We have heard of the tendency to get out of “washed face”, take on natural skin and wear less makeup. What used to be a bad thing, became good.
This has happened due to the increased interest in skin care. Since young people have been concerned with going to dermatologists to treat acne , greasiness and skin problems in general.
But after all, what does skincare have to do with all this?
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What is skincare ?
S kincare is related to skin care. In English, the term skin means skin and care means care.
More specifically, today, skincare is linked to skin care of the face, as it is the place where the dermis is most exposed to damage caused by external agents.
These damages can be caused by several factors such as UVA and UVB rays, pollution, chemicals, poor diet, cigarettes, free radicals and several others that contribute to the premature aging of the skin.
The skincare is not only spend a sunscreen and think that’s all right. It consists of a step by step of care so that the results are effective.
When thinking about a skin care routine, we must take into account several factors, starting with the type of skin (normal, dry, mixed / oily or sensitive).
Existing problems (acne, blemishes, fine lines, etc.) and the time and money you have to invest in the products are other important factors.
Age also serves as a guide for choosing products. Those intended for young skins do not need to contain anti-aging actives, for example.
As for mature skins, it is legal to choose products with active ingredients that stimulate the firmness and elasticity of the skin, which will be lost over the years.
Therefore, with the problems identified or an intention of prevention, we can create our routine with a specific objective to guide us in the choice of products.
Remembering that the ideal is to go before a dermatological consultation to diagnose the needs of the skin and seek guidance.
What is it for?
The goal of a skincare routine , as the name implies, is to take care of the skin.
Treating what bothers us like excess oil, dry skin, blackheads , whiteheads, blemishes, redness, expression lines, among many other things.
The skincare routine can also prevent future problems. So it is never too early to start taking care of your skin. The saying went: “prevention is better than cure”.
Each step of the skin care routine plays an important role and is not there by chance. The products perform specific functions, and the final result on the skin depends on each one of them.
The skincare, as prevention and care, helps keep the skin clean, hydrated and healthy. It basically consists of cleaning, toning, moisturizing and protecting.
Already skincare with treatment order also promotes a clean and healthy skin, but also seeks to address the problems in a specific way.
Thus, the steps increase a little and consist of, in addition to cleaning and toning, moisturize more deeply to attenuate the signs of age.
How does the skincare routine work ?
Having a skincare routine is having a skin care routine. Daily actions that will guarantee healthy and beautiful skin.
First of all, it is essential to look for a dermatologist to diagnose what our skin needs. Some steps do not change, such as cleaning and protection, for example.
Specific cases such as rosacea, blemishes, acne, among others, need to be evaluated by a specialist, who will indicate which are the best types of product for the treatment.
In general, the basic steps to start a skincare routine can be performed by anyone, always adapting the products to your skin type.
Below is a suggestion of steps for a skincare routine :
Clean
The first step towards healthy skin is cleansing. Daily, we are exposed to pollution and dirt, in addition to the use of makeup etc.
All of this ends up accumulating and clogging our pores, which if not cleaned properly can bring us problems such as blackheads and whiteheads.
If you don’t wear makeup, just washing your face with a soap suitable for your skin type is enough.
If you wear makeup, it will be necessary to complement the cleansing of the face with a make-up remover or micellar water. The options are diverse, such as cleaning oil or balm, biphasic make-up remover, make-up soap, make-up foam etc.
For a more thorough cleaning, it is recommended to clean the skin with a professional every 15 or 30 days (depending on the professional’s recommendation).
This procedure unclogs the pores, promotes cell renewal and treats problems such as acne and blackheads.
- Frequency: the recommendation of the Brazilian Society of Dermatology (SBD) is to clean the skin twice a day, in the morning and at night, to avoid the accumulation of oil, makeup residues and polluting products in general.
- Tip: the main tip when it comes to cleaning is to avoid sleeping as much as possible with dirty skin!
Tone up
The tonics help to remove the oil from the skin and the dirt or makeup that the soap was unable to remove. Some tonics can also be used to remove makeup.
This is not a mandatory step, as many times the soap alone is enough to clean the skin. But if you want a deeper cleaning, it is worth betting on the product.
The tonic can also have the role of treating the skin. Many have in their formulation salicylic acid, for example, which is indicated to reduce skin oiliness and minimize pores.
They may also contain agents with anti-inflammatory, anti-aging or moisturizing ingredients (ideal for dry skin).
- Frequency: the ideal is to use the tonic once a day, at night, after washing your face, to intensify the cleanliness and unclogging of the pores.
- Tip: choose the ideal tonic for your skin type. If you have dry skin, for example, and choose a tonic that contains alcohol in the formulation, it will certainly dry it out even more.
Exfoliate
Exfoliation is an important step in a skincare routine . It deeply cleanses and promotes skin cell renewal, eliminating dead cells and impurities.
This process can be done in a physical way, in which the product contains small particles that, in friction with the skin, promote the flaking of dead cells.
Or a chemical exfoliation can be done, with acid-based products that cause dead cells to come off the skin.
It is important to always have clean skin to exfoliate.
- Frequency: the recommendation is to exfoliate between 1 and 2 times a week if your skin is oily. For dry skin, the ideal is to do it every 10 or 15 days.
- Tip: Sensitive skin should be careful with exfoliation, as it can further sensitize the dermis.
Hydrate
Hydration is among the most important steps in skin care. The procedure has a function similar to that of water for our body, which serves as food for the cells.
Keeping the skin hydrated consists of drinking a lot of water, it “fills” the cells providing more firmness to the skin, and using the right products to nourish it.
A hydrated skin maintains the vigor, integrity of the protective barrier of the dermis and prevents problems such as flaking, dryness and premature aging.
To choose a moisturizer, the recommendation is the same as in the previous steps, choose a specific product for your skin type.
For dry skin, the more hydrating power the product has, the better. For oily skins, the ideal is to choose a lighter serum or oil free moisturizers , which will hydrate without stimulating oiliness.
There is a myth that oily skin does not need hydration. This is not true, as hydration has to do with replenishing water from the skin, not oil. The fact that a skin is oily does not mean that it is hydrated.
You can choose normal moisturizers, or dermocosmetics, which in addition to moisturizing also treat the skin. They may contain anti-aging, anti-oil, anti-stain agents, etc.
Dermocosmetics should always be indicated by a dermatologist, who can tell you the best product for each age group and to treat specific cases.
- Frequency: hydration should always be done after cleaning the skin, that is, twice a day, in the morning and at night.
- Tip: remember that it is not only the skin of the face that needs hydration. The skin of the entire body needs special attention.
To protect
UVA and UVB rays penetrate deeply into the skin and have a cumulative effect that can accelerate aging, lead to the appearance of freckles and blemishes, and even more serious skin problems.
Using sunscreen is an indispensable step in the skincare routine, first of all, as a care for our health.
When choosing your sunscreen there are some factors that must be observed to observe. For those with oily skin, the ideal is to choose a protector that is oil free, which can be in cream, gel or spray.
People who practice physical activity or sweat a lot should opt for protectors that are resistant to water and sweat. Those who have dry skin can bet on those who have a more moisturizing formula.
The sun protection factor is just as important as its correct application. According to studies, it is useless to use an SPF 60 sunscreen if you apply an insufficient amount and do not spread it properly.
Do not be sorry when applying the protector, use a generous amount. The recommended by the Brazilian Society of Dermatology is 1 teaspoon (5mL) for the face and 3 tablespoons (15mL) for the body.
Check the protection levels of each SPF:
| Protection level | FPS value |
| Maximum | >50 |
| Alto | 30 – 50 |
| Average | 15 – 30 |
| Low | 2 – 15 |
- Frequency: The sunscreen should be used daily. If there is sun exposure, the protector should be applied 20 to 30 minutes before, and reapplied every 2 hours or after bathing, swimming, sweating or drying yourself with the towel.
- Tip: The application must be done uniformly, so as not to leave any area unprotected. Be extra careful with the face, which has a skin less than 1mm thick, about 100 times thinner than the arm, for example.
How-to Tips
The skincare routine should not be a must. The cool thing is to think of it as a health care in the first place and also with the appearance of the skin.
For this reason, it is a self-care, a gesture of self-love. Take time out of your routine to take care of yourself. Put on a song you like and take advantage of that moment to spend time of your own and get to know yourself better.
Morning care is usually faster. Therefore, set aside a longer time for night care, which requires more thorough cleaning.
The ideal time to apply dermocosmetics that contain acids in its formulation is at night, as some ingredients, if exposed to the sun, can cause adverse reactions on the skin.
Take care of the moisturizing creams on your face and body before bed and moisturize your lips. You will see the results in the morning of a smooth and hydrated skin.
Skincare kit : product tips
It is not as difficult and not as expensive to take care of the skin as people imagine. Creating a skincare kit can be inexpensive and is essential to start your care.
Check the list that we separated to assemble a kit for each type of skin and pocket:
Normal skin
It is a balanced skin, but it also needs hydration and protection. Check out some indicated products:
- Effaclar Facial Cleansing Gel Concentrate – La Roche-Posay ;
- La Roche-Posay Micellar Solution ;
- Nivea Refreshing Exfoliating Gel ;
- Nivea Facial Moisturizer ;
- L’Oréal Expertise Supreme Protect 4 Sunscreen SPF 50 .
Dry skin
Dry skin needs a lot of hydration to keep from drying out and peeling. Check out some indicated products:
- Ligia Kogos Dry Skin Facial Soap;
- La Roche-Posay Effaclar Ultra Micellar Water ;
- Nivea Facial Tonic Protective Balance ;
- Facial Moisturizer Panvel Faces SPF 20 ;
- Protetor Solar Facial SunMax Sensitive FPS 50.
Combined to oily skin
For oily skins, the most suitable are oil-free products that control oiliness throughout the day. Here are some options:
- Effaclar High Tolerance Facial Cleansing Gel – La Roche-Posay ;
- Bar cleaning soap – Acnase (ideal for skin with acne);
- Água Micelar Neutrogena Purified Skin;
- Astringent Tonic Nivea Brightness Control ;
- Neutrogena Acne Proofing Facial Scrub (ideal for skin with acne);
- La Roche-Posay Effaclar Anti-Oil Moisturizer;
- Protetor Solar Anthelios Airlicium La Roche-Posay FPS 30 .
Sensitive skin
Sensitive skin needs extra care. It is very important to look for the products indicated for this type of dermis, otherwise, they may have allergic reactions. Check out some options:
- Darrow Soap Soap ;
- Cetaphil Sensitive Skin Soap ;
- L’Oréal Paris Micellar Water ;
- Tônico Facial Neutrogena Ultra Gentle;
- Cetaphil Advanced Hydrating Lotion ;
- Avène Dry Touch Sunscreen SPF 70 .
Skin care goes far beyond what we mention here. But any step taken is a good start.
Look for a dermatologist to identify your skin type and indicate the best care routine for you.
And remember: products suitable for the face are for the face. Avoid using body products in this region, as their formulation is not specific for this purpose.
Do you have more skincare questions ? Tell us!
Keep following the Healthy Minute for more skin care and health tips!
