How to care for your facial skin

Caring for your skin

Taking good care of your skin and giving it a boost might help you feel more like yourself.

This short video (less than 3 minutes) tells you how to look after your skin when you have cancer.

Practical tips about caring for your facial skin

It helps to have a skin care routine for the morning and evening. Always cleanse and tone before you moisturise. Some cleansers can cleanse and tone at the same time.

Remember that your skin may become drier during treatment. So choose gentle products or those for sensitive skin. You can ask shop assistants to help you or give you free samples to try before you buy.

Look online for feedback from other people about products you are interested in so that you can compare different ranges. Try to choose products:

• within your price range

• that feel good on your skin

• that you like the smell of or are unperfumed

Make sure you check with your doctor or specialist nurse before using any skin care products if you:

• are still having cancer treatment

• have had treatment to your face or neck

• have had a skin reaction

Sunscreen

It's important to apply sunscreen on your face and neck when you are outside. 

Sunscreen doesn’t protect us completely from sun damage on its own. But it can be useful to protect parts of skin that we can’t shade or cover. 

Remember to apply it evenly and thickly, and to reapply it regularly throughout the day. 

Read more tips for using sunscreen properly and sun safety guidelines

Other products

You can use serums, exfoliators or face masks to brighten your skin and keep it in good condition.

Serums

Serums are designed to treat the lower layers of the skin.

Use them sparingly and pat them gently onto the skin before you apply your moisturiser. Choose one for your skin type.

Exfoliators

Exfoliation helps to remove dead and dry skin cells which helps brighten your complexion. It also lets your skin better absorb serums and moisturisers.

Apply a small amount to damp skin but avoid the eye area. Remove it with a soft wet face cloth or wash it off in the shower.

Choose a gentle product and use it once a week, after cleansing. Avoid exfoliating if your skin is sensitive or if you have small blood vessels visible near the surface of the skin. 

Face masks

Face masks can be used up to three times per week depending on the type you choose.

There is a wide variety of face masks and it’s best to pick the one best for your type of skin.

You should be putting face masks onto clean skin and with clean hands. The amount of time you wear the mask varies, follow the instructions for the face mask you pick. When the time is up clean the mask off with water. You should moisturise your skin afterwards so it doesn’t dry out.

There are also overnight masks. Just put it on a few minutes before you go to bed.

Tips:

• creamy masks help to hydrate and are good for dry or mature skin

• clay masks draw out impurities and are better for oily skin

Where to get help

Make up counters

Make up counters can feel a bit daunting. But shop assistants are trained to give helpful advice. You can always take a friend or relative with you to the shops for support.

Some companies offer free facials or make overs. Others might charge for this service, but give you back the cost of it if you buy any of their products.

Ask the staff to write down the products for your skin type and the order they used them in. Tell the make up staff that you are having cancer treatment or that your skin is particularly sensitive before they start.

Do not feel like you have to give in to sales pressure. Tell them that you want to see how your skin reacts to the products before you buy them.

Useful organisations

There are lots of other organisations that can help you cope with changes to how you look.

Find support organisations