Teen Titans Magazine Vol. 5 issue 1 Final-3 | Page 16

Skin Care: Do’s and Don’ts By: Natalie C. Staff Member, Grade 8 If you’re one of the poor souls (like myself) with oily skin and acne that always seems to be a constant, then maybe you should start taking better steps in the care of your skin. Now that we’re all in junior high, exposed to skin-clogging toxins like sweat and dirt, now is the absolute best time to start taking better care of your skin. One product that I’d recommend is Murad face wash. It may not show your desired results when you first start using it, but after your first bottle, you can notice a very visible difference within your skin. It deep-cleans your skin and prevents bad breakouts with medication inside. To be exact, it’s called Clarifying Cleanser, but make sure to choose a product that’s right for you. Another great Murad product is the Acne Spot Fix. It’s a medicated cream that you rub on any large pimples or acne spots you have, and it helps in healing it so it’s not as large. You can also put it on a popped zit, which treats it and doesn’t make it leave a nasty scar. A little bit of the stuff can go a long way. Clearogen Acne Lotion is also a very effective product to use right after you wash your face. Although it’s a bit on the pricey side, the Clinique Clear Skin System is perfect if you want reduced redness, smaller pores, and way clearer skin. It’s a three-step system that includes a cleansing face wash, toner, and clearing lotion. If you have sensitive skin, using it once a day may dry out your face, so opt for using it every other day. If you’re perfectly fine with using all three once a day, then make it a routine every day, especially after a shower. Since I’m currently using it right now, I can definitely tell that it’s been helping out a lot. Making a habit of using the three steps every day can really bring a difference in your skin. Looking for more natural solutions? Then keep reading. You can try out some face masks made with ingredients you might even already have in your own kitchen. A turmeric face mask is a natural remedy for detoxifying your skin. Turmeric is an Indian herb mainly used in cooking, but can also be used for masks like this. Its many beneficial uses make it very popular. But make sure you’re wearing an old shirt while using it, because this herb can stain for a while. In order to make it, you take two tablespoons of turmeric powder, a tablespoon of honey, and one teaspoon of milk, and add them together in bowl. You then mix them together until you get a peanut butter-like substance. You may have to alter how much you add, depending on how much you want to make. Just take an amount on your fingers and rub wherever you’re breaking out. It’s best that you do this before taking a shower, because washing off the yellow mask is pretty troublesome. Now, onto the don’ts of skin care. A common mistake that all of us have done is picking blemishes when they’re not ready to come out. Not only is it very painful, but it will scar your skin badly, and it damages your pores. For these, add a bit of tea tree oil on wherever you need it. This dries out the pimple fairly quickly, and kills bacteria. It makes a good toner, too. Not hydrating yourself or moisturizing enough is one of the worst things you can do to yourself. This may be said way too much, but it’s very important to drink water. Eating greasy foods like pizza or anything fried isn’t good, either. You can still eat those foods, but not excessively. Using a napkin to wipe the grease off your pizza or instead trading it in for pasta are wise choices. If all of this is just too much work for you, then please just wash your face daily. Your future self will definitely thank you. 16