Because of the exposure it receives, the skin on your face is the most delicate skin on your body. Your facial skin needs special care to stay young, healthy, and beautiful.

1. Clean Your Face Gently

[an error occurred while processing this directive] Toothpaste can be very irritating to the skin around the mouth. So brush your teeth before cleansing your face to remove any toothpaste residue that may be left on your lips and cheeks (You should use a natural toothpaste free from toxic Flouride- “Jasons” brand works well. Next, splash your face with lukewarm water and smooth about a quarter-size amount of a mild, natural cleanser over your face. You may use a washcloth or facial cloth if you wish, but fingertips are gentler on the skin. Use circular strokes to lightly massage the cleanser into your skin. Rinse the soap from your face with lukewarm water, and blot your skin dry with a clean, soft towel.

2. Use Toner Sparingly

Skin toning products often contain drying products, such as alcohol or acetone, that can be irritating to sensitive skin. Avoid using a skin toner if your skin has become dry and delicate over the years. However, a natural skin toner like the product “Oxy-Skin” will bind water to the skin and provide extra cleansing and moisture. This product would be useful for someone with dry or oily skin.

[an error occurred while processing this directive] Use skin toner on freshly cleansed skin. Apply toner to a cotton tissue rather than a cotton ball as a tissue is less absorbent and you will end up using less toner on your face. Gently smooth the tissue over your face and allow the toner to dry.

3. Apply Eye Cream

The skin under your eyes is more delicate and sensitive than the skin on the rest of your face. It is the first part of your face to show signs of aging. An natural eye cream or serum can help to protect this fragile skin, even out skin tone, minimize dark under eye circles, and even temporarily tighten fine lines.

Use a pea-sized amount of eye cream (Parfait Visage) and apply to your skin with your middle finger. This finger will apply less pressure than your index finger. In a clockwise motion, smooth the cream from the center of the undereye area to the browbone and over your lids.

4. Moisturize Liberally

A good moisturizer is one of the foundations of an effective skin care routine. Use a moisturizer right after bathing to seal moisture into your skin. A moisturizing product that is not made especially for the face may be too heavy and it may leave the face looking and feeling greasy. Creams and lotions usually are the facial moisturizers of choice for a couple of reasons, as they contain some water and are lighter on the face. And many creams and lotions are humectants, an oil-free class of moisturizer that binds water to the skin so its effects are longer lasting.

Massage a nickel-size amount of facial moisturizer between your fingertips and then smooth over the skin on your face and neck using upward and outward strokes. Pulling down on your skin will aggravate the effects of gravity.

5. Protect Your Face

The best way to prevent unnecessary sun damage is to protect your skin from exposure to the sun. Excess sun exposure can cause damage to your skin in the form of freckles, roughness, age spots, wrinkles, and cancer. Skin cells can repair themselves to a certain degree even after they have been overexposed to ultraviolet light, as long as further exposure is avoided. So it is worth taking the precautions to protect your skin from sun at any age. Ultraviolet rays barrage your face even when you least expect it: in the car, at the bus stop, and even walking in and out of the house. Use a natural sunscreen product everyday, even if you don't plan on spending a lot of time outdoors.

Facial Skin Care Tips

Don't wait until bedtime to remove dirt, makeup, dust and pollutants from the face. If you're in for the night, wash your face as soon as you get home for the day and apply eye cream and moisturizers.

Avoid soda, coffee and other caffienated beverages. These drinks dehydrate your body and rob moisture from the skin. Instead, make sure you drink plenty of purified water throughout the day. Water helps to plump your skin with moisture and it improves circulation. Try to drink enough water that you are never actually thirsty. I recommend a “Wellness Water™” purification system.

Use sunscreen everyday, not just when you are headed to the beach. It’s never too late to start protecting your skin from the damaging effects of the sun. Wearing a sunscreen with at least SPF 15 everyday can protect your skin from premature aging, wrinkling, and age spots.

For more information on natural skin care and make-up go to http://www.skin-care-support.org.