The 8 Commandments of Beauty

When I say the eight commandments of beauty I mean the stuff that we do other than putting on make-up on our faces. I'm talking about cleansing, toning, exfoliating, masking, make-up removal, moisturizing, sun protection, and anti-aging!

1. Cleansing
Face wash (or foam), or cleansing milk
Cleansing = a must. Mornings must start with face wash, nights must end with makeup remover. Exfoliation and masks you can live with on a weekly basis. While normal soap contains alkalies that stop skin from retaining moisture, face washes tend to be milder, with special properties such as oil-control and pore reducing elements.
HOW TO IDENTIFY THE ONE FOR YOU
Oily skin, Clean with a deep-cleansing wash: Lush Ultrabland Cleanser
Dry skin is best combated with a creamy cleanser: Everyuth Cream Face Wash
Combination skin, Wash away oil, not moisture: Clarins Pure Melt Cleansing Gel
Mature skin needs cleansing and moisturizing: Estée Lauder Soft Clean Tender Crème Cleanser

2. Makeup remover
Okay, so we've all had that day, when it feels like the five minutes it takes to get your makeup off are five minutes you just want to kick back and go to sleep. But not doing it can add lines to your face, because makeup clogs pores, causing both skin problems as well as make the skin looking dull.
Recs: M.A.C Gently Off Eye and Lip Makeup Remover, Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Milk

3. Firming
Toning is protective step post cleansing. Also referred to as clarifying lotions or softeners, toners balance the skin, and prepare it for better absorption of moisturizers. Use toner if you have oily or combination skin. Dry skins can do without one, but as a softener helps skin absorb moisturizer, you can use them even if you have dry skin.
Recs: Clinique Clarifying Lotion, Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Purifying Toner, Neutrogena Pore Refining Toner

4. Exfoliating
Dead skin cells need to be sloughed off if you want to show off fresh, glowing skin. Here, are the recommendations. Mechanical exfoliation is where dead skin cells are physically sloughed off with gentle abrasive substances that include walnuts, almonds, sea salt, fruit pits. Use one of these exfoliators twice weekly: Lush Ocean Salt Cleanser. Chemical Exfoliation is mostly performed at salons and falls into the category of chemical peels and microdermabrasion. Enzymes, alphahydroxy acids (AHAs) or betahydroxy acids (BHAS) loosen the glue-like substance that holds the cells together, allowing them to slough away. A good at-home pick: L'Oréal Paris Re-Finish Micro Dermabrasion Kit.

5. Mask
A mask exfoliates, draws out impurities, unclogs pores, and firms up your skin—in the time it takes you to watch one episode of Gossip Girl!
Oily and combination skin needs peel-off masks that remove impurities and tighten pores: Lush Mask of Magnaminty Cleanser. Dry skin needs a creme-based moisturizing mask: Lush Brazened Honey Detoxifying Face Mask, Clarins New Bright Plus HP Intensive Brightening Mask

6. Moisturizing
Whether oily, dry, combination, mature; if there's that you must follow, it's moisturize, moisturize! Cream, moisturizer or serum, when you sleep, the temperature of your skin rises a little. This lets skin absorb moisture better. Night creams, are, therefore formulated to be richer than day formulas.
Recs: Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Complex, L'Oréal Paris White Perfect Triple Whitening Repairing Night Cream, Nivea Visage Regenerating Night Care Cream, Neutrogena Light Night Cream.
Hand Cream, Hands get a lot dryer than many other parts of the body, thanks to exposure to the elements as well as frequent contact with water. Hand creams, therefore, are always formulated to be more intensive in their moisturising abilities.
Recs: Lush Handy Gurugu Hand Cream, Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream
Body Lotion
Your body needs moisture just the same as your face. The best time to moisturize is post-shower, and again at night, when the absorption of your skin is better.
Recs: the Body Shop Vitamin E Body Butter, Lush Enzymion Moisturizer, Clarins White Plus Brightening Body Veil SPF 20 pa++, Molton Brown Ultrasmooth Coco De Mer Body Lotion
Lip Balm
Lips have no sebaceous (oil) glands, no sweat glands, no hair, no skin pigment and are composed of very thin skin layers (3 to 5). Lip balms target this skin and kept it moist and well-hydrated. Recs: Clinique Super Balm Lip treatment, M.A.C Lip Conditioner, Molton Brown Wonder Lips Booster, Nivea Lip Care Essential.
Eye cream
Thinner than the rest of your facial skin, your eye area needs special care; that's where eye creams come in. Many skin creams contain AHAs, which help in exfoliation, but such products should never be applied around the eye area as they dry the skin, causing premature wrinkles. Eye creams are rich in oil and moisture, and target specific problems such as crow's feet, puffy eyes and dark under-eye circles.
Recs: M.A.C Moisturelush Eye Cream, Elizabeth Arden INTERVENE Eye Pause & Effect Moisture Eye Cream, Estee Lauder Resilience Lift Extreme, Clinique All About Eyes Rich.
Foot cream
The skin of your feet is different from that on the rest of your body; the sole is 15 times thicker than facial skin and thrice as thick as the skin of the palm. That's why a regular moisturizing lotion just won't cut it.
Recs: Avon FootWorks Triple Duty Cream, Burt's Bees Peppermint Foot Lotion

7. Sun Care!
One element that causes maximum skin damage is the sun. Sunscreen isn't a beauty indulgence, it's as much a necessity as water! No more sun!
Sunscreens and sunblocks
Now you already know that the higher the SPF (Sun Protection Factor), the more sunburn protection the product provides. But just applying sunscreen every morning won't do the trick--effectiveness of sunscreen is reduced if applied in inadequate quantities or washed off, rubbed off, sweated off, or otherwise removed. For maximum effectiveness, apply sunscreen liberally and reapply frequently. Remember that the sun's rays are the strongest from 10 AM to 4 PM, so minimize outdoor time if you can.
Recs: Clinique City Block Sheer SPF 25, Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Plump Perfect Moisture Cream SPF 30, Nivea Body UV Protection Lotion, Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sun Block SPF 70

8. Anti -Aging
They say Prevention is the best cure, but with skin, at times, it's the only cure! You show disrespect to your skin and wham! You get fine lines. No SPF, welcome deep set wrinkles. Rough handling of skin, more lines come into play. But other than doing what all we advised you to, add anti-aging products to your skin regimen. Experts advise anti-aging to be included from your early 20s, before you can even see the first fine lines on your skin.
Recs: Clarins Super Restorative, Elizabeth Arden Prevage, Chanel Precision, Olay Total Effects.