Let's talk about SKINCARE baby
So what do we really know about skin?… Have you ever even thought about it properly and with the respect it deserves?!… I’m not sure I ever have before now! Although, like most of you I’ll bet, I am keen to remain looking as young and youthful as possible for as long as possible! I may be rather late to the game, seeing as I’m a white female and it turns out we start ageing from the age of 20! Apparently once you hit 25 your collagen levels can start to slowly deplete, which may result in sagging skin and the onset of fine lines! Yes, I’m freaking out as well!
However, the world is an extremely diverse place filled with all kinds of beautiful people of different colours and, when it comes to our skin and our skin care, there is no “one size fits all” approach to caring for it.
Your skin does a huge job for you. In fact, according to the American Academy of Dermatology, each inch of skin is made up of 19 million skin cells, 650 sweat glands, 20 blood vessels, and 1,000 nerve endings. It also happens to shed an incredible 30,000 to 40,000 skin cells each minute. The skin is the body’s largest organ and is our first line of defence against the outside world. Therefore, maintaining a healthy skin barrier is crucial. It is more than a protective organ, your skin functions as an immune organ.
Your skin has 3 layers - the epidermis, dermis and hypodermis. Black and Asian people have a thicker dermis layer. This is the 2nd layer of skin that gives it flexibility and strength. White males also have 25% thicker skin due to a higher level of collagen and their oil glands are more active. This means that these groups have a slower, more gradual, ageing process. However, those pesky wrinkles will eventually come to us all. The overall structures and functions of our skin are very similar, regardless of colour. In actual fact, we all have the same skin colour, just different levels of the brown pigment, called melanin. This means that everyone’s skin can be cared for in similar ways.
In ALL skin tones, sun exposure is our nemesis! The sun is the primary photodamage resulting in loss of skin structure and elasticity, an increase in uneven brown or age spots and the ultimate price, of course, being skin cancer.
To conclude, respecting this vital organ of ours is important and we can all do that with smart skincare habits, and yes, perhaps even smooth some of those fine lines and wrinkles and lessen discolouration. We can all generally follow the same principals. “How?” I hear you all asking. Well, read on and I’ll explain how to layer your skin products. But, when making your choices on what to buy, be sure to pay attention to your skin’s specific needs, the product’s ingredients and who the product is intended for.
Whether you’re assembling a rainbow cake, styling an outfit or putting together a skincare routine, proper layering is crucial unless you are superman and wear your underwear over your trousers! When it comes to skincare, layering the right way can make all of the difference to making the most of your products.
The layering of products is a multistep skincare routine for both daytime and night-time. It is always about cleansing the skin, treating the skin and protecting the skin with the basic rule of going from watery to thicker substances. How many steps is entirely down to you, it can be as many as 10 or more. Let’s not forget the importance of nutrition as well - but that is a whole other story. I’m sure “The Gut Stuff” can help us out on that score.
For those of you who want to go all out with your skincare regime, here is the order to follow;
Now you have the order of application down, do not be tempted to race through it and slap product on after product. A good rule of thumb to follow is to wait between 30 seconds and a minute between layers to maximise absorption.
If the above list of steps is getting an eye-roll from you and you are thinking, like me, “who on earth has the time for all of that?” then you can narrow it right down and follow 3 VERY important steps:- CLEANSE - which is, essentially, washing, MOISTURISE - no matter what your skin type (cleansing can strip your skin of essential moisture and your skin can be tricked, if oily, into producing even more oil) and SUNSCREEN - this should always be the last step in any skin routine, no matter how many steps you follow, and should be worn even in winter. The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends wearing a broad-spectrum SPF of 15 or higher for everyday use and SPF 30 or higher if you’re going to be spending an extended amount of time in the sun.
Every type of skin deserves proper care, and remember, your skin-care should not stop at your face. Pay attention to your neck too. If you’re not sharing the love you give your face with the rest of your body, all that work could be for nothing!
Article written by Dawn Collins
