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Thats where we come in.
Photo: Felicity Ingram; Wardrobe: Ronald Burton; Hair: Jerome Cultrera at L’Atelier; Makeup: Porsche Cooper; Manicure: Yukie Miyakawa at Walter Schupfer. On model: Earrings by Lady Grey.
What do you really mean when you say skin care?
We mean the basic care and keeping of your largest organyour skin!
It also requires protectionespecially fromskin cancer.
Photo: Felicity Ingram; Wardrobe: Ronald Burton; Hair: Jerome Cultrera at L’Atelier; Makeup: Porsche Cooper; Manicure: Yukie Miyakawa at Walter Schupfer
Consider it your ultimate skin-care manual.
Why should I care about skin care?
Finding a skin-care routine that works can offer a vital way for someone to manage and treat their condition.
Photo: Felicity Ingram; Wardrobe: Ronald Burton; Hair: Jerome Cultrera at L’Atelier; Makeup: Porsche Cooper; Manicure: Yukie Miyakawa at Walter Schupfer
Im ready to start a skin-care routine.
What do I need to know before I begin?
If it gets a little greasy or shiny, you probably have oily skin.
You dont necessarily need to see a dermatologist before starting a skin-care routine.
So what are the basic steps of a skin-care routine?
When it comes to choosing a sunscreen you have options of physical sunscreens or chemical sunscreens.
Photo: Felicity Ingram; Wardrobe: Ronald Burton; Hair: Jerome Cultrera at L’Atelier; Makeup: Porsche Cooper; Manicure: Yukie Miyakawa at Walter Schupfer
Your night skin-care routine, on the other hand, might include additional steps.
But double cleansing is not a requirement, dont worry.
Then, youll want to seal these middle skin-care routine steps with a moisturizer.
Morgan Johnson
But just be careful with that, especially if your skin tends to be oily.
Read more about the basic steps of a skin-care routine:
Sounds doable.
But I also want to address a specific skin issue.
Photo: Felicity Ingram; Wardrobe: Ronald Burton; Hair: Jerome Cultrera at L’Atelier; Makeup: Porsche Cooper; Manicure: Yukie Miyakawa at Walter Schupfer. On model: Bodysuit by Alix. Earrings by Lady Grey.
How do I do that?
This is where products that contain specific active ingredientsknown as just actives by skin-care enthusiastscome in.
Thats why theres always some trial and error inherent in figuring out a skin-care routine for your specific skin.
Read more about active ingredients:
Great.
So how do I know which active ingredients are right for my skin?
Picking the right active ingredients depends on the specific skin concerns youre hoping to address.
Topical ceramides may be present in both prescription treatments for eczema and over-the-counter products.
Niacinamide:This is a form of vitamin B3 (niacin) that can be applied to the skin.
Theyre made up of short chains of amino acids.
(The other is sunscreen!)
Sunscreen:Youve likely used a sunscreen before to prevent sunburns, which are one form of UV damage.
But did you know that UV rays can also contribute to other kinds of damage?
And that damage can cause dark spots, wrinkles, and other signs of aging?
Preventing thatand skin cancer, of courseis a major reason to use sunscreen every single day.
Vitamin C:Yes, that vitamin C!
Morgan Johnson
This vitamin is essential for producing collagen and other important compounds in the body.
And when its applied topically it can function as an antioxidant, thus preventing UV-related damage.
Acne can also be influenced by many factors in your life, such as your hormones.
Photo: Felicity Ingram; Wardrobe: Ronald Burton; Hair: Jerome Cultrera at L’Atelier; Makeup: Porsche Cooper; Manicure: Yukie Miyakawa at Walter Schupfer
Any product that irritates or clogs the pores can stimulate the cascade of acne, he explains.
It causes red bumps and pustules that might look like acne, but dont usually affect the face.
Unlike actual acne, so-called fungal acne is treated with antifungal medications.
For more severe acne, a retinoid or other prescription treatment may be necessary.
Chemical exfoliants:You may already be familiar with physical exfoliants such asscrubsand brushes.
And while those are perfectly effective at removing dead skin that can clog pores, theyre not exactly gentle.
AHAs are water-soluble and help peel away the top surface of the skin, making it smoother.
Theyre present in all kinds of products, including cleansers, toners, masks, and serums.
But others would rather not have them hanging around.
Types
Over-the-counter topical scar treatments dont have a ton of evidence behind them, unfortunately.
Moisturizingalmost to an excessive degreeand time.
Just be sure to correctly identify the source of the hyperpigmentation first, Dr. Hartman says.
Photo: Felicity Ingram; Wardrobe: Ronald Burton; Hair: Jerome Cultrera at L’Atelier; Makeup: Porsche Cooper; Manicure: Yukie Miyakawa at Walter Schupfer
And that might require a visit to your health care provider to get to the bottom of the inflammation.
Its available over-the-counter (at concentrations of up to 2%) and via prescription in higher strengths.
Thats where sunscreen comes into play, even if youre staying inside all day.
So products for dry skin are often suitable for sensitive skin as wellbut not always.
But experts say bakuchiol may be a good optionespecially if your skin is too sensitive for retinoids.
If your skin cant tolerate retinol at 1%, try bakuchiol, Dr. Skotnicki says.
Its been shown to have similar effectiveness to retinol at 0.5%, with less irritation, she adds.
What else should I know about skin-care ingredients before I get started?
Your best bet is to spend money on products containing active ingredients with the most promising research behind them.
In general, the risks include irritation, allergic reactions, or simply wasting time and money.
If in doubt, you might always check with a dermatologist.
Is there anything in particular I need to know about caring for my skin of color?
Additionally,topical treatmentscontaining things like hydroquinone and vitamin C can help too.
But whatever you do, know that treating hyperpigmentation takes timepossibly six months to a year.
Theres also a prevalent myth that people with darker skin dont need to wearsunscreenthis is definitely not true!
The sun can still cause damage even if youre not getting sunburned.
And that damage can both lead to skin cancer and exacerbate hyperpigmentation.
When shopping for sunscreen, dont necessarily avoid mineral sunscreen if you have a deeper skin tone.
I like the protection that they confer and the significant reduction in occurrences of irritation.
More on caring for skin of color:
Im pregnant.
What products can I use and what should I avoid?
Melasma affects 15 to 50% of pregnant people.
Before you treat any skin concerns related to pregnancy, its important to check the ingredients on product labels.
Plus if youre trying to manage that condition, you might only go so far with over-the-counter products.
So over-the-counter products arent off-limits for you entirely, but you will want to approach them with caution.
With the right approach, skin care can be an effective (and maybe even fun!)
way to manage the symptoms of your condition.
More on caring for your skin if you have a medical condition:
What about clean beauty?
How do I check that everything in my skin-care routine is safe?
But words like clean and natural on skin-care products aremore buzzwords than anything else.
In fact, natural herbal and botanical ingredients are frequently irritants and allergens for those with sensitive skin.
And our health concerns about certain chemicals in makeup and skin-care products areoften overblown.
Again, we recommend opting for products that contain ingredients we know the most about.
And if youre not sure if something is right for your skin, talk to a dermatologist.
More on what clean and natural skin care really mean:
Im really excited to get started.
Which products do you like best?
Well, first off wed suggest checking out the2021 SELF Healthy Beauty Awards winners.
Be sure to check all ourskin-care coverage here.
