It always amuses me to see all the commercials on television that talk about what good deals are being offered for their skin care products– products which cost twenty, thirty or forty dollars for small containers of product that are only a few ounces at best. Finding *real* deals on cosmetic products can be tricky, but discounted products do exist. Whether you are looking for drug store products or department store potions, you can get more bang for your buck with these four hot tips.

Firstly, check to see whether your drugstore sells a generic brand of your favorite cleansers or lotions. Generic and store brands are often just as good as the name brand, with comparable or the exact same ingredients in them. Second, be aware of free gifts that department stores periodically offer. Brand name cosmetics in department stores often have a free gift with a purchase that has quality products included. Don’t buy your favorite lipstick until it comes along with a free gift. These free gifts often include other lipsticks, mascara, facial lotion and eye shadows.

Thirdly, look into buying your name brand products through online auctions. Is that facial lotion really worth forty dollars to get it from the department store? Some online auctions offer name brand products that are sealed and have never been opened. Fourth, know your ingredients! If you know what makes that lotion special to you, you can buy a cheaper one that does basically the same thing. For example, if you have a face lotion that you love and you know the active ingredient in it is salicylic acid, you can look for a cheaper version and get basically the same results on your face. Don’t be fooled into thinking that quality products are always expensive. Some times, the simpler, the better.

It takes a little extra work, but following these simple guidelines can help you get the most bang for your buck and keep you from spending more money than you intended to when you walk into that department store that smells oh, so good, with the sales people that look oh, so perfect.

Discounted Cosmetics

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Everyone wants to enjoy flawless and ageless skin, but unfortunately most people are unwilling to do what is needed to achieve their goal.

Acquiring *and* sustaining beautiful/glowing skin is a matter of creating solid discipline. A personal skin care routine is a must (and you need to follow your chosen skin care routine with complete seriousness). So let’s talk about what’s included in a effective facial skin care routine. Here is a skin care routine I would recommend to people with normal skin:

Step 1: Cleansing
Step 2: Toning
Step 3: Exfoliating
Step 4: Moisturizing

Cleansing is usually the first step in any facial skin care routine. Cleansing helps your skin remove dirt, toxins, grease and extra oil, thereby preventing your skin from harm. Just spot your face and neck with a mild cleansing gel or cream (soap will do more harm than good) and gently massage it into your skin with a circular motion. Use a soft face towel or cotton wool to pat your face dry (do not rub). For normal skin cleansing should be done twice a day i.e. in the morning (as part of complete skin care routine) and in the evening (on a standalone basis). I would recommend trying a water soluble cleanser in your new skin care routine.

The next step in our skin care routine is toning. Remember, this is a optional step in your skin care routine. Usually, effective cleansing can compensate for the need of a toner. Toning helps remove the excess dirt and grease that your cleanser might have missed. I don’t believe you should include toning in your daily skin care routine. Instead, you should only using toning when you have been exposed to particularly harsh environment or pollution.

Exfoliation is not really required step in daily skin care routine. I will say that exfoliation is necessary and it needs to be done at least once or twice a week. Exfoliation always seems to finds its place in most skin care routines because it helps our skin replenish skin cells. As a skin care technique, exfoliation help remove the dead skin cells that block our pores, thus assisting our skin in creating new skin cells. However, too much exfoliation can damage your skin; so you need to find a good balance.

The final step in our skin care routine is moisturising. In fact, moisturising is probably the most important part of any complete skin care routine. As you know, moisturisers prevent your skin from becoming dry. Dry skin can be really troublesome since it cause the upper layer skin to break, leading to dead skin cells. Again, I recommend using light circular strokes to help your skin fully absorb the moisturiser. Moisturisers are more effective when applied on warm and damp skin. So don’t remove all the moisture from your skin before you use your moisturiser.

Besides this normal skin care routine, you should also implement the following skin care tips:

* Use proper make-up remover instead of just washing it away
* Pay heed to your skin type and the environment, when choosing facial skin care products.
* Before you start using a new facial skin care product, test it by applying it on a short patch of skin e.g. ear lobes.
* Never rub your skin too hard.
* Use sunscreen lotions for protection against sun.

I hope you get the most out of this skin care routine.

To Flawless Skin,

Alex McCarthy

Woman With Good Skin

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