Seventeen September 2013

Picking the perfect exfoliator -

Oily - a gel scrub - your goal: de-gunk the dirt and stop oil so your skin doesn’t get shiny. What you need is a gel-based scrub with salicylic acid. The gentle beds get the schmutz out of your pores, and the salicylic acids swoops in to kill bacteria that could cause pimples.

Normal - an exfoliating brush:  sometimes even after you wash, there’s makeup left on your skin, and that buildup leads to breakouts! Using an exfoliating brush with your basic cleanser loosens and removes the leftover makeup that has seeped inside your pores.

Sensitive - a creamy formula: inflamed zits are the worst! And since your skin is extra - sensitive, you need to tackle acne in a gentle way so your blemishes don’t erupt and get irritated. A cream based exfoliant is a way more delicate on your face but still unclogs.

How to:

1. Clean it up - first use a mild face wash to cleanse your skin. This step may seem redundant, but before you exfoliate, you want a clean canvas. Then the exfoliant can focus on digging out the stubborn dirt and oil that are stuck deeper inside your pores.

2. Scrub a dub - lightly massage exfoliator onto skin for one full minute in upward circular motions. Start at your chin, move up your cheeks, and end at the top of your forehead. Do this only twice a week - any more and you could irritate your skin and make acne worse!

3. Get baby soft - wash off with warm water and pat don’t rub, your skin dry with a clean towel. Then dab on a moisturizer to really bring out your soft new glow. Don’t worry that it will re-gunkify your face: if you get one that says non-comedogenic on the bottle, it means that it doesn’t clog pores.

Love your texture!

Straight - give sleep strands a extra boost with a volumizer. For instant body, apply  in small sections, really working the product through from roots to roots.

Wavy  - to perfect your just-went-surfing waves, wait until your hair is partially dried before scrunching in cream gel all over.

Curly - say goodbye to frizz by combing a styling cream through damp hair with a wide tooth comb. Then use a diffuser to get your bounciest curls.

Relaxed  - straightening treatments can take a serious toll on your locks - making them dry and damaged. Keep strands healthy and shiny with a split end serum that binds damaged parts.

Super - Curly  - don’t let your springs look lifeless! Use an oil enriched formula that defines and enhances natural curls and adds mega shine.