Skin Care Tips

Protect your skin. If there is one thing that you take from this article, this is it: use sun screen. We all know that sun screen protects your skin from this sun, and this obviously reduces your chance of skin cancer. Did you also know that this reduces your chance of signs of early aging? 90% of premature aging is caused by the sun. Sure, it may not be something that you are thinking of when your in your teens, but you'll be glad you did in 15 years. Apply sunscreen with a minimum SPF 15 (I recommend higher) when you're out in the sun or driving around with your friends. Don't forget to reapply. And share this beauty tip with your friends. They will thank you in 15 years as well.
Ditch the bar soap you have in your shower. Find a facial cleanser that's best for your skin type. Do you have oily skin? (charactistics of oily skin) Many teens find that oily skin is their main concern, so look for a gel based cleanser if this is your problem. An affordable one that you can pick up at the drugstore would be Clean and Clear Acne Cleanser (compare prices) which includes Salicylic Acid which helps clear acne. Make sure you wash your face in the morning and at night. You never want to sleep in your makeup. It's important to strip your face clean before you put your head down.
Moisturize your face. The idea that those with oily skin don't need a moisturizer is just plain false. What you do need is a light oil-free moisturizer to put on after you cleanse. Clean & Clear Soft Oil-Free Day Moisturizer, SPF 15 (compare prices) is a good choice because of the sun protection. (It's not enough for all day; reapply as needed). Always moisturize after you wash and dry your face. If your skin is very oily, you may choose to just moisturize in the morning.
Use a weekly mask and a weekly exfoliator. A mask deep cleans your pores, while an exfoliator removes the top layer of skin. When choosing a mask, look for a clay mask like Aveda's Deep Cleansing Herbal Clay Masque (compare prices) which will open pores and clean deep down. A weekly to bi-weekly exfoliator will encourage new skin to come to the surface faster. Try Biore Pore Minimizing Refining Exfoliator (compare prices) for a great drugstore brand. Make sure you are gentle; if you over scrub, your skin may break out even further. Use once a week for polished skin.
Is Acne Your Problem?
If acne is a problem for you, just know that you are far from alone. I know at times it may seem like you are, but the best of us have had our fair share of pimples. (me!) What I know is that acne is no fun at all. Here are some things that you may or may not have known about acne.
How bad is your acne? Take the The Acne Quiz to see where you fall in severity.
What causes acne? Do you think it's pizza, chocolate or stress? What do you believe is the reason you're breaking out? Chances are good you're stressing about the wrong things. See if you're right with our Top Acne Myths, and spread the word to your friends.
Treat acne with a spot-treatment. You never know where acne is going to pop up, so if you have oily or acne prone skin, a cleanser or moisturizer with Salicylic Acid helps keep acne at bay. But don't stress about the acne you already have; a spot treatment will help. Applied directly to the blemish, it helps dry out and clear up your blemish faster than it would on its own.