CTM - Why? ( Cleanse Tone Moisturize)

Image sourced from chiclooking.co.in

  Why is it important to cleanse, tone and moisturize your face?
Facial skin is most vulnerable to the effects of our life style - whether we are holed up in an air conditioned office all day or we're out in the sun for most of the day.
I keep my routine simple but I do it everyday - cleanse, tone and moisturize (CTM)
Why?

1. Cleansing - here you use a face wash or cleanser that suits your skin the best and apply it to your wet face in circular motions all around  ( don't skip the hair line) and on your neck. Once you're done splashing about you realize that the layer of excess oil, dust and grime is visibly reduced apart from the psychological effect of feeling fresh as a daisy?

Feel like your skin is too dry or non oily? Try a cream based face wash - its an important step in restoring your natural oil balance while you cleanse your face

2. Toning - once your face is feeling soft as a petal right after you pat it dry, you realize that you can now see all those trouble spots, maybe you have open pores, maybe you have a little nasty zit popping up, maybe your make up was too resilient - you need to tone your skin to restore the natural Ph balance of your skin, address those open pores, get rid of remnants of your day's make up or the cleanser you used even!

3. Moisturizing - before your toner dries up its important to seal in the moisture with a luscious moisturizer. You can use anything that suits your mood, ensure your toner is not jealous. I have combination skin and I used to skip this step till I realized that its almost like a crime, its like treating your skin to a full course meal without dessert. 

You must moisturize, if your skin is too oil, try water based products.

CTM must be accompanied with some good mental energy exercises as well otherwise its a waste!

1. Cleanse  - while cleansing, please rid your mind of all the negative thoughts you have - its toxic to feel bad about yourself. While you're cleansing your face, get rid of the day's toxins. Here you must tell your self " I'm opening myself up to receive love"

2. Toning - Now you've got to attack those deep rooted toxins, if there's too many things from the past that are troubling you, just dig them out from every inch of your skin. Get rid of those resilient emotional toxins that your mind is holding on to. Tell yourself "I'm freeing myself from all emotional baggage" 

3. Moisturizing - soothe your mind with some love. Tell yourself " I approve of myself, I love myself" 

Go girl go !!!!

3 Step Ritual towards beautiful skin

Image sourced from  clinique.com

I believe skin is the index of your emotions.
You're shy - you blush, you're happy - you glow...you're sad - you look pale.
I was going through many changes in my life in early 2010.
These changes showed up as angry skin reactions on my face.
Nothing seemed to work - water, exercise, diet nothing could fight my skin's angry reactions.
That's when I stumbled upon Clinique's 3 step cleansing system
Based on a skin test at the Clinique outlet I was diagnosed as a Type 3 i.e. Combination oil ( No surprise here with the 90% humidity level in my city)
You can take this simple test on Clinique's website to determine your skin type.
You can match your skin type to the products as indicated on the website.
I'm a type 3 - so I need to use the products that you see in the image.
I'll be introducing these products in another post, right now I'll explain the 3 steps
Step 1 - Cleanse : here you will need to use the liquid face soap pretty much like you would use any face wash
Step 2 - Exfoliate : the Clarifying lotion step is like you would use a toner except that this one acts as a perfect after wash wipe and a pre-step for aiding the application of the moisturizer
Step 3 - Moisturize : this is a liquid based moisturizer that gets absorbed into your skin almost instantly. Works perfect

Now let me answer your question, can I follow the 3 step routine with just any other product? The answer is yes, then why did I buy the Clinique face care 3- step set?
To make myself feel good. That's what beauty is all about...feeling good within and without. Something about the way the product communicated with me made me feel like this is like telling myself " I love you" in skin care language.
Will review each individual product in the set I've used in the upcoming posts....

I'm a Type 3 - Combination to Oily

Ci ! Ci ! Extraordinary Vitamin E

Image sourced from myorganicchemistry.wikispaces.com

Ever thought about the effect of applying vitamins to your skin? Go fetch some almonds or chew on an avocado for a feel good effect while you read the rest of the post.

Vitamin E helps your skin in the following ways

• anti oxidant
• pollution protection 
• UV rays protection
• anti aging
• after sun care
• scar lightening 
• skin strengthening
• restoring natural oil balance of skin 

Okay these are just the top lines, in summary this is a must have in your skin care product. Its chemical extract will have this - "tocopherol" - as a pre fix to these words - " acetate/ extract / alpha / mixed" etc
If you're thinking why apply it when you can eat it, think twice - its always better to pamper yourself inside out and what better way to do it than to indulge in some wholesome skin care products???
You can read more about the benefits of Vitamin E here
http://www.healthy-skincare.com/benefits-of-vitamin-e.html
http://www.aromantic.co.uk/vitamins-skin.htm

Oi ! Oi ! Sweet Almond Oil

Image sourced from naturaldogcompany.com

Just take a look at these soft, pink, happy sweet almond blossoms - now imagine bathing your skin in all their goodness - satin and smooth personified!!
Sweet almond extract is the fast track to smooth skin.
Products that contain these extracts are typically non greasy as sweet almond oil is easily absorbed by skin. It not only nourishes and protects your skin it has a rejuvenating effect as well !
Products that contain sweet almond oil extracts will have this listed in their ingredients -  prunus amygdalus dulcis.
And you thought sweet almond could only add grace to your dessert !

Image sourced from hotelandspaessentials.com

I'll leave you with a small tried and tested tip here - try some sweet almod oil on your hair and your chapped lips as well to give them a delicious moisture inducing treat....
If you would like to know more, you can check these places
http://www.dermaxime.com/almond-oil.htm
http://www.wikihow.com/Use-Almond-Oil-for-Aging/Dry-Skin

Some classic moisturizing for your skin

I like a product with some history, some attitude and some personality. That's what I got with this fuss free moisturizer.
Creme 21 was one of the first skin care brands with an attitude in the 60s and was stylized and named after the German pop band Creme 21.
Orange and so iconic, you just have to have some on your skin.
Its so plain, simple, fuss free and fast absorbing. When I used it for the first time I didn't think it would work because its so light and my skin was so dry ! But quietly and subtly 2 days later I could feel my skin and I didn't want to stop. A couple of days later my skin seemed irresistibly soft to my partner...wow - that's true testimony. I love this cream.
The product I'm reviewing for you is the Soft care & hydro balance moisturizing cream with vitamin E.
Initially hydro balance didn't mean much to me till I realized that the cream actually helps the skin attain a natural moisture balance in stead of over working it.
Let's break down the ingredients for you

• Aqua - water
• Parrafinum liquidum - mineral oil - skin conditioning and skin protecting agent
• Glyceryl stearate se - emulsifying agent 
• propylene glycol - common skin conditioning agent
• glycerin - skin conditioning 
• octyldodecanol - fragrance ingredient which also acts as a skin conditioner
• potassium palmitate - cleansing / emulsifying agent 
• potassium stearate - cleansing / emulsifying agent
• cetearyl alcohol - stabilizer
• dimethicone - skin conditioning and skin protecting agent
• prunus amygdalus dulcis - sweet almond oil - guess what? well its a luxurious natural moisturizer 
• tocopheryl acetate- Vitamin E, anti oxidant, skin conditioner
• potassium carbomer - it forms a protective film and controls viscosity
• panthenol - its a form of Vitamin B5 which is used as a moisturizing compound 
• phenoxyethanol, methylparaben and propylparaben are presservatives commonly used in cosmetics 

The cream lasts for 12 months post manufacturing, I use it everyday after my bath and it vanishes into my skin to work its magic on me.

You could buy it from Amazon @ 12 USDs approximately 

• What I love about it - absolutely fuss free and fast absorbing, works fast - we love all this about products 
• Flip side - not available in organized retail yet ( In India) 
• Rating - 5/5 ( I love a product with attitude) 

Oi ! Oi ! Plum Extracts

Image sourced from plumbelievable.com

Your skin can never be glum if it gets a regular dose of some plum!
Use a product that contains plum extracts and just allow your skin to be moisturized, conditioned and smoothened.
Plum fruit is packed with Vitamin C which is nature's way of saying skin conditioning with a capital C.
It contains the right kind of free radicals that can have an anti aging effect on your skin and wait for it.... your hair too !!
This is definitely one indulgent natural ingredient for your hair and skin.



If you would like to know more about the use of plum extracts in skin care you can visit these websites :
http://www.naturesgold.com.au/kakadu-plum
http://meiganic.com/

Oi ! Oi ! Grape seed extracts

Image sourced from indiavision.com

Skin heaven is full of people who have a grapeful heart !
Grape seed extracts are a favorite organic ingredient in skin care products because they work as an excellent multitasking skin conditioning and hair conditioning agent.
Here are a list of all the tasks it performs:

• UV light absorber
• Sun screen agent 
• Anti fungal 
• Anti dandruff
• Anti microbial 
• Anti oxidant 

And if its in your oral care product it works its charm as an oral care agent as well.

Products that contain grape seed extracts would typically include this in their ingredients list :
extract of vitis vinifera seed or extract of vitis vinifera.

You know what? I say, its wine for the spirit and grape seed for the skin !!! A truly wonderful ingredient.