have sensitive skin. Once you've identified your skin type you can stock up on the beauty products that are best for you.

Cleanse

Cleanse your skin twice a day, morning and evening. To save time you can do this in the shower in the morning. You can use a cleansing cream or milk, or if you prefer simply use a face wash. If you wear a lot of make-up you'll need to use a good cleanser to get it all off.

Tone

If you use a heavy cleanser or have oily skin, apply toner with a cotton wool pad to remove any further traces of cleanser or your make-up. If you have dry or sensitive skin avoid any toners with alcohol in as this will be too drying. If you have very dry skin or have no need for a heavy cleanser you may wish to skip toner altogether.

Moisturise

Toner can be drying on the skin you so it's important you always moisturise immediately afterwards. Dry skins will need moisturising every time they wash as water is actually drying as its strips out the natural oils in your skin. Find a cream that suits your skin and apply to your face, neck and décolletage.

Exfoliate

Use an exfoliating facial scrub to remove old dead skin cells and reveal more youthful skin below. Don't use this too often as this can be damaging. Use it about once a week, or every few days if you have a very gentle one. Again, you can do this in the shower if you're tight on time.

Zap spots

If you do get a breakout, apply a spot-zapping product containing salicylic acid directly onto the spot, avoiding the skin around it. This will dry it out more quickly. Don't squeeze spots no matter how tempting it may be as they'll take longer to heal and you may be left with a scar. Just apply your product as frequently as you can, and cover the spot up if need be with a little concealer or foundation. If your skin is very prone to spots, use a face wash designed to keep them under control.

Keep nourished and hydrated

While it's a myth that giving in to the odd chocolate bar will cause you to come out in spots, maintaining a generally healthy diet will help keep them at bay. Drinking plenty of water will keep your skin well hydrated, which is very important whatever your skin type. Foods that are rich in vitamin E such as nuts are good for your skin. You can buy vitamin supplements specifically for nourishing the skin – fish oil supplements are very effective too.