This section is to give you some tips and to help you understanding which are the best skin care treatments and active principles for each skin type and concern.
Each month, at least one new tip is added. Visits us regularly!
- INFLUENCE OF THE ENVIRONMENT IN THE SKIN
- SKIN NEEDS MOISTURE AND EXFOLIATION
- DRY SKIN
BASIC SKIN CARE ROUTINE
The more you love your skin the better it will look!
The first step for a young looking skin is following a daily skin care routine. Such a commitment does not have to be complicated or time-consuming. Nevertheless, it is the perfect groundwork for more advanced skin care treatments.
The steps
A typical skin care routine includes the following basic steps: cleansing, toning, moisturizing and treating skin with specific products.
Sun Protection can be considered a further step especially during summer time.
For most people, it is optimal to follow the routine twice daily. For people with dry and/or sensitive skin washing/cleansing once a day could be sufficient. Moisturizing two or more times a day could yet be helpful. Some experts feel that exfoliation should also be part of a basic routine. However, daily exfoliation may be excessive. Once or twice a week is usually enough.
Adjust routine to your skin type
The steps of basic routine should be adjusted to your skin type. You should keep in mind that your skin type may face changes according to seasons, diets and age. In particular, skin reveals a tendecy to turn oilier in the summer and drier in the winter. Menopause often implicates a change from oily or normal to dry skin. Conversely, a shift from a low-fat to a richer in fats diet (essential fatty acids, in particular) may turn dry skin to normal. Skin pigmentation affects the level of sun protection you effectively need. While sun damages any skin, harm is far less in dark-skinned people. Fair skinned people need to be particularly meticulous about sun protection, i.e. minimizing sun exposure, choosing a well-balanced sunscreen and applying it frequently and consistently.
You should determine your skin type before you settle on a routine. As time goes by, you adjust your routine if your skin type changes.
Applying advanced treatments
For maximum skin care benefits, the basic routine is usually insufficient, especially for people over thirty. It is scientifically proven that adding one or two -wisely chosen- focused product, can further improve your results.
The benefits of advanced skin care partly depend on whether you properly integrate the right products to your basic routine. In particular, if you apply producs on a not well cleansed skin, penetration of active ingredients is limited.
The best moment to apply active products is right after your skin is cleansed, rinsed and slightly patted with a towel.
Use short, firm strokes to apply skin care products (it is best to use the middle finger). Do not stretch the skin. Do not rub. After application, gently tap the treated area with your fingers for half a minute.
SKIN CARE IN YOUR TWENTIES
At any age, good skincare starts with protecting your skin from avoidable damages, particularly sun damage, and establishing a basic daily routine matching your skin type.
In your twenties, the rate of cell turnover in the outer skin layers is still high. As a result, most 20+ year-olds do not need to exfoliate skin. Aggressive or too frequent exfoliation may actually make things worse. If you feel you need some exfoliation, a mild mechanical exfoliation, such as table sugar scrub, may be optimal. Some acne sufferers experience reduction in breakouts when using certain mild chemical exfoliating agents, particularly alpha-hydroxy acids. In this case, mild chemical exfoliation would be appropriate.
Dry skin is uncommon in the twenties because hormone levels are high and sebaceous glands are still largely undamaged. Usually there is no need to moisturize frequently. In any case, unless you happen to have dry skin, trust an oil-free or low oil moisturizers such as Vitamins Spa Energy Bio Moisture. It is best to avoid harsh soaps, alcohol-based toners, and other drying agents. In order to avoid stripping away too much of your skin’s naturally produced oil, a gentle wash, such as Cleanser & Make up Remover, is ideal.
In most cases, at 20s is not yet time for aggressive wrinkle treatments that could modify your skin physiology. It is too early to tinker with cell growth or aggressively stimulate natural collagen synthesis. Therefore, treatments like retinoids (e.g. tretinoin a.k.a. Retin A), hormones, and growth stimulators are generally inappropriate. On the other hand, extra steps to prevent future wrinkles may pay off later in life. You can supplement your basic routine with skin care formulas providing protective ingredients such as natural antioxidants, like those contained in Vitamins Spa.
SKIN CARE IN YOUR THIRTIES
At any age, good skincare starts with protecting your skin from avoidable damages, particularly sun damage, and establishing a basic daily routine matching your skin type. You can further optimize it by considering physiology of the forth decade of life.
At 30s some physiological changes related to aging begin to manifest. The levels of many hormones and growth factors begin to decline (some faster than others) while metabolism and cell turnover rate begin to slow down. Your skin may have already experienced a sufficient amount of damage. Some degree of visible roughness, fine lines and discolorations may show. It is the time to turn your skin care routine iinto a more comprehensive program.
Ensure hydration
Dryness is another problem that tends to emerge in the thirties. Extensive hydration alone is insufficient for an optimal anti-aging routine. It is yet necessary for getting proper results from other steps.
Exfoliate - if you need to
In the thirties, your epidermis (the outer skin layer) would tend to become drier and thicker than in your teens or twenties. Its cells (keratinocytes) are not replaced as quickly as before. As a result, your skin may look dull and have a drier and more uneven texture. If you notice these changes, removing the excess of dead keratinocytes from your skin's surface by a periodic exfoliation may promote a fresher appearance. However, it is important not to exfoliate too much. You might risk to experience chronic irritations which may accelerate skin’s aging . You could start considering mild mechanical exfoliating products (such as a gentle scrub). If your skin still looks dull, try mild chemical exfoliation, such as alpha-hydroxy acids.
Treating emerging wrinkles and fine lines
Many 30+ years olds start noticing fine lines and emerging wrinkles. This may be the right time for starting with skin care agents shown to have wrinkle reducing effects. The agents backed by the most evidence are antioxidant, particularly vitamin C family and its derivatives.
During stressfull periods or season changes, skin could need a further care to look at its best. Some specific solution able to stimulate skin renewal might help.
During 30s, the eye zone is the first face area where visible signs of aging often appear. At 35 thirty five it is more common to notice fine lines and bags under your eyes; some might even develop crow's feet. Not surprisingly, when we try to estimate someone's age, the appearance of eye area is always one of the key factors. To slow down the natural tendency of eye area skin to ageing faster than in the rest of your face you can start using a focused aid based on antioxidant active principles.
SKIN CARE IN YOUR FOURTIES
At any age, good skincare starts with protecting your skin from avoidable damages, particularly sun damage, and establishing a basic daily routine matching your skin type. However, in the fourth and fifth decades of life your physiology (especially if you are a woman) changes dramatically. If you wish to mantein your appearance as youthful as possible, your skin care will have to change accordingly.
After 40 skin faces more challenges with fewer resources
The fourth and fifth decades of life are characterized by a marked decline in the levels of various hormones and growth factors. Cell damage has accumulated in many tissues and skin is one of the most affected. As a result, the rate at which the skin renews and repairs itself is much slower.
Women in their 40s and 50s experience particularly relevant hormonal changes. They cause a decline in the synthesis of collagen, elastin and other components of skin matrix. The production of sebum (skin oil) also reduces leading to skin thinning, dryness and other negative changes.
Visible changes of aging could be:
• Thickening and drying of the outer layer of the epidermis (stratum corneum) leading to a dull, parched appearance.
• Thinning and weakening of the skin's middle layer (dermis), which is the layer responsible for the skin's strength, firmness and resilience. An accelerated development of fine lines and wrinkles easily occurs.
• Progression and deepening of motion wrinkles and creases. Motion wrinkles are those developing in the area where facial movements result in skin folding. Weakened dermis cannot cope with continuous folding of the skin, which leads to a rapid deepening of motion wrinkles.
• Development of uneven pigmentation, discolorations, broken capillaries, redness and other blemishes associated with skin ageing.
• Loss of subcutaneous fat and slackening of facial muscles, both of which contribute to a tired, haggard look and facial sags.
While aging remains inevitable, you don't have to passively accept all negative changes in your appearance. Some can be reversed, some others can be kept under control or slowed down.
What you can do for fighting back aging signs?
Dryness is another problem that tends to emerge in the thirties.
Ensure hydration
Skin dryness is exceedingly common after 40. Extensive hydration alone is insufficient for an optimal anti-aging routine. It is yet necessary for getting proper results from other steps. Employing Skin products containing moisturizing agents then, becomes a must.
Treat wrinkles and fine lines
Wrinkles and fine lines and common after 40. In published research a few agents have been shown to reduce existing wrinkles and fine lines and prevent or slow the emergence of the new ones. Agents backed by most evidence are retinoids and vitamin C family (L-ascorbic acid and some of its derivatives). Additional agents such as hyaluronic acid, acid fats, collagen and elastin boosters, ceramides might also be considered.
Exfoliate - if you need to
In the forties, your epidermis (the outer skin layer) is likely to become considerably drier and thicker because its cells (keratinocytes) are not replaced as quickly as before. As a result, your skin may look dull and have a drier and more uneven texture. If you notice these changes, removing the excess of dead keratinocytes from your skin's surface by a periodic exfoliation may promote a fresher appearance. However, it is important not to exfoliate too much, You could consider mild chemical exfoliators, such as alpha and beta-hydroxy acids.
Treat pigmentation problems
Skin pigmentation problems, such as blotchiness and age spots, are exceedingly common after 40. Most are caused by abnormal (usually increased) production of the skin pigment melanin. This problem can be improved by employing topical skin lightening agents which inhibit the synthesis of melanin.
INFLUENCE OF THE ENVIRONMENT on THE SKIN
Our living environment or our travel destinations are very important factors for our skin and its care. The use of heavy greasy creams and oils should be avoided as much as possible unless we live or travel in extremely cold places. Hot and humid climates require light and non-greasy moisturizers.
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SKIN NEEDS MOISTURE AND EXFOLIATION
Any kind of cream should not be massaged into the skin but applied gently. Skin can then naturally absorb products avoiding residues on the outer. Absortion is deeper if the skin surface is thin and exfoliated.
Arbutin, an extract from Uva Ursi, controls melanin production and skin pigmentation. It is widely used in Japan as a whitening agent. It can be combined with different ingredients, such as Retinol for both skin exfoliating and whitening. A reduction of fine wrinkles and the fading of brown spots due to age or sun exposure can be safely obtained. Problem and oily skin can also benefit from retinol which eases blemishes and controls sebum production.
VISIBLE RESULTS
For visible results each product should be used regularly for at least 30 days. Jumping from one product to another is not healthy for your skin.
DRY SKIN
1) How to recognise dry skin?
You can recognise dry skin when it has a dull look and a rough, scaly touch. Sometimes you have slight tightness in the feel of your skin. More relevant cases of dry skin can be accompanied by red or white patches, severe itching, crackings, bleedings, severe tightness and pain.
Main causes:
- lack of humidity in the air expecially during winter. If you live in drier areas, it doesn’t even have to be cold outside for the air to have ill effects on your skin’s moisture.
- unhealthy diet: junk food, such as fried foods, chocolate, candy, can easily unbalance your skin’s moisture levels.
- age: with age skin loses its ability to retain water. Meanwhile, skin thins and oil production decreases.
- sun damage