A few days ago, only women were represented in beauty or makeup. Now, times have changed. Men have also become quite beauty-conscious. Beautiful skin and a graceful body are the main prerequisites of beauty. Many people these days are getting confused by all the flashy advertisements. They are damaging their skin while trying to make it beautiful. Therefore, to avoid the possibility of such damage, you need very few but correct ideas to make the skin healthy and beautiful. Beautiful skin does not mean fair skin, because there is no reason to worry about whether the skin color is dark or fair. It is necessary to keep the skin alive, smooth, and bright through regular and proper care. Healthy skin means skin that is disease-free or not affected by any disease process.

But when it comes to care, many people usually only focus on the face, which is not right. The body can be made beautiful and attractive through proper care and grooming of all parts, from head hair to toenails. Physical health is closely related to beautiful skin.

Although there are many cosmetics and beauty products available on the market for skin care, many users are not aware of the ingredients in these cosmetics or how to apply them to the skin. Additionally, many do not really know what kind of cosmetics should be used for their skin type and care. The following procedures are generally adopted for skin care: 

(a) Cleanser 

(b) Freshener 

(c) Moisturizer 

(d) Conditioning 

(e) Stimulating 

(f) Exfoliating

(a) Cleanser: Oily substances are secreted from the oil glands present in the skin of our body. This secreted oil keeps the skin soft and smooth. Additionally, the sweat produced by the sweat glands in the skin maintains the body’s temperature balance. These oils and sweat combine to form a thin and invisible coating on the skin. This coating, known as the acid mantle, helps retain moisture in the skin and acts as an antiseptic. However, to maintain the normal condition of the acid mantle, the skin must be kept clean through cleansing. The cosmetics currently used for cleansing purposes include (1) soaps and cleansing bars, (2) oil-free cleansers, (3) cleansing creams, (4) astringents and toners, (5) exfoliants, and (6) cleansing masks.

(1) Cleansing bar: 40 years ago, soap was used as the ideal cleanser. However, this soap was alkaline and would irritate the skin, forming calcium salts in hard water. Later, syndet bars were invented as a synthetic alternative. Their use was limited to skin with a pH of 5-6, which is considered normal. As a result, this pH-balanced soap was more tolerable for users.

There are three types of soap: 

• Simple cleansing bars that only contain soapy ingredients.
• Deodorant bars that have added antibacterial agents in addition to sodium soap. The pH of these soaps is between 9 and 10, which can damage the skin.
• Moisturizing syndet bars, such as Dove soap, are limited to a pH of 5 to 7. They are less irritating to the skin, so they are sometimes marketed as beauty bars. Most soaps in the cosmetic industry fall into this category.

(2) Oil-free cleanser: These are liquid cleansers that can clean the skin without the need for soap or water. They create a lather when applied to the skin, and afterward, the skin is wiped clean and kept dry.

(3) Cleansing Cream: This cream is used to cleanse and moisturize the face. It contains water, mineral oil, petroleum jelly, and beeswax. Therefore, cleansing creams are ideal for dry skin. 

(4) Astringent Toner: These are scented products used to tighten the skin and remove excess oil. They are beneficial for those with acne who require an oil-free foundation. These substances reduce oiliness with use and are claimed to absorb oil.

(5) Exfoliating: They contain salicilic acid which helps to remove dead skin cells. They are also helpful in treating acne. Exfoliants are formulated for use on oily skin and are used instead of astringents to clear acne-prone skin.

(6) Cleansing Mask: Also known as a cleansing mask facial, these masks make the skin feel tight. Cleansing masks can penetrate deep into the pores, making them useful in treating acne.