It’s in your hands. Have you ever noticed how beautiful a woman looks when she’s in a good mood? It’s certainly easier for those who, thanks to their character, can maintain composure, hide their problems and troubles, and thus develop the skill of controlling their facial muscles.
Any emotion reflects on our appearance, and unfortunately, in these challenging times, there are so few positive emotions. But with willpower, smile, and learn to diffuse tense moments with a joke. Given the significant impact that uplifting impulses have on both our overall well-being and our looks, I encourage every woman and girl to ensure that their facial expression is always pleasant and charming.
French cosmetologists divide skincare into three stages: cleansing, nourishing, and protecting against external irritants (like environmental and industrial factors). Therefore, specific skincare practices should be adjusted according to the skin’s current condition, as well as considering age and the season. Remember, the great physician Hippocrates, in his treatise “On Healthy Living,” recommends changing not only your diet but even the pace of your walks depending on whether it’s spring or autumn. Every modern cosmetologist will tell you before suggesting masks, “It’s August now, eat as many fresh salads as possible every day, and not just with onions. Use plantain, primrose, and nettle.” This is all because our skin reacts significantly to our diet.
Make sure to cleanse your face thoroughly in the evening, not in the morning. This is because during the day, the skin gets clogged with dust, sweat, and makeup. It’s best to do this about one and a half to two hours before bedtime. If your evening cleansing is thorough, then in the morning (when time is often short due to our many responsibilities), a splash of water will suffice. In cases where washing with soap irritates the skin, cleansing lotions and softening emulsions are used.
For oily skin, those containing alcohol are recommended. When using lotions and emulsions, be sure to change cotton pads 2-3 times. You can also prepare a cleansing solution at home. For this, take a rich cream (liquid creams are not used in such cases), mix it with an equal amount of unrefined oil, and apply a small amount of any cleansing cream to your face and neck (if the skin is dry, leave it on for 3-5 minutes) and remove it with a cotton pad soaked in tea or slightly acidic water. After this, apply a nourishing cream to your damp face.
Washing with milk is very beneficial. Our grandmothers used to do this, as milk has a calming effect on the skin, making it ideal for women with sensitive skin. This procedure is performed after cleansing the face and neck. Boil the milk and dilute it with an equal amount of water. You can wipe your face with a cotton pad soaked in milk, or if you have more time, it’s better to do it in a bowl, alternating between wetting one cheek and then the other, followed by the forehead and chin. If the facial skin is very irritated or flaky, add a strong infusion of chamomile or linden (one tablespoon per cup of water) instead of warm water.
You can wash with milk only if there are no scratches or pustules on the skin.
For women working in fields or polluted environments (like factories where fabrics are made), facial cleansing with a brush is recommended. This is done using a soft toothbrush with a soapy cream (any kind, such as shaving cream, can be used), allowing for simultaneous cleaning and massage, which strengthens the skin. This procedure is especially beneficial for those with porous and coarse oily skin. However, it is contraindicated for dry skin or if there are scratches or pustules present.
In winter and spring, this cleansing can be done once or twice a week, while in summer and autumn, it can be done every other day, for a month, followed by a month-long break.
After washing your face, moisten the brush with a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution, apply the soapy cream to it. Starting from the chin, use circular motions to gently massage the skin for 2-3 minutes, then apply more pressure—if the skin is very dirty and oily, leave the mixture on your face for 2-3 minutes after massaging. Rinse off, and apply a nourishing cream to your damp face.
