Skincare is extremely important for maintaining your overall health and appearance. Our skin, the body’s largest organ and is the first contact point with the environment full of physical, chemical, and biological agents. Thus, taking care of the skin is crucial to prevent harmful agents from damaging the skin’s integrity and protecting you from skin diseases. Proper skin care can also boost your self-esteem and enable you to face the world more confidently.
For first-timers, skincare can seem to be a bit intimidating. You might also wonder what are the basic things you need to create an effective skincare regime and what ingredients you should use for some common skin issues. In this article, we have enlisted ten indispensable skincare products that every skin care regime should consist.
10 Things You Need To Have In Your Skincare Regime:
1. Cleanser
Our skin is exposed to microbes, pollutants, viruses, and dirt daily. In addition, dead skin cell debris builds up on the skin regularly. Proper cleansing is essential for maintaining the health of your skin. Daily cleansing of your face helps remove dirt, oil, and other unwanted debris from the skin’s surface. It also helps clear out the pores clogged with sebum, dead microbes, and dead cells and improve skin texture. Cleansing also helps maintain an optimum pH balance of the skin and helps preserve the defense barrier of the skin.
Experts advise people with oily skin types to use cleansers with gel or water-based cleansers. People with dry skin are recommended to use cream-based facial cleansers and avoid the ones with alcohol. Using a facial cleanser is also useful in removing makeup products and allowing the skin to breathe. The La Roche-Posay Toleriane Dermo Face Cleanser is a gentle cleanser that will help remove dirt and makeup debris from the skin’s surface.
2. Toner
No dermatologist will deny the importance of a good toner in your skincare regime. Toner is a liquid concoction of various beneficial ingredients like apple cider vinegar, essential oils, witch hazel, rose water, and aloe vera. It helps deep cleanse the skin by removing dirt, grime, and other impurities. It also helps unclog the blocked pores and minimize enlarged pores, reducing the risk of breakouts and acne. In addition, a toner helps moisturize, rejuvenate, and maintain the pH balance of your skin. Toner also has some anti-aging benefits.
Skin experts recommend toner in the morning and at night before going to bed. It aids in strengthening your skin’s natural immunity. Toners can also help reduce hyperpigmentation caused by sun exposure and reverse the skin damage caused by UV rays. The Vichy Pureté Thermale Perfecting Facial Toner is an alcohol-free toner infused with glycerin which is good for all skin types.
3. Moisturizer
Proper and regular moisturization is indispensable for maintaining your skin’s health. Exposure of the skin to sun rays, extreme temperature conditions, dust, and dirt can lead to loss of hydration and make the skin look dry, rough, and lifeless. A good moisturizer helps restore lost moisture and keeps your skin soft and supple in extreme cold and hot weather. It also soothes inflammation and improves wound healing. However, not all moisturizers work equally. Moisturizers typically contain one or more of the three elements: humectants, emollients, and occlusives.
Humectants draw in moisture from the environment to restore the lost moisture. On the other hand, emollients prevent the skin’s moisture from escaping when applied topically. The occlusives build a physical film over the skin’s surface to prevent the internal moisture from drying out. If you have dry skin, check out Vichy Aqualia Thermal Rich Face Cream Moisturizer.
4. Sunscreen
Prolonged exposure to sunlight can increase the risk of sunburns, hyperpigmentation, and solar urticaria. Exposure to UV rays can also damage the skin’s natural immune system, increase the risk of premature aging, and cause skin cancer. Sunscreen helps protect the skin from the detrimental effects of sun rays.
While physical sunscreen helps create a protective layer on the dermal surface to block the UV rays from contacting the skin, chemical sunscreens absorb and initiate a chemical reaction to convert the sun rays falling on the skin into heat, thus preventing the UV rays from harming the skin.
Wearing sunscreen shields the skin from harmful UVA and UVB rays. It also delays premature aging, prevents sunburn and tanning, and even reduces the risk of developing skin cancer. La Roche-Posay Anthelios SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen is a broad-spectrum sunscreen infused with hyaluronic acid. Dermatologists suggest applying sunscreen for at least 30 minutes before stepping out in the sun to enjoy its benefits. You might also need to reapply sunscreen every two to three hours if you spend time outdoors.
5. Micellar Water
If you are someone who loves to do makeup, micellar water is a must-have in your skincare kit. Leaving makeup products on your skin overnight can severely damage the integrity of your skin cells. Removing the layers of products from your skin relieves it from the heaviness of makeup and allows it to replenish and repair itself. Makeup can also clog your skin pores and obstruct the ducts of the sebaceous glands, leading to acne and breakouts.
Micellar water is an aqueous fluid filled with tiny micelles (surfactant molecules with both lipophilic and hydrophilic properties). These micelles can clear the impurities from the skin without hampering the balance of the natural elements of the skin. When applied to the skin, the micellar water helps wipe out the bits of makeup products from the skin, leaving the skin refreshed. Micellar water also helps keep the skin hydrated, maintain its natural pH balance, and prevent acne and breakouts. Check out the La Roche-Posay Foaming Micellar Cleansing Water here.
6. Hyaluronic Acid Serum
Constant exposure to sun and dust, cosmetic products, and even extreme weather conditions can deprive our skin of its natural moisture, making it appear dry, flaky, and lifeless. Hyaluronic acid, an AHA, is a humectant that seeps into the skin layer and helps pull in moisture to the skin cells from the environment. As the skin cells receive more moisture, they become plumper, thereby reducing wrinkles and fine lines. Hyaluronic acid also boosts collagen synthesis, increasing the skin’s resilience and making it more taut and firm.
Hyaluronic acid also helps speed up wound healing, promotes cell regeneration, and makes the skin brighter and more radiant. In addition, hyaluronic acid has antioxidant properties that help combat oxidative stress on the skin and even helps soothe inflammation. Hyaluronic acid is also beneficial for people with eczema and psoriasis. If you are looking for a Hyaluronic acid, check out the La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Pure Hyaluronic Acid Serum for Face.
7. Vitamin C Face Serum
Vitamin C is beneficial when included both in your diet and skincare regime. Known for being an excellent antioxidant, Vitamin C helps neutralize the free radicals in the skin and prevents the appearance of signs of aging, the onset of various skin conditions, and even reduces the risk of skin cancer. Vitamin C face serums also help improve collagen synthesis, making your skin appear more youthful by making it firmer and more resilient.
Vitamin C also helps protect the skin against the harmful effects of UV rays and also helps soothe sunburn. This vitamin also helps reduce hyperpigmentation of sunspots, melasma, or age spots by lowering melanin production in the skin cells. Vitamin C can also help reduce the redness of the skin. Additionally, it helps strengthen the skin’s natural defense barrier and protect it from microbial infections. Check out the La Roche-Posay Pure Vitamin C Face Serum here.
8. Niacinamide Serum
In the last few years, Niacinamide has become the talk of the town because of its versatility. It is a skincare ingredient that can take care of almost all your skin woes. Niacinamide, a mild, organic ingredient with small molecules, is a form of Vitamin B3 (also known as Niacin). The small molecules of this ingredient allow it to seep into the skin cells and impart various benefits.
Niacinamide helps reduce the dark spots and patches on the skin and makes it brighter and more radiant. The antimicrobial properties of this serum also help fight against acne-causing bacteria. Niacinamide is also useful in regulating sebaceous gland overdrive and reducing breakouts. It also has anti-inflammatory properties that help treat skin conditions like dermatitis and eczema.
Niacinamide also helps boost collagen synthesis, making the skin firmer and more resilient. It helps reduce redness and blotchiness of the skin. It also has antioxidant properties that help fight against the skin’s oxidative stress. Check out the Vichy Mineral 89 Niacinamide Serum here. It is a skin-strengthening prebiotic which has anti-aging benefits too.
9. Glycolic Acid Facial Serum
Glycolic acid is a colorless, odorless liquid classified as Alpha Hydroxy acids (AHAs). When applied to the skin, it acts on the desmosomal links of the keratinocytes of the skin and weakens their connections. As a result, the older superficial skin layer separates from the newer skin layers underneath, thereby revealing younger and smoother skin. These exfoliating properties of glycolic acid enhance the dermal cell turnover rate. Glycolic acid smoothens the skin texture and even helps fade away the hyperpigmented spots and patches. It is beneficial for treating Post-inflammatory Hyperpigmentation and melasma.
Glycolic acid is also a humectant that helps keep the skin hydrated. It also helps remove accumulated dirt and grime from clogged skin pores, thus preventing acne. Glycolic acid also helps delay the signs of aging by boosting collagen synthesis and making the skin firmer and plumper. The Glycolic Acid Serum by La Roche Posay is also infused with Kojic Acid and Vitamin B5 to boost its beneficial properties. It helps improve skin tone and reduces dark spots and discoloration.
10. Retinol Face Serum
Retinol, an alcohol derived from Vitamin A, is known for being a potent anti-aging solution. Skin experts use this ingredient to treat various skin conditions like acne, psoriasis, and skin cancer. The topical application of retinol initiates an exfoliation process at the cellular level. Retinol also helps enhance the rate of dermal cell turnover, promote collagen synthesis, and increase epidermal thickness. The exfoliating properties of retinol also help get rid of hyperpigmented spots and patches.
Retinol also helps open blocked skin pores and reduces sebum production, thereby reducing acne and breakouts. Retinol brings out newer and brighter skin cells by eliminating dull superficial skin and gives your face a more even-toned complexion. This ingredient can also help treat keratosis pilaris. Retinol can also help reinforce the skin’s immune system and protect it against environmental damage. Usually, retinol face serums are safe for all skin types. If you wish to retain your youthful beauty for longer, you may check out the La Roche-Posay Pure Retinol Face Serum.
The Bottom Line:
Skincare is a part of a healthy lifestyle. A well-thought-off skincare routine can help you maintain the skin’s natural immunity, improve its appearance, and prevent the development of various undesirable skin conditions. Experts suggest a proper Cleansing-Toning-Moisturizing (CTM) regime as the first step toward taking care of your skin. Of course, a good quality sunscreen is a must-have too.
As everyone’s skin is different, a fit-for-all skincare regime is not possible. Skincare needs to be personalized according to one’s skin type. The ten products in our list can make up a power-packed skincare kit. We hope this article has helped you understand how these products can benefit your skin. In addition to good skincare products, healthy eating and exercise are also essential for improving your skin’s health.
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