Now, that's a good question! A recent beauty article from a distinguished magazine stated that our skin only needs a "good" cleanser, moisturizer and SPF to thrive. I agree that these three products are the workhorses of our skin care, but I think answering the above question is a bit more complicated for some of us. Understanding our skin and what it faces daily, can shed some light on the skin care products it needs.
Here are a few things that can affect how your skin feels:
- What skin care products are you currently using?
- How's the current weather on your skin?
- Is your skin going through anything right now (stress, hormones, etc)?
I describe each of these below and give you some ideas of how to choose the right product to add if your skin needs it. The biggest advice I can give you is this – learn to listen to your skin!
1. What are you currently using?
A natural skin care guru I admire says, "Get cleansing right and rest will fall into place." I couldn't agree more. Using a cleanser that's loaded with SLS (sodium laureth sulfates), parabens and parfums will leave your skin stripped of the natural oils it needs to thrive. The beauty article I read made suggestions of cleansers that included these ingredients. I was shocked! Cleansing with harsh cleansers that remove good and bad bacteria, leaves your skin prone to infections and break outs.
And, what about your moisturizer? Is it filled with fake "nutrients" like silicones and petroleum-derived mineral oils? When we use empty nutrients such as these, we feel the need to layer on extra products just to get our skin to feel right. If your cleanser is indeed a "good" cleanser, you might not need to follow with another product. Yes, you read right. Again, this depends on what products you've been using so far, the weather and anything else your skin might be currently struggling with. In case you're wondering, this is my idea of a good cleanser.
2. How's the weather on your skin?
Just because a product worked in the summer, it doesn't mean it's going to work in the winter! Your moisturizer might offer you enough hydration and moisture in the summer, but in the winter you might need to bring in extra hydration or moisture. You can do this through a flower water, water serum loaded with hyaluronic acid or an oil serum.
The article I perused said that serums are unnecessary extras; however, they didn't mention what to do when your moisturizer fails you in -20 temperatures. If you're using a water-based moisturizer, your skin might benefit from an oil serum. Oil serums are made with a variety of carrier oils such as jojoba or argan, and many also contain essential oils. They offer nutrition and moisturization to your skin. If your moisturizer is oil-based, your skin might benefit from a water serum made with sodium hyaluronate. A water serum will add extra hydration when you need it and it's quickly absorbed underneath your makeup or sunscreen. Having a good sunscreen on-hand is essential if you spend time outdoors whether it's summer or winter. Check out my post about ingredients to avoid in your sunscreen and how to choose one that will benefit your skin.
You might not need serums in your daily beauty routine year-round. Every skin is different. Listen to what yours tells you.
3. What is your skin going through right now?
"Stress causes a chemical response in your body that makes skin more sensitive and reactive. ... This is because stress causes your body to make hormones like cortisol, which tells glands in your skin to make more oil. Oily skin is more prone to acne and other skin problems" (webmd.com)
Don't be too hard on yourself or your skin, but it is during these times that gentle effective products are key. Stay away from medicated prescriptions that are only going to solve your skin care problem temporarily. Ask yourself, what is making your skin react like this? Stay away from scented products; most are endocrine disruptors that may only aggravate your problem and mess with your hormones even more. Get to the root and try to solve that. We now have many specialists from nutrionists to naturopaths that can give sound advice on how to get to the root of skin issues.
If you're looking for temporary relief from acne-prone skin, Zyderma Clarifying Cream, is a gentle and natural product with only 5 ingredients that's making waves right now in the natural beauty industry. There's nothing like it out there. What makes Zyderma special is the micro-silver it contains. It continuously cleanses the skin of microbes and regulates the skin micro-flora. It's also a fantastic makeup primer :)
If you need extra advice or have any questions regarding this blog, don’t hesitate to reach out. I’m not a dermatologist or an esthetician. My advice comes from almost two decades spent in and out of the beauty world – spa, retail and film. My latest passion is researching the green world of makeup and cosmetics and learning from this and also the talented Canadian product-makers I chose to affiliate myself with. I’m always here for your questions, no matter what they may be!
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