Seeing your roommate or sister follow a particular skincare routine daily but it seems like a waste of time to you?
Our community is divided into two types of people: those who cannot live without skincare products and those who only think skincare is a waste of resources. Which category do you belong to? Or are you still confused about what to do?
Skin is the most vital organ of our body and needs care as much as other organs do. It also requires nourishment, protection, and some care. So, let’s dive deeper into this discussion and know the right needs of our skin.
What is the Function of Your Skin?
Skin is the largest organ of our body and is the first line of defense against pathogens including harmful bacteria, fungi, viruses, and mechanical irritants. So, its role main is extended beyond providing you with a great outer appearance. Let’s understand:
- Protects Against the Sun: Skin has melanin pigment which is responsible for protecting against the UV rays of the sun [1]. This pigment is also responsible for your skin color
- Maintains Your Body Temperature: Skin keeps your body’s temperature within range by regular contraction of blood vessels in cold environments and inducing perspiration in hot environments [2]
- Defends Against External Agents: It acts as a protective barrier against any environmental toxins including free radicals, smoke, carcinogens, and allergens. Moreover, it has some secretions that can kill harmful microbes entering the body
- Maintains Moisture: Our skin has a wall of corneocytes and fats that locks moisture inside the cells thus keeping our skin hydrated for a long time
7 Reasons Why Skincare is Necessary
1. Maintains the Health and Integrity of Your Skin
Your skin needs care just like other organs in the body do. As it fights free radicals, smoke, pollution, and all other foreign bodies in the environment, dead cells accumulate on it. They can clog pores, cause breakouts, and hinder normal skin functioning.
Therefore, if you want to stay healthy, it is necessary to start taking care of your body’s first line of defense. Regularly exfoliate the dead cells, use moisturizers, and wear sunscreen for protection against the UV rays.
2. Helps You Look Younger
A regular skincare routine can help the skin stay radiant, smooth, and glowing for a long time. When you use an exfoliator on the skin, it removes all the dead cells thus uncovering all the fresh cells from beneath.
In addition, moisturizers can help maintain the hydration of the skin. This further helps the skin look smooth and radiate glamour and beauty. It also prevents sagging and makes your skin look supple.
3. Prevents Premature Aging and Wrinkling
Continuous exposure to solar UV rays causes skin pigmentation, premature aging, and even cancer by damaging collagen as explained in a study [3].
Under such circumstances, sunscreen can help reduce this damage and prevent premature aging. The higher the SPF in a sunscreen, the better it will be. Also, note that all other skincare products are useless with sunscreen.
4. Enhances Self-Confidence and Self-esteem
We all are always in search of that extra boost in our confidence as it can help make better relationships, reduce unnecessary thoughts, and help a person lead a happy life, right? But, what is the connection between skincare and self-confidence?
It is a common dilemma that you attract people when you look good and tidy. As skin is the most visible part of your body, having flawless skin enhances your confidence like nothing else.
5. Prevents Skin Diseases and Allergies
Some skin diseases can be prevented by providing your skin with the right care. Not only prevention, but skincare also helps in the treatment of some disorders like eczema and psoriasis.
For instance, the most important risk factor for skin cancer is the sun [4]. Therefore, to minimize the risk of cancer, protect your skin from the sun with sunscreen every time you go out. Also, this makes sunscreen mandatory.
In addition, bacterial infections, acne, and breakouts can also be prevented by cleansing, exfoliating, and hydrating your skin from time to time.
6. Keep Your Skincare Economical and Basic
When you do not take care of your skin at the right age, you will need expensive skin treatments later on to improve your appearance. These expensive skin treatments include botox, microdermabrasion, micro-needling, laser resurfacing, and collagen induction therapy.
However, you can skip all these treatments if you start doing skincare right now. Pocket-friendly products can keep your skin healthy and young for a long time. Thus, you can stay young without spending thousands of dollars on invasive procedures.
7. Improves Mental Health
For most people, their physical appearance has a great influence on their mental health and why would not it be as people judge you from your appearance? Your appearance can get you bullied and outcasted leaving you with a permanent inferiority complex.
However, you can avoid this by looking beautiful with skincare. Also, know that you are not doing it for others but for yourself because everyone has the right to look good, right?
Skincare can lead you to the road of self-love and self-acceptance. Once you start loving and accepting yourself, your mental health will improve and you will focus less on what people have to say about you.
3 Tips to Maintain A Healthy Skincare Routine
Getting into skincare immediately might seem too much as it is easier said than done. Therefore, let us help you start and maintain a skincare routine with these 3 tips.
1. Choose the Right Products
A product only shows good results when customized according to your skin type.
Also, you might often recommendations without knowing what will work for us. Not everything works for everyone, right? Therefore, knowing your skin type before investing in skincare is essential.
The personalized product with suitable ingredients will show you effective results and you will stay motivated after seeing the improvement in your skin. Also, with personalized, we do not mean you need to get skincare custom-made. Rather, find out the right products by trying the tester-sized products out yourself.
Here are the common skin types and product recommendations for you.
- Oily skin types: Oily skin produces extra oils. So, you need lightweight ingredients. For this, you should go for skincare products containing niacinamide, salicylic acid, hyaluronic acid, and ceramides in them.
- Dry skin: Dry skin needs extra attention. Thus, incorporate ceramides, butter-rich products, peptide moisturizers, and lactic acid exfoliants into your skincare routine.
- Sensitive skin: Sensitive skin is a little complex to treat. Thus, pay attention to choosing products with no harsh chemicals in them. Moreover, buy the products containing jojoba oil, aloe vera, niacinamide, ceramides, and green tea.
2. Keep it Minimal at First
The more complex your skincare routine is, the harder it will be for you to follow. Eventually, you will become exhausted and leave it halfway. So, start with a basic skincare routine. These are given as
- Cleanser: A gentle cleanser is necessary to get rid of impurities above the surface of your skin.
- Exfoliator: Mild Exfoliators unclog the pores and are responsible for deep cleansing of the skin.
- Toner: Hydrating toners are usually used after washing the face. They replenish nutrients and make your skin smooth.
- Moisturizer: Enriched moisturizer is essential to hydrate the skin. Even those with oily skin should use an oil-free moisturizer
- Serum: A nourishing serum treats specific purposes like dark circles, skin redness, and attaining firm skin. However, you do not need it at the start.
- Sunscreen: Sunscreen is your weapon against the sun. Without sunscreen, the skin becomes dull and damaged. Thus, it is the most important step.
3. Do it Right
You know the right skincare products but their use will not help until you are using them in the right sequence. The right sequence is using a cleanser followed by exfoliation. Then use the toner followed by the moisturizer. Lastly, apply the sunscreen.
While all other products can be used daily or even twice a day, remember to exfoliate the skin only twice a week. Also, do not forget to cleanse your skin at night before sleeping.
Conclusion
Skincare is important not only for improving one’s physical appearance but also the mental health. It is also necessary to maintain the normal functioning of the skin. When you provide your skin with good care, it helps you look younger, prevents deleterious skin conditions, and also saves money in the long run.
However, it is necessary to use products that are compatible with your skin type. Otherwise, there will either be no results or only side effects. Also, follow the right sequence of using the products.
