Skin care
Some women (and sometimes men) have great skin but that does not mean they were born with it. You can curse them all you want but great skin has a lot to do with how you care for it. Some myths prevent many from getting that glowing complexion that Romeo thought was a light shinning yonder.
1: It's not just in the genes
Well, okay, genetics play a role in how your skin looks from the size of your pores to its texture and color. But if your mom looked like Michele Pfeiffer don't count on you looking like a younger version. Habits make more of a difference than genetics with the biggest culprit in aging being sun exposure as well as stress and sleep habits. Skipping sunscreen and sleeping on your side or stomach can all exacerbate and create wrinkles, adult acne and texture changes. Smoking and/or drinking doesn't help either.
2: The SPF number only does not tell you how much protection you're getting from the sun.
There are two types of damaging sun rays: UVA, which are responsible for aging the skin; and UVB, which are responsible for burning it. The SPF number on a bottle of sunscreen only gives a guide for how much UVB protection the product offers. It doesn't tell you whether or not the product protects from UVA rays (which are also responsible for melanoma). All sunscreens protect from UVB rays. To fully protect yourself, however, look for a product that contains UVA-blocking ingredients, too, such as zinc or avobenzone (Parsol 1789), and reapply often. Alternatively you could ask NASA to build you a high tech sun ray shielding hijab.
3: You don't necessarily need a separate sunscreen and moisturizer.
Sunscreens already add moisture to your skin because of their ingredients so if you have oily skin, you may want to skip the separate moisturizer. For those who prefer to wear both products, apply the moisturizer first; allow to dry, then apply the sunscreen. Either way, be sure to wear sunscreen daily because "Every day is sun day" even when the weather is overcast. Conversely, you could limit yourself to becoming a vampire and only going out at night.
4: Cosmetic creams don't turn back time for your skin.
Miracles don't come in a bottle, jar or tube. As you age, your facial bones shrink, you lose fat under the skin, and your skin begins to become loose. Rubbing on a cream isn't going to address these things. What's more, cosmetic skincare products cannot, by FDA law, include medications, which are the only things that truly change the structure of the skin. What cosmetic creams can do is temporarily plump up and hydrate your skin. Dermatologists can help in this regard. Problem in our country is that you first need help to find a good dermatologist.
5: Sun damage happens throughout your life
Recent studies have shown that by age 18, you've only accumulated 18 to 23 percent of the sun damage you'll incur over a lifetime. That means that there's still time to protect your skin from the sun and put off sun-induced aging. Do this by using sunscreen and products with sun-damage reversing ingredients such as vitamin C and retinol.
6: If your skin is sensitive to a specific ingredient.
Just because you react to a good ingredient in one formulation doesn't mean you'll have the same response to another formulation. Effective cosmetic skincare ingredients like AHAs, salicylic acid and retinol can be irritating. If you try a product containing one of these ingredients, start slowly to allow your skin time to adjust. If, after two weeks, you still notice irritation, try another product containing the ingredient. You may find that a different mix will agree with your skin.
Also sticking only with products that worked for you in the past may not be a good idea. Human bodies change as it ages so why shouldn't the skin? The products cease to be effective if your skin needs shift and you could also be missing out on new technologies and ingredients that will better suit your current needs. Don't be afraid to experiment but also don't go for material available just about anywhere! Leave the fear to the person who pays the bills.
7: Prevent pimples rather than curing.
A pimple can take weeks to form under the skin, so while you're treating the one that's currently visible with a spot treatment, you're neglecting the ones that will pop up in the future. The best bet is a preventative, full-face regimen to stop pimples before they even begin to form. Thank the natural decrease in estrogens/increase in androgens we experience as we age, plus our increasingly stressful lifestyles, for this common condition.
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