Proper skin care: what did you do wrong

If you take care of the skin according to all the rules, oiliness and sensitivity will not cause concern, and wrinkles and pigmentation will delay their appearance. How many stages does competent care include, what means to use and by what criteria to choose? We explain.

Why is facial care so important?

Proper facial skin care is the basis of its freshness and youth. It is unreasonable to neglect this daily ritual, because problems like wrinkles, ptosis (sagging), pigmentation can be prevented or delayed. What kind of care can be called competent?

  • Suitable for skin type.

  • Timely, that is, meeting age-related needs (you can start caring for facial skin from the age of 14).

Our test will answer the question of whether you care for your skin correctly.

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Determine the type of skin

Choosing the right skin care products, first of all, you need to determine your skin type. It depends on this parameter which textures, formulas and product categories suit you.

Choose care products according to skin type © L’Oréal Paris

Normal

Happy (and statistically rare) owners of normal skin do not know problems. Their skin does not peel off from dryness, does not shine from oiliness, does not react with redness and irritation to cosmetics and temperature changes. These people do not know such troubles as black dots and acne. But only as long as they take care of their skin. Therefore it is necessary:

  • thorough cleaning;

  • regular exfoliation;

  • maintaining moisture balance.

Dry

You will recognize dry skin immediately:

  1. she is thinner;

  2. vessels are located quite close to the surface;

  3. there are no visible pores, own sebaceous glands do not work intensively enough, so there is a lack of sebum components (lipids, triglycerides).

Dry skin often looks dull and wrinkles develop more quickly. Therefore, care should be aimed not only at moisturizing and nourishing, but also at the prevention of premature aging and antioxidant protection.

The main thing is not to confuse dryness with dehydration, which is associated with a lack of hydrofixators and increased evaporation of moisture from the skin surface. This phenomenon is often found in owners of oily skin. Unlike temporary dehydration, dry skin is a permanent condition.

Oily

Oily skin is characterized by increased activity of the sebaceous glands. As a result, its main problems are:

  • excessive shine;

  • enlarged pores that get dirty quickly;

  • unhealthy complexion;

  • increased tendency to rashes and inflammation.

Oily skin especially needs cleansing, which should be soft and delicate. Choose alcohol-free products to avoid causing dehydration. The main needs of this type of skin are matting.

Combined

Mixed skin is the predominant type. It is characterized by oiliness in the T-zone (forehead, nose, chin) and the absence of oiliness in the rest of the face. Care for such skin should also be combined, that is, meet the needs of different parts of the face:

  1. matting and moisturizing the T-zone;

  2. hydration and nutrition of other areas.

You can determine your skin type yourself © L’Oréal Paris

Sensitive

Your skin can be called sensitive if it is highly reactive, that is:

  • reacts with redness and irritation to cosmetics;

  • does not tolerate temperature changes;

  • often flaky and itchy, and you experience a feeling of tightness and burning.

Those with sensitive skin usually know they need special products labeled “for sensitive skin” and avoid cosmetics with fragrances, dyes, and essential oils.
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Stages of proper care

A complete daily facial skin care should consist of at least three mandatory steps:

  1. cleansing;

  2. toning;

  3. cream application.

Plus several times a week it is recommended to use:

  • exfoliating agents to rid the skin of dead cells;

  • targeted care masks.

In addition, there are several optional products, such as serums, essences, oils.

Purification

It is recommended to cleanse the skin twice a day – in the morning and in the evening, to remove impurities. The morning ritual involves only washing (depending on the type of skin, gel, foam or cream are used). The evening session includes make-up removal with milk or micellar water.

Exfoliation

It is very important to timely rid the skin of dead skin cells of the epidermis with the help of exfoliating agents, such as:

  • scrub with abrasive particles of natural or synthetic origin;

  • peeling based on acids or enzymes;

  • gommage, working on the principle of “rolling” dead cells.

The exfoliation procedure should be carried out 1-2 times a week for oily and combination skin, 1 time in two weeks with soft delicate products for dry skin.

Toning

Many people are too lazy to use a toner, but this product, which completes the cleansing process, restores the pH of the skin and prepares it for the application of the following products. So they should not be neglected. You need to choose a toner according to your skin type.

Recently, essences have come from Asia to Europe – this is an intermediate product that is applied after tonic and before serum and / or cream to improve the penetration of nutrients into the skin.

Three main steps of skin care – cleansing, toning, applying cream © L’Oréal Paris

Cream

Experts advise applying face cream twice a day.

  • Morning – daytime

    This cream performs a variety of functions – from moisturizing and nourishing to photoprotection and rejuvenation.

  • Before going to bed – night

    Overnight products have a richer texture. These funds, as a rule, perform the functions of renewal and regeneration, because it is at night that skin cells are intensely restored, without being distracted by stress and the fight against negative environmental factors.

From the age of 25, you should include eye cream in your beauty routine – at this age, the aging process begins in the body, although visually it is also imperceptible.

Serum

Serums for the face are products of targeted action, in their formulas the active ingredients are concentrated to the maximum. Water-based, oil-based or gel-based serums have the lightest texture and are applied before cream. Modern products solve a variety of skin problems – from matting to fighting free radicals.

Optional skin care products – mask, serum, essence, oil © L’Oréal Paris

Mask

Once or twice a week, as well as in stressful situations for the skin (for example, after long flights), it is worth using face masks. There are a huge number of them, here are just three main varieties.

  • Moisturizing – with hyaluronic acid or aloe extract saturates the skin with moisture, prevents its evaporation.

  • Anti aging – for example, based on collagen, has a lifting effect and makes the skin more elastic.

  • Cleansing – based on clay (kaolin, gassul) draws out impurities from the pores and helps control sebum production, therefore it is suitable for oily skin.

Masks can be:

  • cream;

  • gel;

  • fabric.

The concept of proper skin care includes a healthy lifestyle © L’Oréal Paris

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General recommendations

Proper skin care is not only about following a beauty routine. Not a single cream will work a miracle if you smoke, eat fast food and regularly break the daily routine.

  • Proper nutrition

    Milk, sugar, and gluten-containing foods have been found to be the least beneficial for skin health. According to nutritionists, the best diet is fatty fish varieties (trout, halibut, cod); foods rich in fatty acids like vegetable oils, nuts, and spinach; vegetables and fruitscontaining vitamins and antioxidants.

  • Drinking regime

    Drink according to body weight 1,5 or 2 liters of water per dayso that the body does not experience a lack of moisture. Tea, coffee, juices and broths do not count.

  • Protection from negative environmental factors

    Unfavorable environmental conditions lead to the fact that skin cells are attacked by free radicals, which damage them and lead to premature aging. Suitable for fighting free radicals cosmetics based on antioxidants: vitamins C and E, green tea extract, resveratrol.

  • Sun protection

    Ultraviolet is one of the main culprits of early skin aging, the appearance of wrinkles and age spots. To prevent photoaging, it is necessary to protect the skin products with SPF 30 and 50 in the summer on the beach and SPF 20 – under other circumstances.

  • Healthy sleep

    A full 8-hour sleep is one of the guarantees that the skin will remain fresh and healthy. Otherwise, a dull complexion is guaranteed.

  • To give up smoking

    Cigarette smoke is another source of harmful free radicals and toxins. In addition, the skin of smokers experiences a lack of oxygen and problems with blood microcirculation, therefore, much earlier than expected, it becomes rough, dull and acquires wrinkles.

You can start skin care from the age of 14 © L’Oréal Paris

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Rules for skin care at different ages

Care will become more effective if the age-related characteristics of the skin are taken into account when choosing products and formulas.

After 25 years

The main care at this age is taking care of moisturizing for all skin types; plus matting – for oily and combination. It is believed that the aging process of the body begins after 25 years, and although it is still far from the appearance of visible signs, it would be nice to take care of their prevention:

  • use antioxidant-based products;

  • do not forget about creams with SPF that protect against photoaging.

After 30 years

The thirtieth birthday is a kind of starting point. It is during this period that the synthesis of collagen in the body begins to slow down. It is worth strengthening antioxidant and sun protection.

After 35 years

Everything that was outlined in the previous period becomes visible to the naked eye: small mimic wrinkles around the eyes, the first folds on the forehead and in the nasolabial region. To help you – products based on collagen and hyaluronic acid.

Proper skin care meets its age characteristics © L’Oréal Paris

After 40 years

It’s time for a full-fledged fight against age-related signs, such as wrinkles, pigmentation, dull complexion. Pay attention to cosmetics with anti-aging and lifting effect, serious anti-aging components:

  • peptides;

  • retinol;

  • rhamnoose.

After 50 years

During menopause, cell metabolism slows down and hormonal levels change, and therefore, the structure of all layers of the skin changes.

  1. Due to the reduction in sebum production, dryness is felt.

  2. The skin becomes thinner and loses density.

  3. A network of wrinkles appears.

  4. Moisture reserves in the cells are reduced.

  5. The contours of the face lose their clarity, the eyelids begin to sag.

After 50 years – it’s time for powerful hydration, nutrition, enhanced protection against UV rays and correction of age-related signs.
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Funds overview

Purification

Cleansing gel for washing “Absolute tenderness” for dry and sensitive skin, L’Oréal Paris

Thanks to extracts of jasmine and Gallic rose, it gently removes impurities and make-up residues, and moisturizes the skin.

Gel foam Miel-En-Mousse, Lancôme

The acacia honey formula transforms into a foam when it comes into contact with water, cleansing the skin of makeup and softening it, giving radiance.

Tonics

Tonic lotion Biosource, Biotherm

Softens and moisturizes dry skin, the effect lasts 24 hours. Includes thermal plankton extract.

Perfecting Tonic Pureté Thermale, Vichy

A product with vitamin E, glycerin, thermal water removes make-up residue, refreshes and soothes, suitable for all skin types.

Serums

Hyaluronic aloe-serum for the face “Super smoothness”, Garnier

Remedy with 3% complex of glycerin, biofermented hyaluronic acid and aloe vera, intensely hydrates and firms the skin.

Revitalizing Serum Concentrate Minéral 89 Probiotic Fractions, Vichy

Due to probiotics, antioxidant vitamin, volcanic thermal water and hyaluronic acid, it strengthens the protective barrier of the skin, eliminates fine wrinkles, and gives radiance.

Creams

Firming day lifting cream Blue Therapy Uplift Day Cream, Biotherm

Thanks to red algae extract, peptides and thermal plankton extract, it stimulates cell renewal, smoothes wrinkles, moisturizes and regenerates the skin.

Night care “Age expert 35+”, L’Oréal Paris

Includes collagen biosphere. It has a triple action: smoothes wrinkles, makes the skin more elastic, restores.

Scrubs

Facial Scrub “Clean Skin Active”, Garnier

Due to absorbent charcoal and salicylic acid, it reduces skin imperfections such as blackheads and comedones and serves as a prevention of their appearance.

Soft scrub, La Roche-Posay

Thanks to glycerin, soft polymer abrasive particles, the absence of soap, alcohol, dyes, parabens, it gently exfoliates the skin, evens out its color and relief.

Masks

Moisture & Comfort sheet mask, Garnier

A drink based on chamomile extract and hyaluronic acid moisturizes and soothes dry and sensitive skin, relieves redness, and gives a feeling of comfort.

Mask “Magic of Clay. Detox and Radiance, L’Oréal Paris

Removes impurities from the skin, removes toxins, evens out the tone and relief of the face. Contains black coal and three types of clay: kaolin, gassul, montmorillonite.

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