There is a simply overwhelming amount of skin care products on the market these days. It's easy to end up with a bathroom shelf littered with half used products and still feel like you're not quite getting it right with your skin care.
I recommend six products to almost every client I ever have. And I want to share them with you to help you simplify your routine, and to explain why these products are important skincare staples. Let's get into it!
1. Cleanser
Cleanser is a fundamental first step of any good skin care routine. But it's also easy to get wrong. Usually, issues arise when using a cleanser that contains sulphates, or is simply too drying and ends up stripping your skin of its precious lipids. If in doubt, opt for a gentle, sulphate free cleanser from a medical grade skin care brand - and you cant go wrong. Use morning and night.
2. Vitamin A
Vitamin A is one of the most well-researched, scientifically proven ingredients for improving skin health. It is a cell-normalizing ingredient: it regulates oil production (reducing breakouts and congestion/blackheads), regulates skin cell turnover (the rate at which new skin cells form) and promotes collagen production (reducing the formation of lines and wrinkles). It also maintains the health of the junction between your epidermis (outer layer of the skin) and your dermis (deeper layer of the skin). This junction is incredibly important as it allows nutrients and oxygen to be transferred to the epidermis via the dermis - but as we age the junction weakens, and doesn't function as well - resulting in your epidermis becoming starved of oxygen and nutrients. Vitamin A maintains the strength and function of this junction, thus maintaining the health and function of the epidermis. Vitamin A is an antioxidant, so it also protects your skin from oxidative stress and damage.
3. Vitamin B
Vitamin B is heavily involved in the skins cell repair processes. It increases the skins production of ceramides (fatty acids) improving skin hydration and keeping the skins barrier strong and healthy. It decreases production of sebum in the skin - sebum is a lipid rich substance produced by the skin, strongly linked to the formation of breakouts and acne. Vitamin B inhibits the growth of c.acnes bacteria (the bacteria associated with acne and breakouts), and has anti-inflammatory properties. Vitamin B is also an antioxidant, protecting your skin from oxidative stress and damage.
4. Vitamin C
Vitamin C is instrumental in preventing the formation of unwanted pigment in the skin. It inhibits the production of melanin in the skin, helping to maintain an even skin tone. It also promotes collagen production, and strengthens and stabilises existing collagen, helping you to retain it. Vitamin C is an antioxidant too, so just like vitamin A and B, it protects your skin from oxidative stress and damage.
5. Moisturiser
Moisturiser creates a thin film/barrier on the surface of your skin to prevent moisture loss, and provides additional hydration to the outer layer of the skin. This product is particularly important during the day, and during winter when epidermal water loss is increased by the drier, colder environment.
6. Sunscreen
Last but certainly not least, is SUNSCREEN. Sunscreen should be a non-negotiable element of your skin care routine - UV damage causes so many problems for your skin including premature ageing, unwanted pigmentation, chronic redness, sensitivity and impaired barrier function.
And there you have it, a fool-proof skincare routine to cover just about every skin concern, and provide your skin with ALL the nutrients and support it needs to be strong, healthy and clear!
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