For many people who developed a skin care regimen since their tween years or who have been blessed with a flawless complexion they've never had to give a second thought to, skin care may not register as a daily concern. But considering the protection your skin provides from the environment and the number of assaults it faces every day, skin care practices deserve some attention.
Why Skin Care Deserves Awareness
Skin, also known as the integumentary system, is the largest organ of the human body. Skin makes it possible for the human organism to maintain homeo stasis—a state of chemical and temperature balance. Skin is the body's first line of defense against a host of environmental assaults, including:
- UV radiation
- Pollution
- Stress
And that doesn't include the assaults we inflict on skin with low-quality, wrong-for-your-skin-type, full-of-skin-baddie-ingredients products.
What You Need to be Aware of
A thorough discussion of skin care awareness requires volumes. Here is the short version: To be skin care aware, you need to understand:
1. All skin needs proper hydration and nutrition to carry out the processes involved in cellular repair, renewal and rejuvenation
Adequate hydration facilitates the transport of nutrients needed for cellular repair into the cell and toxins out of the cell. A number of vitamins, minerals and other compounds are needed for the chemical processes involved in cellular repair and renewal, such as
Antioxidants like vitamins C and E bind to free radicals to neutralize them and prevent molecular damage that may lead to the development of skin cancer and/or contribute to signs of aging.
Hydration and nutrients can all be delivered to the skin internally and topically. Eating a balanced diet is vital to getting the right nutrients for skin health as is complementing your healthy lifestyle with the right skin care products.
2. All skin needs daily care
In general, a healthy skin care regimen should include:
- Twice daily gentle cleansing
- Morning and night moisturizing
- Daily sun protection
- Regular (2-3 times per week) exfoliation
3. Skin care products and practices should be tailored to your skin health needs
Skin care should be tailored to your skin type (e.g. oily, dry, sensitive, aging). For instance, oily skin may require more frequent cleansing and oil-free moisturizers while dry skin may benefit from less washing and lipid-rich moisturizers. You may consult with your dermatologist to develop a skin health regimen tailored to your needs.
4. Proper skin care requires being an educated skin care product consumer
New research is continually adding to the wealth of information on skin health, but not all products reflect the latest technology or scientific advances. Unfortunately, that means some skin care products can actually be harmful. Parabens and PABA, for instance, are still common ingredients in skin care products despite research linking them to endocrine disruption and increased risk for some cancers.
Supporting Your Skin Care Awareness
Hale Cosmeceuticals prides itself on staying on the cutting-edge of skin care technology. Because we have our own in-house research and development department, it's easy for us to stay current on the latest advances in skin care. And we make it easy for you, too, by passing on our information. Visit our website, Like us on Facebook, Follow us on Twitter and check into our weekly blogs to get information to help you build your skin care awareness and find the products you need to meet your unique skin health needs."
