Facing the Facts about Face Care

While beauty may be in the eye of the beholder, it is also in the TIME of the beholder. The definition, or what constitutes classic beauty, changes with the years. The ancient Greeks believed that the facial proportions needed to be harmonious for a woman to be beautiful, while the Victorians favored thin lips, and Rubens portrayed goddesses with double chins and fat cheeks.
Today, per our magazine models, we seem to favor thin bodied women with full, lush lips.

Throughout history women have gone to great lengths to achieve the standard, "beautiful" face. Elizabethan women went so far as to cover their faces in lead, achieving the coveted ghostly pallor of the beautiful face. Roman women smeared wax on wrinkles and mercury based lotions on freckles and spots, to maintain the beautiful face.

No matter what you, or the magazines, feel is the face of beauty today, women all over want clean, healthy skin. You can cover your hands and feet, camouflage your skin in clothing, but your face remains out there for all to see. Too many late nights, exposure to weather, stress, and poor diet all affect the sensitive skin of the face. To maintain health and beauty it is important to care for yourself and your skin. Pampering yourself is the key to putting your best face forward!

There are five steps to a perfect face. 1. Cleanse. This will rid your skin of dirt, makeup and oils. 2. Steam. This opens the pores, increases blood circulation in the facial capillaries and deep cleanses the skin. 3. Mask or Peel. This will further remove residue deep in the pores. It also nourishes and replenishes the skin with essential vitamins and minerals. 4. Tone. Toner tightens the pores and prepares the skin to accept the moisturizer.
5. Moisturize. This replenishes the skin with fluid and gives it a fine coat of protective film.

Here are some more tips for face care, then the next post will offer some more recipes!

• Remember to ALWAYS clean your face BEFORE doing a steam.
• Pull your hair back so you can get right up to the hairline.
• ALWAYS wear sunscreen when outside.
• Don't forget to moisturize above your upper lip and the area above the cheekbones, but below the eyes. These areas tend to be particularly lacking in moisture.
• When applying peels and masks, use a dark towel to avoid staining.
• Steam your skin once a week for the benefits mentioned in the steps of facial care.
• Be cautious when steaming. You do NOT want to scald the skin. If the steam is burning the inside of your nose, wait a few minutes for the water to cool down, the try again.
• Eating more whole grains, eggs, leafy greens and broccoli will naturally increase vitamin E in your system. Vitamin E promotes skin elasticity.
• Eating more spinach, cantaloupe, carrots and pumpkin will increase the amount of vitamin A in your diet, which lubricates and heals the skin.
• Don't forget to cleanse and care for your neck, just as you care for your face. Neck skin ages the same way the skin on your face does.