What are Skincare Essentials?
Skincare essentials include products to clean, moisturize, and nourish our face. These essentials also have other purposes, such as whitening, anti-aging, and fighting against acne. They also range in formulation to suit different skin types. When we say healthcare products, people usually think of the more common things such as medicines, vitamins, and first aid kit inclusions. People tend to overlook that the skin is also part of the body, and its health needs to be taken good care of too. In that sense, skincare essentials categorize as healthcare products. And because it affects our health, we must examine these products well before buying and using them. Whether it be concealer creams, cleansers, or toners, this blog will help you better understand these care essentials.
While the principal aim of skincare is to maintain a clean and moisturized face, some essentials also address common skin concerns which are vital for a good skin care routine. You may be wondering: what are essentials? Read below to find out some essential skin care products and their skincare purposes.
Scar/Spot Treatment
It is not rare for people to have scars from birth or from incidents. Others also have dark spots or hyperpigmentation. While some can live with it, it is not bad for others to want to treat it. It may be a long process, but the right skin product will deliver results that can definitely boost one’s confidence. The skincare essentials commercially available for scar/spot treatment contain hydroquinone, chemical exfoliants, and retinoids.
Anti-Aging
Growing old is inevitable, and, unfortunately, our skin undergoes a lot of changes during this process; the skin starts to sag, wrinkles and fine lines begin to appear, and in some cases, discoloration occurs. Although it is a natural process, there are some things you can do to slow down these changes, if not totally prevent them. Extensively known skincare essentials with anti-aging effects are sunscreen and Vitamin C. The sun’s rays cause more damage to our skin than we already know, especially when exposed for an extended period. Applying sunscreen daily will help prevent damage, thus slowing down the aging process. Maybe only a few know, but Vitamin C can actually be applied topically to act as an antioxidant and prevent UV-related damage.
Anti-Acne
Acne is probably the most common skin problem, especially for men and women in their teenage years. In this phase, more than ever, it must be given a solution so as not to worsen the condition in the long run. Since it is prevalent, most skincare products today incorporate ingredients that are either safe for people with acne or battle it all together with its original purpose. Thankfully, products specifically made to address acne are widely available in the market today. These skincare essentials use the ingredients salicylic acid, which removes oil from the clogged pores, and benzoyl peroxide to get rid of acne-causing bacteria.
Due to the accumulation of several discoveries and technological advancements, the number of skincare essentials available today is overwhelming. A lot of different types, each with multiple formulations, hundreds and thousands of brand names – where does one even start? This blog briefly discusses the standard skincare essentials; keep on reading!
Cleansers
The most basic but probably the most crucial skincare essential are the cleansers. Without the first step of cleaning your face, will you really be able to stand putting the rest of the skincare products on a dirty surface? Your best bet for a cleanser is one that will remove all the dirt and excess oil on your face without being harsh on the skin. Cleansers come in the form of gel, cream, and foam. Use them together with warm water in washing your face twice daily before applying the rest of your skincare.
Toners
Aside from removing residual dirt that remains after cleansing, toners also work other magics to your skin. Toners are known to balance the skin’s pH level to ensure that the natural oils aren’t scraped away by harsh products. They can also sometimes be made to moisturize and/or treat acne. The famous Micellar Water is a kind of toner, together with acid toners and non-alcoholic toners. There are two ways of applying toners: using a cotton ball/pad or simply using your fingers.
Moisturizers
Hydration plays a huge part in maintaining healthy and fresh-looking skin. This is made possible with the use of moisturizers. Moisturizers hydrate your skin to prevent dryness. But this does not mean it is only applicable to those with dry skin. People with oily skin can also use moisturizers to prevent the overproduction of natural oils. The only difference to consider is the type of moisturizer to use: those with dry skin can opt for a thick formula such as cream to make up for the lack of moisture, while those with oily skin can go for lighter formulations like lotion or gel.
Eye Creams
Many skin problems concern the area around the eyes – dark circles, wrinkles, puffiness, etc. This is because the skin under your eyes is the most delicate part of your face. Different eye creams contain different ingredients, and combinations thereof, that address these problems. Elements such as niacinamide and vitamin C lighten dark circles, peptides and retinol significantly prevent wrinkles, and caffeine decreases puffiness. Concealer cream is a type of eye cream that covers the fine lines and brightens the dark circles, and is usually applied as a primer to eye make-up. Avoid rubbing and massaging these creams under your eyes. Dab it gently instead.
Acne/Spot Treatment
Other skincare essentials may have acne-fighting ingredients, but it is still best to treat acne with the product specifically formulated to do so. Spot treatments work on drying out new acne and/or removing the marks they leave behind. It also reduces redness and swelling. Instead of the whole face, an ample amount of spot treatment is dabbed over the problem area. Some may require being left overnight for best results. Clear spot treatments are available to use during the day to avoid unwanted attention. Tinted spot treatments are also available to conceal them while healing.
Essential Oils/Serums
Probably the most expensive of the skincare essentials are the serums. These products contain a concentrated amount of potent ingredients used for different purposes. The most common type of serums include:
- Hydrating serums infused with hyaluronic acid to lock in moisture.
- Antioxidant serums to prevent the formation of free radicals.
- Brightening serums with vitamin C to fight UV damage that causes skin dullness.
- Anti-aging serums rich with retinol and peptides that promote the production of collagen to prevent skin from sagging.
Other serums include Clarifying serums, Anti-acne serums, Pore-minimizing serums, and Calming serums. Make sure to find out which time of day is ideal for your serum to yield the best results.
Exfoliants/Scrubs
Skincare routines can be done daily or even twice, but there is no assurance that your face is totally dirt-free. Having said that, some people go the extra mile and exfoliate once or twice a week. Scrubs are skincare essentials that penetrate deeper into the skin to clean, unclog pores, and remove dead cells. Be careful not to use very harsh scrubs as they may leave your skin dry. In addition to that, use moisturizers afterward to make sure your face stays hydrated.
There is no doubt that the face is a top priority when it comes to self-care. Aside from the fact that it is a large part of the body, it is also what we always show to the world. The listed skincare products in this blog are called essentials for a reason. They are essential because they are the key to boosting our confidence, so we can face the world head high.
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