Taking care of your skin is as simple as using a cleanser, moisturizer, and sunscreen. Although there are a million products to choose from, keep it simple and your skin will thank you. Landriscina says you can leave the sunscreen on for the night and simply reapply the cleanser and moisturizer. Sunscreen should always be applied after the cleanser and moisturizer. Allow it to dry before applying makeup.
Landriscina says that antioxidants are often present in moisturizers, so you may not need an additional product. You can also find them in serums. Colombo recommends Vidaderma vitamin C serum. While a quality moisturizer should suffice, a hydrating serum may be particularly useful for people with dry skin or who live in drier climates.
Colombo suggests keeping products as basic as possible without much detail. It recommends moisturizing creams and mild mineral cleansers. Sunscreen should be a fundamental part of your daily skincare regimen, so having a facial moisturizer with built-in sun protection factor helps simplify your routine. Cleansers are the first step in your skincare routine and their job is to cleanse the skin of dirt, makeup, sunscreen, impurities and grease accumulated throughout the day.
You can learn more about cleaners in our YouTube video below. You can search for and buy cleaners here. Exfoliants would be GA because they get all the glory, and a niacinamide serum would play 100 percent with C. The science behind skincare products has come a long way, but there's still no instant solution; it takes time to reap the benefits, says Dr.
Rachel Nazarian, a Manhattan dermatologist with the Schweiger Dermatology Group. Usually, try using a product for at least six weeks, once or twice a day, to notice the difference. We have been independently researching and testing products for more than 120 years. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more about our review process.
The Olay Regenerist Microesculting Cream, GH Beauty Lab's best option, offers excellent value for money and almost unprecedented levels of hydration with a blend of hyaluronic acid, niacinamide and peptides. In Beauty Lab's hydration tests performed with the Corneometer device, the formula increased skin hydration by 68% three hours after application, one of the highest hydration scores in the laboratory's history, and maintained first place after 24 hours. Oily skin types should keep in mind that its rich creamy texture can be too heavy. The SkinCeuticals formula, winner of GH Beauty Lab's facial serum, contains high levels of vitamin B3 to stimulate cell renewal.
This lightweight liquid was the best of the serums tested by the GH Beauty Lab for reducing wrinkles, by 5% after four weeks of use. Evaluators praised it for smoothing, brightening and firming visible wrinkles. Reduce the appearance of age spots while keeping your skin hydrated with Avon cream loaded with glycolic acid. It impressed in the GH Beauty Lab tests, obtaining a perfect score for helping to reduce the appearance of UV spots by 12%, in addition to being the best option for improving skin firmness and hydration.
Several reviewers even noticed that it gave their skin a glow, although some said they didn't like the strong scent of the perfume. The GH Beauty award winning L'Oréal formula, which also works as a day and night cream, effectively strengthens the skin's moisture barrier thanks to firming calcium and natural oils such as passion fruit and the apricot. A study of 52 women found that 96% saw firmer and more supple skin in just one month of use, based on data evaluation from GH Beauty Lab. One caveat noted by online shoppers was that its SPF ingredient left a slight white spot on darker skin.
The Neutrogena formula, at an affordable price, obtained the best results in the GH Beauty Lab test with 29 eye makeup removers to remove water-resistant mascara, eyeliner and eye shadow. Caudalie's silky cream proved to be a powerful moisturizer in our GH Beauty Lab tests, increasing hydration by 43% in six hours. Digital images from the laboratory's Visia complexion Analyzer also showed a 12% improvement in skin texture. Six evaluators reported the softness of the cream when applied and gave it perfect marks, since it was neither greasy nor irritating.
It moisturized my skin well into the morning, according to one of them. Naturally made with grape seed oil and the antioxidant resveratrol (derived from vines), its The aroma may take a while to heat up. Either way, you'll be happy to know that experts tell us that a truly honest skincare regimen only needs a few important elements. In fact, most of us would probably do better if we just kept the simplest.
The basic steps in a skincare routine are a gentle cleanser, moisturizer, and sunscreen. Emily Newsom, M, D. Seriously, that's all you have to do. In fact, there are very few situations where people need to use a bunch of products, says Temitayo Ogunleye, MD.
While there's no inherent problem with using lots of products if you like them and they're not irritating, he says: “First you have to try these simple things and then we'll see. You'll need a cleanser to remove dirt, makeup, excess oil, dead skin cells and environmental impurities that naturally end up on your face during the day. The moisturizer will help keep the skin's protective barrier working properly and maintain a smooth and soft skin. And possibly the most important element, sunscreen, helps prevent skin cancer and cosmetic damage caused by the sun.
In the morning, wash with a cleanser and then apply a moisturizer and sunscreen (or combine the two with a moisturizer that has a broad-spectrum protection factor of 30 or higher). At night, wash again with the cleanser and apply a moisturizer. Yes, you can use your moisturizer with SPF at night if you want, Dr. You might prefer something thicker at night, but there's no rule prohibiting wearing the one with SPF before bed, he says. From there, it's important to pay attention to how the skin reacts, both immediately after using the product and in the days that follow.
Do you notice tightness, oiliness, redness, or rashes? If it's oily, you may need to moisturize less often or use a lighter formula, for example. If it's on the dry side, you may need to use a more intense moisturizer. If your skin is very dry or sensitive, you may only need to wash your face with a cleanser once a day at night and rinse with water or micellar water in the morning. However, if your skin is especially oily or you wear a lot of makeup, you may need to clean it more often or even do a double cleanse at the end of the day.
If your skin is sensitive, you may notice some irritation (redness, itching, peeling), which is a sign that you should put aside and call a dermatologist. In the future, you may need to be careful to avoid products with certain ingredients, such as fragrances, that can be irritating. However, everyone still needs to apply sunscreen every day. Here's how to find one that you don't mind using. You might be surprised how, after a few weeks of following these basic steps, your other skin problems calm down.
But if they don't, your next steps will depend on your skin's specific needs, according to Dr. If you have acne, you may want to switch it to a salicylic acid cleanser, a mild chemical exfoliator, or an occasional spot treatment with benzoyl peroxide. For wrinkles, fine lines, or sun damage, you may want to add an over-the-counter retinoid to get started (and maybe a prescription version later). Are you interested in controlling hyperpigmentation? Brightening agents such as hydroquinone or vitamin C may be the solution. But be sure to add only one product at a time, Dr. Newsom says, and wait at least two weeks before adding anything else.
If you add several things at once and you have a negative reaction to something, it will be impossible to know which product was responsible without doing a patch test, Dr. Or if you get positive results, you won't know which product was responsible for the change. It's also important to avoid adding too many products that do the same thing. If you already have a retinoid or exfoliating acid in your range, adding another one may not help and may actually be more irritating. In addition to using too many products, Dr.
Ogunleye says one of the biggest mistakes newbies make is giving up too easily. However, as SELF explained above, both over-the-counter and prescription treatments take weeks or months to cause noticeable changes. Ogunleye argues that it's important to adjust expectations and be prepared to offer new products two to three months before getting discouraged and giving up. If you're looking for gentle everyday products and can't seem to find one that works for your skin, it's time to talk to a dermatologist, Dr.
Alternatively, if you're trying to treat a specific skin problem (such as acne or hyperpigmentation) and you don't see any improvement, a dermatologist can help you solve the problem and possibly prescribe a stronger medication that may be more effective. And of course, if you find that your skin reacts poorly to products and you're not sure why, definitely consult a dermatologist. They can help you determine what might be causing that irritation and provide you with guidelines on how to avoid it in the future. SELF does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The information published on this website or by this brand is not intended to substitute for medical advice, and you should not take any action before consulting with a healthcare professional.
Most of us already know that good skin care involves more than just washing your face, but once you stop using scrubs and moisturizers, you might start to feel a little lost. There are many types of products, and there's no way to create the right routine for you if you don't even know what these products do. If you're scratching your head wondering what the difference is between facial oil and serum and how the hell you use it, you don't stress anymore. Debra Jaliman is here to give you an overview of all types of skin health products, so you know what they are, what they are for and how to use them properly.
Most dermatologists agree that it's important to clean your face twice a day to get rid of bacteria, dirt and skin pollutants. However, there are different types of cleansers that are more ideal for certain skin types. Exfoliation is a crucial part of any skincare routine, but it can also be intimidating for those just starting their beauty regimen and aren't sure what exactly an exfoliator does. Simply put, any product or device that is used on the skin to remove dead skin cells is an exfoliant, which can then be classified as chemical or physical.
When choosing an exfoliator to add to your skincare routine, Dr. Tonkovic-Capin says it's important to consider your skin type first. For combination skin, she recommends a slow exfoliation that can be done as often or as little as possible as skin sensitivity allows. For people with mature skin, she suggests choosing an exfoliator with anti-aging ingredients such as resveratrol for its skin rejuvenating properties.
Treatment products are used to treat specific skin problems, such as acne, dark spots, hyperpigmentation, fine lines and swelling. They can come in the form of creams, gels, lotions, solutions, serums and medicinal face pads, explains Dr. The type of treatment you need and the benefits it provides to your skin depend largely on the concern you're facing. The most common active ingredients in treatments are retinoids such as tretinoin and adapalene to treat fine lines and wrinkles, topical steroids for skin allergies and inflammations, and salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide to treat acne.
Vitamin C and growth factors are also found in anti-aging treatment formulas. Nutrient-packed facial oils help create an elastic layer for skin, regardless of skin type. They can be very hydrating, making them especially useful for people with dry skin. For acne-prone skin, tea tree oil will work great and vitamin C oil will help with any scars. Sunscreens are essential to protect the skin from damage caused by UV rays, no matter the season of the year.
Fortunately, there are many ways to apply sunscreen beyond the typical bottle. The key is to know your skin type and use a sunscreen that fits you well. Some sunscreens are greasy and can clog pores. That's why it's best to use a moisturizer formulated to treat a specific skin problem that has a built-in sunscreen.
Chemical peels remove the outer layer of the skin, which means they tend to go deeper to remove more excess dead cells than exfoliants. They usually contain glycolic, salicylic or lactic acids. Chemical peels tend to be more intense and are usually done by a professional, but homemade peels are also available to treat problems such as acne scars, wrinkles, sun damage and hyperpigmentation. The toner can be used after a cleanser twice a day to remove excess makeup or other residues from the skin.
People with sensitive skin should use an alcohol-free tonic. Drier skin types may only need to be cleaned at night, while oily or combination skin types may find that their skin responds better to morning and evening cleansing. Several reviewers noted that it was gentle enough for sensitive skin, but that it's ideal for all skin types, including oily skin. Calculations carried out with the laboratory's Corneometer device, which measures skin hydration levels, showed that moisture increased by an impressive 43% in the six hours after the application.
Showering isn't just for cleansing, but it's also an opportune time to focus on overall skin health with some skin-friendly habits. Fragrances can irritate eczema, rosacea and sensitive skin, so Landriscina suggests that people with these conditions avoid scented products. Good skin isn't simply a matter of DNA; in fact, your daily habits have a big impact on what you see in the mirror. The GH Beauty Lab thoroughly evaluates skin care products using the laboratory's technical instruments and feedback of consumers.
If you have a skin condition such as acne or eczema, talk to a dermatologist or primary care doctor and test the products before using them. Now my skin is quite clean, this serum has taken a backseat, but if I have a period of crisis, this is the first thing I do to stop it. Colombo explains that retinols are available without a prescription, while retinoids require a prescription from a dermatologist or primary care doctor.
