Heavy Hitters: Hit a home run with these skincare essentials

Have you ever purchased a product that promised all these amazing results, only to be underwhelmed and let down? The skincare industry has countless brands popping up all the time, making it an overwhelming task to find the best products for your skin. And if you are dealing with breakouts or other skin conditions, you know all too well that the persuasive promises from skincare companies that offer overpriced “miracle” products often don’t pan out the way you had hoped. 

But you can still navigate the skincare aisle with confidence! With a little knowledge and direction, you can create a customized skincare philosophy just for you, because let’s face it - you know your skin better than anyone! 

Choosing the right products plays an important role in the overall health of your skin. A good skincare routine is just one of the many tools you can lean on to unlock happy, glowing skin. Living a healthy, balanced lifestyle, eating a variety of good-for-you foods, getting plenty of exercise, and practicing healthy stress management techniques (along with a functional skincare routine that includes the right products) means that enjoying that piece of pizza or glass of wine and staying up past your bedtime every now and then is not going to wreak havoc on your skin. 

STEP UP TO THE PLATE 

The foundation of a solid skincare routine is creating a balanced skin barrier. The skin craves homeostasis and, when supported correctly, can heal and balance itself. Skincare practices can literally make or break the skin barrier, making choosing the right products for your skin essential. Ideally you want a skincare program that helps protect and nourish the skin barrier, keeping the skin moisturized and clear, while also keeping the skin calm. Sounds like a tall order, but it’s completely achievable. By making some simple tweaks and substitutions to your purchasing habits and overall skincare routines, you can be on your way to the skin you’ve always wanted. 

For more on your skin barrier visit ecoparent.ca/skin-barrier

Skin Theory Testimonial

THE STARTING LINE UP

You don’t need a 10-step skincare routine to have happy, healthy skin. A cleanser, hydrating facial mist, moisturizer, and sunscreen, along with any targeted product for a specific skin concern (like acne) are all you need! Once you’ve determined your skin’s needs, and which ingredients will help to support that goal, you’re ready to pick and choose from a much smaller section of the skincare aisle. 

Cleansing is foundational to a great skincare routine, as its job is to remove sunscreen, makeup, and dirt in a gentle way that does not disrupt the skin barrier or strip the skin. Clean skin has natural oils and trillions of microbes all over it, and we need both these microbes and the oil barrier to maintain healthy, glowing skin. If your cleanser is leaving your skin feeling tight or dry it might not be the right cleanser for you. When choosing a cleanser, look for one that is gentle, slightly acidic (pH between 4.5 and 5.5), and free from sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS). 

Sodium lauryl sulfate is commonly used in skincare (and household cleaning!) products and is what gives cleansers and shampoos that foamy, bubbly consistency. The problem with SLS is that it strips the skin of natural oils and can cause inflammatory skin reactions. 

Hydration is something I always keep in mind when building a skincare routine. Hydrated skin is happy skin. Water keeps the skin healthy and is necessary for all enzymatic reactions. To boost hydration in the skin, apply moisturizer to damp skin to seal in the moisture. You can simply pat some water on your face, or you can indulge in a luxurious hydrating facial spray that includes skin-friendly nourishing ingredients, like aloe and hyaluronic acid, both of which are gentle and acne-safe. 

Transepidermal water loss (TEWL) is the process by which water evaporates through the skin. To prevent this, adding in a quality moisturizer with ingredients like squalene can help slow down TEWL and lock in moisture. 

Sunscreen is an often-overlooked piece of a daily skincare routine but is an important step to both protect the skin and support a healthy skin barrier. If you are experiencing any type of irritation, like breakouts, dryness, or redness, or have scarring or hyperpigmentation, daily SPF protection will provide a protective shield and help reduce oxidative damage, in turn speeding up your skin’s natural healing process. It also prevents sebum oxidization, resulting in fewer breakouts. 

Special Topic: Mineral Based Sunscreen

When choosing a sunscreen, always choose something that works for you and a formula that you love so you will want to wear it every day. My personal favourite is a mineral based sunscreen. This is also known as a physical sunscreen and has ingredients like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. Zinc is a great ingredient for sensitized acne-prone skin. They work by absorbing into the surface of the skin and deflecting the sun's harmful rays.

Skincare is an amazing tool that can support the skin barrier and help you reach your skin goals. For best results, I always recommend exploring a holistic approach to skin health that addresses your overall health, including your nutrition, hormones, digestion, detoxification, stress, and mindset (just to name a few!). Nurturing your skin from the inside out will offer the best results, so get your body in balance, grab those foundational skincare products, and glowing skin will follow. 

Ready for more? Check out my program the Acne Reset to clear acne for good.

Big love,

Caralyn