Skincare 101

Skincare 101: 

Don’t let the intimidation of “skincare routine” keep you from better skin and greater confidence. Get to know your skin and what it does so you can take the easy steps in caring for it 

Your skin does more than make you look pretty. And while that is why most people spend hundreds (if not thousands) of dollars on dozens of skincare products a year, the reality is that your skin is a vital organ in maintaining your health. 

Like any organ, your skin needs care and attention to perform its function (and make you look pretty). That is the essence of skincare, and it doesn’t need to be any more complicated than that. 

So, before you go out and spend who-knows-how-much money on skincare products, it’s important to know your skin. Once you do, you can understand why you need to care for it and start taking the right steps in implementing a skincare routine. 

Your Skin is More Complex than you Probably think

The skin is the largest organ of your body. It protects your body from infection, microbes, the elements, regulates your body’s temperature, and enables us to feel the sensations of touch, cold, and heat. 

It also makes you look pretty, if you treat it right. 

The skin is complex, but for the average person just trying to take the right steps to care and maintain its health, the skin can be understood in three main layers: 

• The Epidermis 
• The Dermis 
• The Hypodermis 

The Epidermis is the outermost layer of your skin. It protects your skin from the elements and microbial infection by creating a waterproof barrier. 

The Dermis is the thick middle layer of your skin connecting the Epidermis to the Hypodermis. It’s mainly composed of connective tissues – mostly Collagen. The structure of the Dermis provides a framework for strength, flexibility, and protecting your body’s internal structures. 

The Dermis is also where wrinkles develop. Sun(UV) damage and aging damage the Dermis, resulting in lower collagen levels and wrinkles. 

The Hypodermis is the innermost layer of your skin. It anchors the three layers to your internal skeletal structure. Sweat glands, and fat and collagen cells are maintained in this layer to protect your inner organs and regulate your body’s internal temperature. 

A lack of adequate care, as well as age, contribute to a reduction in the amount of tissue in the Hypodermis, resulting in saggy, loose skin. 

Why Caring for Your Skin Matters 

Knowing to maintain health is pretty straightforward, and skincare is part of that maintenance. Taking time to attend to your skins needs means healthier skin when you are older, less chance of developing skin-related diseases and conditions (such as cancer) and not having to pay for things like Botox when you are 60. 

Other than physical health and wellbeing, remember that the skin is also where your beauty begins. When skin is taken care of, confidence increases and insecurity decreases. You are happier, and you feel more secure in yourself – maybe you’ll finally ask that girl at the gym out on a date.  

Skincare is physical, mental, psychological well-being. And it is also an investment into your future. So, you should consider skincare to be an integral part of your daily health and wellness routine 

The key is to make it simple and easy so you can do it consistently. 

What your Skin Needs is More than More Products 

Your skin needs to be taken care of. This does not have to mean four moisturizers, two toners, six acne medicines, and a library’s worth of other commercial skin products. 

While these things do help and advance skin health, it can overwhelming. So, here is what your skin does need: 

• Water
• Cleansing at least twice a day (take care to always thoroughly remove makeup products)
• A healthy and balanced Diet 
• Moisturizer 
• Sleep
• 30 FPF Sunscreen for excessive sunlight exposure

The health and wellness of your skin is not only determined by what you apply directly to it. Skin health is just as much determined by a holistic approach to health. 

Another key need of your skin is attention and familiarization. Every person’s skin is different. This means you may need to approach skincare differently than your friend, neighbor, or even brother or sister. 

Take time to look at your skin and evaluate any changes. Familiarize yourself with your skin type, solutions to what is afflicting your skin, and what you do and do not need. 

Skin Types – One Product does not Fit All

Skin and skincare are regularly generalized terms used by skincare companies to maximize their customer base. 

The truth is skin is unique to you. If you want to look good and feel good, then you have to know your skin type. Assuming your sister’s or girlfriend’s favorite product will be enough is not the right approach. 

Know your skin type to know what you need product wise, and in your habits. 

Oily Skin: Results from an excess in sebum from the skins sebaceous glands. These glands exist under the skin, and sebum is a fat which helps moisturize and protect your skin. 

Too much of a good thing isn’t great. 

For oily skin, focus on

• Purchasing “oil free” products 
• Washing your face 
• Use a “mild” or “gentle” face wash 
• Use sunscreen whenever you spend an extended period of time outside
• Apply moisturize daily (preferably one with SPF 30 or higher) 

As a final note, don’t scrub harder when you’re washing your face. It will only irritate the skin and actually increase the production of sebum. 

Dry Skin: Your skin doesn’t have enough water in it. This can be genetic or caused by your environment. Dry skin usually results in irritation, itchiness, redness, and overall discomfort because dry skin is damaged skin. 

If you have dry skin, think about whether it’s always been like that, or a recent development due to the current weather or climate. Skincare routines don’t have to be for-life, adapt as your skin needs. 

If you are suffering from dry skin, then prioritize

• Ointments and creams 
• Apply moisturizer regularly (especially after a shower or bath)
• Wash your face with a “gentle” cleanser
• Protect your skin from extreme cold and heat through clothes and sunscreen 

If you have or presently suffer from dry skin, then you know how much it can itch. Before you purchase and anti-itch product, ask your dermatologist. These products have the potential to actually increase the itch or damage your skin in other ways. 

Sensitive Skin: Sensitive skin is a skin type that is not a defined medical diagnosis, so much as a generalization for anyone who has skin which reacts or is sensitive to skin care products. 

Sensitive skin is generally a side effect of an underlying dermatological condition, so, while there are many products made for those with sensitive skin, the best solution would be to go to your dermatologist and have them explain your condition and the specific steps you need to take to address it. 

In general, however, a skincare routine for those with sensitive skin should focus on

• Soap-free cleansers 
• Non-irritating moisturizers and emollients
• Protecting your skin from the sun by regularly using sunscreen  

Sensitive skin requires a sensitive approach. Do not spam your face with products labeled “for sensitive skin.” It may be for sensitive skin, but that does not men it is for your sensitive skin. 

Combination Skin: A combination skin type means your skin is oily, dry, and normal, all in different places, and at the same time. Often, the nose and forehead are oily, whereas the cheeks and chin are normal. And then you may have dry ears or lips. 

It depends on the combination. But black heads, shiny skin, and overly large pores are indicators of a combination skin type. 

For people with a combination skin type, the ideal routine involves the following

• Apply products to specific areas
• Space out your routine between the A.M. and P.M. 
• Use a Hyaluronic acid based moisturizer 
• Try to use a sunscreen which doubles as a moisturizer 
• Don’t use multiple products which do the same thing 

A skincare routine for combination skin is entirely dependent on the combination. Never trust a “for combination skin” product – it does not know your combination. 

Ask your dermatologist for some best practices, and where you can limit the number of products you are using. 

Normal Skin: It seems rude to say some people have normal skin. That means everyone else has abnormal skin. The truth is that normal skin refers to a more balanced level of oil, water, and other nutrients. Some people are born with a greater balance and some are not. 

People with normal skin require a thorough and regular skincare routine, despite 

What is  Skincare Routine – and Why You Need One

There are few words or phrases more ominous, confusing, or annoying for the average male than “Skincare Routine.” This is because since high school, men have had “You need a skincare routine” thrown at them from their mothers, sisters, or their significant others (if they have one, of course). 

What follows is a 25-step process which is just unrealistic in the eyes of most men. Don’t let this past experience put you off. Skincare routines are essential for caring and maintaining the health of your skin. 

For a regular guy, a skincare routine can be defined as “Doing what you have to do so your skin doesn’t look bad.” A skincare routine is essential for both maintaining your skin’s health, as well as your health in general. 

Basics of A Skincare Routine

A skincare routine doesn’t need to be overthought. Here’s the gist of it

• Cleanse your face in the morning and before bed (and after a workout)
• Moisturize post-cleansing 
• Apply sunscreen when spending long periods outdoors 
• Know your skin type (There are many simple tests online) 
• (If you are a man) Keep it as simple and straightforward as possible

Don’t trust just any brand, and don’t trust a big-brand salesperson who tells you their new 20-piece set is “essential.” 

If you Work out your Body then you Need to Workout your Face

You can go to the gym 6 days a week, but if you have forehead which could be nicknamed “Rocky Road” or a nose redder than Rudolph’s, then all the insecurities which come with an unsatisfactory appearance will still exist. 

Be your best self by taking 15 minutes to add skincare to your daily workout. You will have healthier skin, a healthier body, and a healthier dose of confidence. 

Care for your skin, and it’ll care for you. 

If you have specific Questions regarding skin or implementing a skin routine, visit any of the following accredited institutions

• Cleveland Clinic
• WebMD
• National Center for Biotechnology Information
• American Academy of Dermatology Association 
• DermNet NZ