How to care your face

Basic beauty kit for taking proper care of the skin on your face should include cleanser, eye make up remover, toner, moisturizer, plus (depending on your age and individual needs) night cream, eye cream, throat cream and various masks.

Cleansers: There are foam cleansers, gel cleansers, cream cleansers, milky cleansers, cleansing oils and, of course, the original soap and water routine. (The modern cleansing bar is totally non alkaline and contains no soap of any kind. It can be used in any kind of water, hard or soft. It contains an emulsifying agent similar to that used in a cleansing cream, plus solidifying agents that turn the cream into a bar.) Which you use is a matter of personal preference, but the point of cleansing your skin is to clean it. New born babies are bathed and cleaned with oils; children and teenagers, even before starting to use make up, should learn to clean their face, not just to remove visible food or dirt but all over, to clear it of grime accumulated during the day which, if allowed to become ingrained, will cause spots and blackheads. Later it becomes obvious that stale make up needs removing thoroughly and the skin needs frequent cleansing.

Special eye make up removers: These become necessary as more and more people want water or smudge proof make up. This make up clings to the face and so becomes more difficult to remove, and ordinary cleansers, particularly soap and water, have a tendency to irritate the eyes. There are creams, oils and liquids to choose from also boxes of pads saturated with a cleanser which are neat and easy to use.

Toners: Either an alcohol free freshener, a mild toner or an astringent is necessary to remove any traces of cleanser, to close the pores and generally brighten up the skin's texture before the application of moisturizer.

Moisturizers: These help to replace the natural moisture lost through evaporation and act as a barrier protecting the skin from air pollution or as a preparatory base for foundation, making it easier to blend in and look natural.

Night creams: These are a richer form of moisturizer containing extra lubricants to help combat wrinkles and ageing. Young people and sufferers from oily skin often find a day time moisturizer sufficient for night time use.

Eye creams and throat creams are nourishing creams specially formulated to feed the skin in those areas. They are usually used at night, although the newer formulations are less and less greasy and are often recommended for day time use too.

Masks can cleanse, revitalize, condition, stimulate or exfoliate. They are applied all over the face, avoiding the eye area and mouth, left to dry for a certain time and then either rinsed or peeled off. They are always included in a professional facial when the type will be decided for you, but for home use be sure you buy the variety you want.

Cleansing masks have a deep down action, helping to free clogged pores, loosen blackheads, remove surface dirt and clear dead cells.

Revitalizing masks often provide the quick pick up your face needs before going out for the evening; they can be applied before a bath and will have done their job by the time you are out and dry in about 10 15 minutes.

Conditioning masks do just that. They give your face an occasional deep treat and are particularly good if you don't use a night cream, as they provide the extra nourishment your skin needs.

Stimulating masks purify the skin and activate circulation, pumping more oxygen to the surface and leaving the blood vessels

enlarged so that the skin will look pink when it's removed. This increased circulation will improve the skin's colour and texture.

Exfoliating masks are designed especially for the removal of dead cells from the surface of the skin and are really a gentle form of peeling (only practised to get rid of lines, soften scars and remove blemishes, and only done by qualified specialists). The dead cells are what often give the skin a grey look or blotchy tone, and the use of an exfoliating mask will brighten the appearance and smooth the texture.