Caring for Your Skin

Skin is marvelous stuff. There's no one in this world that can duplicate its diverse roles of waterproof, overcoat, sunshade, suit of armor and refrigerator; sensitive to the touch of a feather, to temperature and to pain, and able to withstand the wear and tear of three score years and ten, all the while executing its own running repairs?

If you are eating healthily, taking regular exercise and fighting stress with relaxation techniques, you be well on the way to having good-looking skin. But are you really clued up on modern skincare? Here's how to make the most of your complexion, from cleansing and moisturizing to facials and problem-solving.

To soap or not to soap? Over the years, the experts seem to have got in all of a _lather over what we should do to cleanse our skin properly. Now, the consensus is: it is OK to wash your face with soap, but use the mildest soap you can find and rinse thoroughly. Most skins can take a mild soap and water wash, unless yours is very dry and sensitive.

Ordinary alkaline soap is supposed to upset the pH of the skin, which usually tends towards the acid. However, healthy skin rebounds back to a normal pH of 4.5 in about 10-15 minutes. Although your skin might feel a bit taut after washing, the skin oils rebound in about the same time too.

But what if it still feels dry and taut after 15 minutes. Switch to a 10I a more gentle, rinse-off, creamy cleanser. These are applied like a cream but lather up with water and are then rinsed away, together with make-up, grime and excess oil. They give speedy cleansing, without fuss.

Pay particular attention to rinsing round the hairline, where make-up collects, and around the nose. If you like to use a flannel, be sure to wash it frequently. Highly scented soaps are best kept for the bath and body, not your face, and never use a deodorant soap above your neck.

Learn more about Surfing Fitness and Surfing Skincare