5 Skin Care Sins to Avoid

FACIAL FAUX PAS They say your eyes are the window to the soul, but what about your face? Your skin says a lot about how you take care of yourself and what kind of life you lead. It's the first thing people see when you meet them, so if you want to make a good complexion impression, you're going to have to make sure your face looks fabulous. We put together a list of major skin care sins to always avoid. SLEEPING IN YOUR MAKEUP No matter how tired you are, skipping the sink and falling right into bed is never a good idea. We know it's tempting, but leaving all that primer, powder and foundation on your skin can clog pores, irritate skin and cause a whole host of other problems like blackheads and other blemishes. To avoid all that potential complexion chaos, always wash your face before you go to sleep. There's a whole day's worth of dirt, oil and debris on your face – do you really want to leave it there? If you're too tired to turn on the tap, use a facial cleansing wipe to take the day – and your makeup off. Keep a stash on your nightstand for easy access and make sure you use them if you really don't have the energy to wash up. SKIPPING THE SCRUB Exfoliating is a skin care staple and something that should never be skipped. It may seem trivial or like a time waster, but trust us when we tell you it's a must for a fabulous face. Exfoliating once a week is your ticket to smooth, clear, glowing skin. Why? Exfoliation sloughs off all the things (dead skin, dirt, etc.) that can build up on your skin, clog your pores and leave your face looking lackluster, making it an essential ingredient for natural beauty. You'll either need a granular exfoliant (like a sugar or salt scrub), which is great for oily or combination skin, a chemical exfoliant (that uses AHAs), which is best for dry skin, or an enzyme exfoliator (usually fruit based), that dissolves dead skin without scrubbing, making it ideal for more sensitive skin. NOT CLEANING YOUR MAKEUP BRUSHES This is an easy one to forget or push to the bottom of your to-do list, but try to make cleaning your brushes a priority for the sake of your skin. Every time your brushes touch your face, they're picking up the natural oils and other debris that are always on your skin. The less you wash your brushes, the more they accumulate all of that icky stuff, which eventually has the potential to cause blemishes and skin irritations. Either use unscented soap and warm water or get a brush cleaner and give your brushes a bath regularly (at least once a month) and then allow them to dry completely (you can gently blow dry them) before using. MISSING OUT ON MOISTURE Your skin needs moisture – both inside and out – to look its best. This means staying hydrated (drink those eight glasses of water a day) plus choosing a good moisturizer that's suited to your skin type and the season and using it daily. Even if you have oily skin, moisture is not your enemy. In fact, the more you dry out your skin, the worse it's going to look and feel. To get the most bang for your buck from your night cream, celebrity makeup artist and beauty expert Mally Roncal suggests applying a bit of primer on top of your night cream. The primer will seal in your night cream, allowing it to really do its job, instead of just evaporating into the air or rubbing off on your pillowcase. UNDER-WASHING Many skin care experts suggest washing your face twice at night – once to remove makeup and once to actually cleanse the skin. If you are wearing makeup and you only wash once, you could be leaving some product behind where it can then settle into your pores. Of the women we polled, less than half washed twice but all said that they knew they probably should on days where they were wearing a lot of makeup. You don't have to double-wash every time you hit the sink, but gauge the amount of product you have on, and if it's more than usual, make sure skin is truly clean by cleansing twice. **(article courtesy of sheknows.com)**

Treat Yourself at Home

EASY AT-HOME BEAUTY TREATMENTS Next time you stop by your local farmer's market or grocer, pick up a few extras of these spring fruits and vegetables for mixing up your own homemade skin care products! It will save you money -- and taste great. LEMON CLEANSER FOR ALL SKIN TYPES Beauty ingredients 1/8 cup ground almonds (A coffee grinder works well) 2 tbs milk or cream 1 tsp lemon juice Combine thoroughly, and use to gently cleanse skin. Rinse well with warm water. Skin care benefit According to Sue Dolan, M.Ed., author of Naturally Skinsational: Rejuvenating Skin Care Recipes, lemons are a natural source of alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) and antioxidants. Dolan says, "A natural form of AHA such as lemon is found in many natural skin care recipes for not only the cleansing attributes but for toning and exfoliating the skin." SKIN-REVITALIZING ORANGE PEEL Beauty ingredients  1 egg yolk  1 tsp honey 1/8 cup fresh citrus (lemon, orange or lime) juice 1 packet plain gelatin Mix together thoroughly, and apply to skin for 20 to 25 minutes. Skin care benefit Navel oranges are a great source of AHAs and vitamin C, which are clinically proven to prevent wrinkles and fine lines. In this creation by Dolan, "The egg yolk moisturizes and firms, the honey moisturizes and the citrus juice exfoliates the dead skin cells away, stimulating new cell production." AVOCADO BODY MASK Beauty ingredients  2 avocados, thoroughly mashed into a paste  3 tablespoons sea salt or kosher salt  1/4 cup honey Grated rind of two fresh lemons, along with the juice 1/4 cup organic coconut oil Mix all ingredients together until smooth and creamy. (The consistency should be that of a thin sour cream.) Apply to your skin for 10 to 15 minutes, then scrub off well with warm water. Keep unused portion in refrigerator for two to three days. Skin care benefit "Avocados have a treasure trove of anti-aging attributes," gushes Dolan, including vitamins A, D and E, as well as proteins, lecithin, potassium and beta-carotene, a cancer-fighting ingredient. Dolan continues, "Avocados also are high in emollient qualities imparted by sterolins, which work to heal sun-damaged skin, scarring and reduce age spots." STRAWBERRY DRAWING FACIAL MASK Beauty ingredients 1/2 cup fresh strawberries 1 tablespoon fresh milk 1 tablespoon rice flour or cornstarch Mash together all ingredients to make a smooth paste. Spread over your face and neck, and leave on for 20 minutes. Rinse with warm water and pat your skin dry. Use twice weekly. Skin care benefit Strawberries contain natural antioxidants, which are known to repair skin and act as anti-aging agents, as well as protect your skin from environmental stress. The salicylic acid in strawberries removes dead skin cells, unveiling the smooth, radiant skin below. APRICOT AND PAPAYA FACE SCRUB Beauty ingredients 1 tsp apricot kernel powder (finely grated)  3 tbs apricot pulp 3 tbs ripe papaya pulp (peak season is beginning of summer; end of spring if you're lucky!) Mix all ingredients together and apply to your face and neck for 20 minutes. Gently scrub while rinsing off. Leon Rao, natural skin care advisor and author of Leon's Anti-aging Beauty Secrets, advises, "If you don't have apricot kernel powder at home, you can substitute it with oatmeal powder or almond powder." Skin care benefit Apricots are high in beta-carotene and known for reducing problematic skin issues. A mixture of sub-acids and sugar, apricots are great for gentle exfoliation and nourishment, leaving your skin soft and brighter. CARROT FACIAL MASK Beauty ingredients 2-3 large carrots 4 1/2 tbs honey Cook carrots, then mash into a smooth consistency. Mix the mashed carrots with honey, and apply to your face. Leave on for 10 minutes before rising off with cool water. Skin care benefit With roots in Afghanistan, carrots are known for their high potency of vitamin A, as well as vitamin C, folacin and potassium. Carrot juice moisturizes and repairs skin tissue, while protecting it from sun damage and toning the skin. **(article courtesy of sheknows.com)**