According to statistics, 98% of women regularly use creams, 80% use masks, 70% use scrubs. And only 50% use lotion as a facial cleanser. Moreover, approximately half do not know how to use it or do not use it for its intended purpose. Representatives of the fair sex themselves figure out the functionality of this cosmetic product. So there is a need to dispel myths and reveal the whole truth about it: rules of use, types, composition and the best brands on the modern market and in home cosmetology.
Types of lotions
Types of lotions for facial skin
Cosmetologists and dermatologists distinguish several options for skin care products:
- alcohol based. The substance has strong antiseptic properties, dries out pustules and rashes. But it disrupts the water balance. With regular use without a moisturizer and a special gentle tonic, the dermis quickly begins to experience a moisture deficiency, irritation, rashes, redness, and peeling appear. At home, to eliminate discomfort after using ethyl alcohol, use a strong decoction of linden or chamomile;
- water recipes. They are ideal for any type of dermis. Without fear, such a liquid with plant extracts, essential oils and other biologically active substances can be used daily;
- sour. The recipes contain organic fruit (malic, citric, citrus), lactic and fermented milk, inorganic mineral acids (boric, salicylic). All these substances have bleaching and antiseptic properties. Therefore, they are suitable for eliminating the problems of age spots, pimple marks and acne. Acidic liquids help owners of oily, problematic and combination skin always look fresh. Decorative cosmetics do not crease after using such compositions, and the surface of the skin does not shine during the day;
- alkaline. Necessary for normalizing the secretion of sebaceous and sweat glands. Also often endocrine pathologies, antibiotic treatment, dysbacteriosis and other internal problems cause an acidic skin reaction. Alkalis of organic or mineral origin normalize pH and tighten pores.
How to choose a face lotion
From the many options and recipes, it’s easy to choose the lotion that’s right for you. The main thing is to consult a dermatologist and cosmetologist, read positive reviews about the composition.
Home Recipes
If you are interested in the question of how to make face lotion at home, consider that the answer is already in your pocket. After getting acquainted with the most effective, and most importantly, simple recipes, everyone will highlight something important and useful for themselves.
For oily skin
- Mint lotion will be an excellent helper for both oily and problem skin. For cooking you need 1 tbsp. l. pour mint leaves with a glass of hot water and leave to steep for 20 minutes. Then add boric alcohol and lemon juice, 1 tbsp each. l. The composition is ready! Apply when cool.
- For the next recipe you will need 1 chopped cucumber and apple cider vinegar. Place the crushed mass in a container and pour in 100 ml of vinegar, close the lid and leave to saturate in a dark place for a week. After 7 days, get rid of the pulp and apply as usual.
- To prepare a citrus lotion, you will need the juice of 2 grapefruits and 1 lemon, mix with vodka (30 ml) and let it brew for a couple of hours. Rub the skin with this product twice a day.
Citrus-based lotion is good for oily skin
For dry skin
- To get rid of dryness and tightness, the following recipe is recommended: pour finely chopped cabbage with milk and leave to steep for 30-40 minutes. After which you can soak a cotton pad in the liquid and wipe your face. Use before bed.
- Rose petal tincture will help get rid of small wrinkles and prevent the appearance of new ones. The lotion recipe is simple: 2 tbsp. l. Pour hot water (not boiling water) over dry flower petals and let it brew in a dark place for several hours. After leaving the liquid, add 2 tsp. liquid honey and mix well.
- Alcohol-free herbal lotions will moisturize flaky dermis well. For this purpose you will need 1 cup of boiling water and 1 tbsp. l. any herbs: chamomile, calendula, string, St. John's wort, sage, nettle. You can use one type of dried flowers or arrange them. Herbal lotion will remove signs of fatigue, swelling, cleanse the skin and give it a matte appearance.
Review of branded products
The pharmaceutical industry does not stand still. There are ready-made formulations for home use:
- moisturizing products. They contain micellar water, minerals, plant extracts, essential oils. Popular: Oriflame, Avon, Bioderma Hydrabio;
- tonic. Indispensable at the onset of natural age-related degenerative changes. The dermis begins to age after 25 years. From this moment on, the production of elastin and collagen decreases. Products with a tonic effect help the skin to invigorate. They often contain coffee, milk protein extract, nuts, and whey. Positive reviews have: Natura Siberica, Magicduet with milk and coffee, “Recipes of Grandmother Agafya”, Nature;
- with a toning effect. These are BB and CC lotions. In addition to the skin care complex, they have mineral pigments that even out the shade. Such options exist for every type of dermis and age of a woman. Beauty bloggers recommend: A-NOX Face Lotion, St. Moriz Instant Face Tan, White Label;
A-NOX Face Lotion cosmetics for face
- protecting from ultraviolet radiation. Products are necessary during the recovery period after chemical peeling, laser procedures or when fighting pigment spots and marks from old acne. This category includes: Lumene MATT TOUCH, LOREAL Nutribronze, Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess;
- cleansing. The most common category. Removes decorative cosmetics, dust, sweat, and dirt from the surface. Products are also selected according to dermis type, age and skin condition. Consultants or pharmacists will help you make the right choice. Popular among women are: Avene Cleanance lotion purifiante (anti-acne), Naris Upcosmetics Аcmedica, NIVEA Stay Clear.
How often can you use facial lotion and toner?
Usually it is used every day 2 times:
- In the morning, after washing off the sebaceous secretions that have formed overnight, apply the composition. The epidermis will be moisturized, nourished with useful minerals and will be ready for makeup that will last longer. The skin will be evened out: the pores will narrow, and facial wrinkles will appear smaller.
- Washing off makeup in the evening greatly disturbs the tissue, so use the product to eliminate irritation from friction. So, you will wash away the remaining dirt, soothe the cells, provide nutrition and eliminate the feeling of fatigue.
An important nuance: the product must be used regularly so that the pH balance is always normal and the health of the dermis does not have to be restored. This is an additional antiseptic that protects against bacteria. In summer weather, it is better to purchase a toning spray that can be used directly on top of decorative cosmetics.
Rules for safe use of lotion
It turns out that preparing a product for a beauty session at home is not enough. After all, many women then ask the question: how to use it? Simple rules of dermatologists and cosmetologists will help with this:
- Before applying a recipe with an acidic pH, it is necessary to cleanse the skin. Without such preparation, he will not show a positive result. To cleanse dust, sweat and sebaceous gland secretions, use products from the line for your dermis type. You can prepare the substance yourself. If you are going to wipe your face with a liquid with a neutral or alkaline pH, then you can skip this step;
Micellar Cleansing Lotion
- Moisten the surface of the cotton pad generously with liquid. Wipe your face along the massage lines until the dirt is completely removed. If necessary, use an additional cotton pad;
- do not press, do not stretch, act only along the massage lines. Otherwise, it is easy to damage the dermis and reduce elasticity. Correct movements are always from the center to the periphery;
- After using the lotion, you must apply a tonic. It is needed to remove remnants of the previous product, equalize the pH, narrow pores, and prepare the surface for the effects of a moisturizer;
- After all procedures, apply cream according to your type. It is necessary to restore water balance in the subcutaneous tissue. Many women, especially those with oily and combination dermis, ignore this event. But in vain. Even they need hydration and nutrition. Therefore, choose the right cream that has a light texture, is quickly absorbed and does not leave sticky marks on the surface.
How to choose the right one
Do not think that this product is universal and suitable for absolutely any woman. When choosing, it is necessary to take into account all the individual characteristics of the skin in order to get the most positive effect from use, and not vice versa. Using formulations for dry skin on oily skin, or vice versa, will only worsen existing problems.
In order to choose the right facial lotion, you need to know the following:
- to make dry skin soft and silky, you need to opt for products with a moisturizing effect;
- for combination skin, you should purchase an alcohol-free product that helps balance your skin type;
- Compositions with a cleansing effect will help get rid of blackheads and sebaceous plugs;
- Soothing lotions can prevent irritation on sensitive skin prone to rashes and hyperemia;
- compositions with a mattifying effect will help to narrow pores, remove greasy shine and the feeling of greasyness from the face;
- For teenagers, products with an anti-inflammatory effect that fight individual small pimples and acne in general are excellent;
- Exfoliating lotions are considered the most effective means for cleansing the top layer and deep penetration into the pores;
- when choosing a product for normal facial skin, you should choose universal products with a gentle natural composition;
- “two-in-one” tonic lotions are recognized as means after which there is no longer a need to use a tonic.
Important! A cosmetologist will help you determine your skin type and choose the appropriate care for it.
Quick options
For washing you can prepare:
- propolis-based liquid. The beekeeping product has rejuvenating and restorative abilities. Propolis is indispensable for aged, tired dermis that has lost its tone and elasticity. For the recipe, you need to heat the product in a water bath to room temperature and liquid state. To enhance the therapeutic effect, add 1 teaspoon of fresh liquid honey and the same amount of parsley juice. The mixture is diluted in a glass of water;
Facial lotion Novaya Zarya Cucumber
- Facial lotions for oily and combination types are often prepared with alcohol or cognac. The substance has antiseptic properties. But it should be remembered that ethyl alcohol is very dehydrating to the skin. Therefore, after using a homemade product, moisturizer must be applied. Traditional medicine specialists recommend choosing cognac-based recipes for dark-skinned people, while white wine is suitable for fair-skinned people for cosmetic purposes. 2 tablespoons of alcohol-containing liquid, strong green tea, natural grape juice. Mix all. How to use? Simply wipe the surface with a cotton pad soaked in the tincture;
- cucumber lotion with setaphil. The composition used restores the water balance and fills the subcutaneous tissue with minerals. Finely chop 1 fruit in a blender into a paste. Add some Setaphil facial medicine. Use 2 times a day;
- a strong decoction of oak and willow bark. 1 tablespoon of plant material is poured into 1 liter of water. Cook in a water bath for 1 hour until boiling;
- Chamomile or calendula decoction is successfully used for home use.
You can create your own options for cosmetic procedures. It all depends on your imagination and personal preferences.
In tandem
The two cosmetics are not mutually exclusive; on the contrary, they are often used together. The lotion works first, thoroughly removing impurities and unclogging pores. Then the toner comes into play, soothing and nourishing the skin, preparing it for the application of the cream. A useful tandem of two drugs will provide deep cleansing and preparation for the next stage of caring procedures.
Modern man is often limited in time, and constant time pressure has generated a steady demand for combination products, such as tonic lotions. In such cases, it is not efficiency that comes to the fore, but compactness and ease of use. Universal solutions are not welcomed by cosmetologists, who advocate the gradual rather than simultaneous use of two products.
Available options from improvised means
Chamomile infusion can act as a facial lotion.
There are many options for preparing a care product. You can try cooking:
- bay leaf facial lotion. The spice has a large amount of essential oils, trace elements and vitamins. All components are selected in such proportions that they have antiseptic properties. Therefore, the recipe is suitable for normalizing the secretion of sebaceous and sweat glands for oily and combination types. Take 2 bay leaves for a glass of boiling water. Leave overnight in a thermos. In the morning, filter the broth. Wipe the surface twice a day. If the integrity of the skin is damaged and acne is in the active phase, the liquid from the bay leaf may sting, but the irritation will quickly pass;
- aloe remedy. For a homemade recipe, you must use leaves of a plant that is at least 3 years old. After this age, the optimal amount of biologically active substances is concentrated in aloe tissues. Before cooking, place the plant in a dark room for 5 days. Stress will cause activation of biological processes, accumulation of minerals and anti-inflammatory substances. A couple of lower leaves are crushed and poured with a glass of boiling water. Leave overnight and strain in the morning. Due to its balanced composition, the liquid is suitable for caring for oily, combination young and mature skin. The recipe does not contain preservatives, so store the product in the refrigerator for only 3 days;
- the best decoction for mature dermis is an infusion, a decoction of rose petals. For care, wild rose hips or domestic plants that are not sprayed or treated are suitable. The flower from the bouquet is not suitable. It is treated with a variety of chemicals. 1 tablespoon of crushed petals is poured with water. To clean the surface, apply a little product to a cotton pad. Use rose petal lotion 2 times a day.
Decoction of rose petals
Why is it necessary to use facial toner when cleansing the skin?
You may think that once you remove your makeup, you can apply night cream and go to bed. This is not enough - particles of decorative and cleansing cosmetics usually remain on the surface, which causes the pores to become even more and deeper dirty. Try wiping it with a tonic composition - you will see product residues and understand how important it is to complete the washing procedure.
How effective are the balms you use? Do you want to improve their performance? A lotion will help, preparing for the absorption of active substances and prolonging their results, thus ensuring good nutrition. The dermis also needs constant hydration, which it will also help with. When applied, an almost imperceptible coating is formed that retains moisture inside and prevents drying out.
Narrowing the pores
A very common problem with sebaceous plugs and blackheads. Enlarged pores cause psychological discomfort and create problems when applying cosmetics (foundation, powder).
Using homemade facial lotion is a pleasure. To cleanse pores, remove sebaceous plugs and lighten age spots, the following will be useful:
- facial mixture with hydrogen peroxide and zinc. The mineral has antiseptic properties. When applied to the surface, it removes swelling, redness, prevents the development of rashes and other problems characteristic of oily and combination dermis. This recipe has lightening powers. Regular use twice a day for a month will eliminate dark spots and red spots after pimples, boils, and acne. But if there is a violation of the integrity of the skin, it is better to abandon such lotion. To prepare, you need to dissolve half a teaspoon of zinc powder (sold at the pharmacy) in 200 grams of chilled boiled water. Add 2 teaspoons of hydrogen peroxide. The recipe is not suitable for caring for aged, aging dermis;
Homemade face lotions
- warming lotion with citrus extract. Suitable for filling subcutaneous tissue with minerals and vitamin C. After application, the surface is reliably protected from the negative effects of ultraviolet radiation, temperature changes and other changing microclimate factors. The recipe is suitable for those who are not allergic to citrus fruits. Otherwise, instead of a positive effect, you will get irritation, rashes and swelling. Mix the juice in equal proportions with nettle decoction. The product is alcohol-free, so it can only be stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Then you need to prepare a new portion. With regular use, it gives results no worse than expensive store-bought products.
Homemade face lotion. The best lotions for facial skin at home
In cosmetology, facial lotion can perform many tasks. Herbs, oils, vegetables, fruits are an excellent basis for preparing a home remedy.
Benefits of lotion for skin
Facial care using various lotions allows you to:
- Gently cleanse the epidermis;
- Remove the stratum corneum;
- Treat purulent inflammations;
- Narrow pores;
- Accelerate blood circulation;
- Strengthen facial vessels;
- Moisturize and smooth out wrinkles.
The composition may include herbal preparations, fatty and essential oils, dairy products, and alcohol tinctures. The variety of components allows you to saturate skin cells, complexes of vitamins, minerals, poly and monosaturated acids.
Applying facial lotion
By adhering to certain rules for the preparation and use of natural lotions, you can solve all aesthetic and dermatological problems:
- Before use, it is necessary to test the product so as not to cause harm due to allergenic components;
- Alcohol-based lotions last longer; decoctions and infusions last no more than ten days in the refrigerator;
- Wipe your face in the morning and evening, after removing makeup, depending on the task, moisturizing, cleansing, toning - as necessary;
- For lotions, it is worth preparing dark glass vessels with a tight-fitting lid;
- The recommended temperature of the applied product is from 10° to 40°.
Lotions containing alcohol are recommended for use on oily faces, locally on acne, otherwise the epidermis will become dry and peeling will occur. Indications – as part of a basic care package for all skin types. Contraindications – individual sensitivity to the components of the lotion.
Best Homemade Facial Lotion Recipes
Moisturizing lotion
Result: restores cell membranes, helps saturate homemade face lotion with organic acids.
Important advice from the editors
If you want to improve the condition of your hair, you should pay special attention to the shampoos you use. A frightening figure - 97% of shampoos from well-known brands contain substances that poison our body. The main components due to which all the troubles on the labels are designated as sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate, coco sulfate. These chemicals destroy the structure of the curls, the hair becomes brittle, loses elasticity and strength, and the color fades. But the worst thing is that this nasty stuff gets into the liver, heart, lungs, accumulates in organs and can cause cancer. We advise you not to use products that contain these substances. Recently, experts from our editorial team conducted an analysis of sulfate-free shampoos, where products from Mulsan Cosmetic took first place. The only manufacturer of completely natural cosmetics. All products are manufactured under strict quality control and certification systems. We recommend visiting the official online store mulsan.ru. If you doubt the naturalness of your cosmetics, check the expiration date; it should not exceed one year of storage.
Pharmacy option
You can really try to make the necessary face lotion yourself. To do this, prepare a liquid with chloramphenicol and metronidazole. The recipe is simple:
- crush 2 tablets of medicine;
- Pour half a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar into the product;
- add strong chestnut broth.
[vc_video link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qb6ryXr19Ck” ratio=”16-9"]
This product with chloramphenicol eliminates age-related degenerative changes in the dermis, restores skin elasticity, and increases local immunity. You can additionally prepare a tonic with acetylsalicylic acid. A couple of tablets, crushed into powder, are mixed with mineral water. Wipe the surface with a cotton swab dipped in this liquid.
Compound
Their main components can be considered purified water with a neutral pH level, and the rest differ in purpose:
Tonics
Even consultants cannot always tell you what they are needed for. Of course, these products are designed to tone, but how? It turns out that their main task is to normalize the PH of the skin, which is disturbed by cleansing agents (we are talking about soaps, foams, lotions).
Remember: this product can be called differently (thermal water, cosmetic, balancing lotion, etc.), however, if the recommendations for use talk about an intermediate step between washing and treating the skin with a moisturizer, know that this is a category of tonic.
Don't expect miracles from these drugs! Tonics will not tighten the skin, smooth out wrinkles or tighten pores, except for a few minutes. Don't expect deep cleansing. Do not expect a reduction in skin oiliness (especially if you use alcohol-containing toners, which on the one hand dry out, and on the other hand, on the other hand, increase the secretion of sebum).
The tonic is really intended to normalize PH, but do not confuse the general acidity and the one brought down by washing a minute ago (alas, it does not affect the first).
You've probably already decided that you don't need toner, right? We hasten to reassure you - regular use of the drug will remove the remnants of makeup, supply the skin with antioxidants and allow the moisturizer to be better absorbed, prolonging its effect.
When choosing a toner, consider your skin type and carefully look at the composition. What should not be in the drug?
- acetone;
- essential oils (volatile plant extract);
- camphor;
- menthol (menthol);
- citrus fruits;
- flavorings, fragrances (fragrance).
Alcohol content in tonic water is acceptable, but not recommended. On the labels of imported cosmetics it may be designated as: SD alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, ethanol.
