Wash your face twice a day, moisturize your skin, comb your hair, and trim your nails. To remove unwanted hair, like on your face or ears, expert esthetician Lorraine Kline says “hard wax is always the best option.” Remember to shower, brush your teeth, and apply deodorant every day, too.
Grooming Your Face and Skin
[Wash-Your-Face|Wash your face]] twice per day. In the morning, a water rinse will suffice for most skin types. Use a mild, gentle cleanser and lukewarm to wash your face every evening. Gently pat your face dry with a clean washcloth. Avoid scrubbing your face dry, which can damage your skin. If you have problems with acne, consider washing with a product that contains salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide to manage it. If you wear makeup, remember to always remove it every night. Gently dab at the inner corners of your eyes with a dampened washcloth to remove any debris.
Apply moisturizer with sunscreen daily. After cleansing, moisturize your face. Use a moisturizer that contains a minimum of SPF15 sunscreen to protect your skin from sun damage. Choose a moisturizer that matches your skin type – moisturizer products usually cater to oily, dry, or combination skin. After each shower, apply lotion to your body to avoid cracked skin. Pay special attention to the knees and elbows, which tend to get very dry.
Manage your facial hair. Tweeze any stray eyebrows that you see, especially in between your brows. If you shave your face, do it carefully. Always use shaving cream, which protects and lubricates your face. Use a sharp razor that has no debris lodged between the blades. Always shave in the same direction your facial hair grows. For those who don’t shave their face, inspect the hair above your upper lip – do you see any dark or long fringe? If so, you can manage that by bleaching the hair or removing it entirely with a depilatory. Make sure that you're always using a new, clean razor and that you're replacing the blade often. Also, try to exfoliate before you shave to prevent razor burn or razor bumps.
Check your nasal passages. Before you leave the house, check to make sure your nasal passages are clear. Always blow your nose when you get out of the shower. The warm water of the shower will loosen any fluid or mucus that might be trapped in your sinuses, making post-shower the ideal time to flush them out. If you’ve recently been ill or if you have allergies, consider flushing out your sinuses with a saline solution using a neti pot. Avoid picking your nose.
Taking Care of Hygiene
Shower every day. Some experts think it’s fine to shower every other day, but this depends on whether or not you’ve been sweating or if you have body odor. The standard is to shower at least once daily using a mild, gentle soap. Avoid harsh soaps, which will strip your skin of moisture. Be sure to scrub in all of the crevices – behind the knees, between your toes, under your arms, and so on. Avoid hot showers and baths – use warm water instead. Using hot water can strip the oils from your skin.
Brush your teeth twice per day. Flouride toothpaste is recommended. Wet your toothbrush and put a dollop of toothpaste (about the size of a small pea) on the bristles. Gently brush each tooth in a circular motion, taking care to clean the front, back, and sides of every tooth. Brush your tongue with your toothbrush to remove any buildup on it, which is one of the main causes of bad breath. Gargle with an antibacterial mouthwash after brushing your teeth. Be sure to swish it all around in your mouth, including between your teeth. Get a new toothbrush every three months, or whenever the bristles start to fray and bend.
Floss at least once per day. Use an 18 inch piece of floss. Wrap most of it around the middle fingers of each hand, leaving one or two inches between them. Gently push the strand between every tooth, sliding the floss up and down. Wrap the floss around the base of each tooth to remove debris, making sure you go beneath the gumline.
Use an over-the-counter antiperspirant or deodorant. After showering and toweling off, apply an antiperspirant or deodorant underneath both arms. This will help you control any sweating you do during the day, as well as manage any body odor you might have. If you’d prefer to use something more natural and with fewer chemical additives, check your local health food store for options.
Maintaining Proper Hair and Nail Care
Wash your hair regularly. Massage your roots and scalp with shampoo. Rinse thoroughly and massage the ends of your hair with conditioner. Run a comb through your hair to distribute the conditioner. Rinse well. If you suffer from dandruff, consider using a dandruff shampoo to manage it. If you don’t wash your hair every day (for example, if you have very long hair), try to wash it at least every two to three days. In between washings, use dry shampoo to prevent your locks from looking dirty and/or greasy.
Brush and style your hair every day. After you get out of the shower, carefully comb through your hair to detangle it. Style your hair as you normally would. Avoid using too much hair product in your hair, which can make it look greasy. If you have longer hair, you’ll need to brush it more than once per day to keep it tangle-free.
Trim your fingernails regularly. Keep your nails short, neat, and clean. Always trim them with nail clippers – never bite your nails off. Trim them straight across, then round the edges. Avoid picking at hangnails and your cuticles. Instead, gently clip hangnails off with nail clippers that have been sterilized with rubbing alcohol. If you have long nails, scrub under your fingernails every day. Use soap, water, and an old toothbrush for best results.
Apply moisturizer to your hands. To prevent your hands from getting dry, apply a moisturizer regularly. Along with the skin on your hands, be sure to rub the lotion into your cuticles and fingernails, as well. Prevent bacteria from growing by keeping your fingernails dry and clean.
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