The skincare industry can be so overwhelming, all the latest buzz words and ingredients are so confusing. We all want a healthy glowing skin, but what does that take?
1. Go back to basics – YES, trending skincare looks nice (and can sometimes feel nice if it’s the correct product or ingredient for YOUR skin) but stop buying everything and anything that is trending and that you are influenced to buy. No, you don’t have to use Retinol to have younger looking skin. Likewise you don’t have to skin cycle or use a whole bathroom full of products. Your skin is the largest organ of your body – I don’t see you bombarding your brain or you lungs with the latest trends, why do it to your skin? Results can come from the less is more approach. Focussing on using the right products and ingredients to target your specific skin condition and concerns.
Going back to basics takes us to one of the most essential steps of skincare, that is Cleansing. Pollution and other environmental factors plays a big role in your skin health, so choose a cleanser that is right for your skin, whether that is a balm cleanser, cleansing oil or creamy cleanser. See blog on understanding cleansers.
Cleansing should be a ritual, where you thoroughly but not harshly remove the debris, dirt and make up of the day and you should really spend time, making sure that you do a thorough cleanse.
- Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate – this can be in various ways and I want to reiterate that you have to make sure what you use will work for your skin. There are many combinations of hydrators out there, from Hyaluronic acid to ceramides and more –When you hydrate your skin, you will assist one of the basic functions of your skin that is barrier health. Barrier health is important. The best way to think of this barrier is as a brick wall whose function is to keep out irritants, allergens and pathogens whilst preventing the loss of water and other substances from the skin. We so often use creams that actually stop our skin from doing its job – so choose moisturisers/creams and serums that was CLINICALLY TESTED to do what it claims. You want ingredients that will structurally and functionally change the skin and support the skin cells in better health. If you are unsure of what product is best for your skin, book a consultation with the brands inhouse expert.
- Protection. There is physical protection and chemical protections. Let me explain.
First of all protecting your skin can also be seen as acting in a preventative physical manner. Be gentle with your skin. Protect the skin from unnecessary future reactions.
If you like picking your skin, then stop picking your skin. Keep yourself occupied in the times that you know you pick at your skin. Clean your phone screen regularly. We have loads of bacterial transfer from talking on our phones, touching the screen and then touching our skin. When you do a skin cleanse or exfoliation, be gentle and prevent unnecessary pulling and tugging at the skin. Dab dry your skin and be mindful of the pressure you use when you remove cleanser or other product with a flannel, cotton round, muslins or other materials and cloths.
Protecting your skin in a “chemical” manner can vary from applying a moisturiser that will protect the skin against environmental factors, think ingredients that will assist a health barrier, have humectant and moisturising abilities. A product that incorporates anti-oxidants, peptides (the building blocks of proteins) and vitamins will be a second line of defence in protection the skin and then of course a good sun protection factor. Sun protection factors or sunscreens are very important (even on cloudy days) – the facts state that:
- About 67% of British people do not use enough sunscreen (British Skin Foundation)
- 32% of adults don’t use sunscreen in the UK despite most burning at least once per year (Melanoma Focus Survey May 2023
- 45% of over 50’s rarely use sunscreen during the summer in the UK (British Skin foundation, Aug 2022)
- Melanoma skin cancer is becoming more common in the UK with around 16,700 new cases every year that is a staggering 46 cases per day (Melanoma focus 2023
So do your skin a favour and go back to basics – see if what you are using and spending your money on, is truly supporting the astonishing organ that is your skin.
