Salma Hayek's skin looks fabulous for someone who just turned 40. I remember reading in a magazine once that she keeps her beauty regimen simple. There are three basic steps to Salma's skincare routine:
- Regular facials (to exfoliate and encourage cell turnover)
- Wearing sunscreen daily
- Never washing her face in the morning
That third step is the most important. Salma was quoted in the article as saying, "I don't see how your face can get that dirty from the time you go to bed to the time you wake up." She explained that she only washes her face at night, to remove dirt and makeup, with a gentle soap. Then she applies moisturizer. In the morning when she wakes up, she simply splashes some warm water on her face to reactivate the moisturizer from last night, applies sunscreen, a little makeup, and she's set.
I've gotta say, Salma's technique actually works. When I first read that article, I was about 25, and my skin was turning into a mess. I used to wash morning and night, sometimes even in the afternoon, apply loads of zit cream, use toners, all that stuff. My skin ended up looking both flaky and shiny at the same time, and I realized I was over cleaning my face. I was stripping it dry of it's natural oils and that's why I was ending up with that dry top layer and oily underlayer of skin.
So I took Salma's advice, and stopped washing my face with soap in the morning. I only used warm water and patted it dry with a towel. I also started using those home facial/exfoliator puffs (like Dove's) and ditched the drying toners. And you know what? Salma was right. Aside from the occasional breakout here and there, I don't have that problem with shiny/flaky skin anymore. Skipping that morning wash with soap really made a difference for me. I only hope my skin looks as good as Salma's when I hit the big 4-0.
photo via salmahayekweb.com
9 comments:
I never wash my face in the morning out of sheer laziness. Good to know that I'm doing the right thing:)
That is a really good suggestion, which I am now going to try. Saves time in the morning too!
It does save time in the morning. I never realized how much time it took to wash soap off my face until I stopped doing it.
Actually, now that I'm home and don't need to go to work, I sometimes go almost two days without washing my face. Sounds icky, but I used to have really dry skin during the winters, but now it's just normal. I think when it comes to washing your face, less is more.
Her skin looks very pretty in this picture, but you can't trust these airbrushed, photoshopped things. What really counts is what your skin looks like without makeup, and that is no easy test to subject anyone too.
But, I do agree with the hazards of over-washing and over-producting your face. Keep it simple always works best. I wish I had gone easier on my face during the teen years though. I still have horrible scarring from long-ago blemishes.
I rarely wash my face with soap - except in the shower with liquid Dove. Lukewarm water does the trick at other times. I do use toner though to control breakouts.
One thing that seems to help a lot is desi face cream, with milk cream as its main ingredient, not mineral oil. If I can sleep all night, I wake up to a bright, glowing face.
Of course, I also thoroughly exfoliate twice a week with St Ives Apricot scrub.
wow, so THATS what it is! my skin is flaky but oily too...and i use neutrogena morning and night, and a toner twice too. and i'm breaking out and using all sorts of topical medicines...i'll try ms. hayek's advice and see what happens. thanks chic!
ameet, I stopped using St. Ives, I read in Allure that it causes microscopic fine tears in your skin on your face. But it's great to use on arms and legs. For the face, if you're not into glycolic peels like REnoviste (which is what I'm using these days for exfoliating,) I like Biore exfoliating scrub.
Maleeha, sounds like you have the same thing that happened to me. If your face doesn't get a chance to make its own oils (because you're always stripping it dry), that's what happens, a total imbalance of dry and oily on your face. Neutrogena is okay to use, but only once a day, preferably at night. I have found that though, that Clinique three-step system just makes drynesss worse. I think all of us have fallen for that gimmick at least once, but it just messed up my skin.
I'm glad I read this- I used to do the exact same thing as Salma (except I did the facials myself) and then I started using a tons of products instead for some reason. Small wonder my skin is a mess these days! I'll be going back to my old ways :)
This post saved my skin and changed my life. You rule for sharing this!!!
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