The skin is our body’s largest organ, where most adults have about 22 square feet of skin. It functions to allow us to feel and touch things, protects us, and regulates body temperature. So why wouldn’t we protect it with the best skincare products possible? To help you understand what skincare products are best for your skin, we’ll cover the following:
- Different Skin Types And Best Skincare Products For Each
- Things To Look For In Skincare Products
- What Are Active Ingredients in Skincare?
- Finding Best Skincare Products Based On Active Ingredients
- Vitamin C Benefits and Best Vitamin C Products
- Retinol Benefits and Best Retinol Products
- 6 Step Routine and Best Skincare Products For Each Step
Different Skin Types And Best Skincare Products For Each
The first step is to determine your skin type. Various factors influence skin type, including genetics, how sensitive your skin reacts to the sun (Fitzpatrick skin type), environment, hormones, stress, and your diet. It is important to keep these factors in mind when trying to determine your skin type. Once you identify your skin and the possible factors of why it is the way it is, you can help it to be rejuvenated and acne-free! Since each skin is different, you’ll need to look for the best skincare products that work for your skin.
- Normal skin – clear, balanced, not sensitive. Although normal skin is not too dry and not too oily, that doesn’t mean you can use just any skincare products. It is best to do patch tests (as with any other skin type as well). A general rule of thumb is to maintain a simple skincare regime that includes a mild moisturizer, regular cleansing and preventative skin care treatments.
- Dry skin – rough patches, scaly, or flaky. The best skincare products for dry skin are the ones that contain hyaluronic acid, glycerin, propylene glycol or panthenol. It is important to avoid products that contain alcohol, fragrance, or salicylic acid that could further irritate the skin.
- Oily skin – greasy or shiny looking, likely to have enlarged pores. Skin that produces more oil and sebum can be cleansed more thoroughly to strip away the excess oil on the skin. Utilize products that contain retinol, salicylic acid, glycolic acid, or lactic acid. These are ingredients that can break down oils on the skin and help skincare products penetrate deeper. Surprisingly, oil-based serums work very well on oily skin, helping your skin balance its natural oil production.
Additional skin types
- Combination – oily in some places, typically the T-zone (nose and forehead) and dry in others (typically the cheeks). Combination skin can be more oily in the summertime, dryer in the winter, and be both in the spring. Additionally, remember to hydrate your skin and avoid touching the face excessively.
- Sensitive skin – burning or itching after using certain products. Redness is a typical reaction. The best skincare products for the sensitive skin are the ones containing anti-inflammatory botanicals or lotions with chamomile, aloe, and green tea. They will soothe sensitive skin.
Things To Look For In Skincare Products
You have to do diligent research when looking for the products and brands that align with your skin type and your values, whether it be zero waste skincare or a brand that uses natural ingredients.
Additionally, non-toxic and clean skincare is important to take into consideration when looking for the products that work for you, your skin, and your values. For instance, organic skincare products are healthier than conventional because they contain ingredients that are produced without chemical or synthetic pesticides and herbicides. Therefore, these products are healthier and have more nutrients than conventional (non-organic) skincare.
Plant Mother provides natural, organic products that are completely healthy and nontoxic. That’s why Plant Mother’s Vegan Retinol and Vitamin C serums are one of the best skincare products for health-conscious women (and men). Moreover, Plant Mother does not test on animals or use animal ingredients. Animal exploitation is not necessary and shouldn’t be accepted in skincare. If your values align with this, it is important to fully research what brands and types of products are vegan and cruelty-free.
What Are Active Ingredients in Skincare?
The most common active ingredients in skincare are Retinol, Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs), Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHAs), Niacinamide, Hyaluronic Acid, Vitamin C, SPF, Ceramides and Benzoyl Peroxide (BPO).
Active ingredients give attention and directly affect specific concerns related to the skin. They have an intended purpose in your skincare products. These ingredients are compounds that target concerns like acne scarring, redness, wrinkles, and more.
Sometimes, introducing new products to your routine with high amount of active ingredients may cause skin purging. This is nothing to worry about! A skin purge can last 2-6 weeks, and it is the product(s) targeting your typical break-out areas to get the bacteria out of the area.
Finding Best Skincare Products Based On Active Ingredients
Each person depending on their skin type and preference should choose their best skincare products based on active ingredients their skin needs. Most skin types and ages will at a bare minimum need a good Vitamin C serum in the morning and Retinol during the night.
Both are key ingredients to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines, and achieve a glowing, youthful complexion. Further, retinol helps produce collagen production, while Vitamin C is the ‘glue’ that holds skin cells together to firm up the skin and gets rid of aging signs.
Vitamin C Benefits and Best Vitamin C Products
Vitamin C is safe to use for most skin types and aids in hydration, brightens skin tone and reduces hyperpigmentation in the skin. Additionally, it reduces redness. This Vitamin also promotes collagen reproduction, similarly to Retinol, and improves appearance of acne wounds and scars.
Vitamin C serum is considered one of the best skincare products. It is recommended to be applied in the morning, before leaving the house. While sunlight exposure causes Vitamin C in certain formulations to be less effective, it is still recommended to apply it in the morning since retinol and Vitamin C cannot be applied consecutively.
Moreover, oil-based, botanical Vitamin C, such as Plant Mother’s, is better than water-based, synthetic Vitamin C. It contains natural antioxidants, nutrients, and vitamins the skin needs without lab-made chemicals and preservatives.
Plant Mother’s Vitamin C serum contains natural ingredients like Kakadu plum, maracuja (passion fruit), and prickly pear, which makes it rich with Vitamin E, niacinamide and antioxidants. These ingredients make the skin plump, glowing, and well-nourished.
Retinol Benefits and Best Retinol Products
Retinol encourages skin cell turnover, meaning skin cells reproduce faster, increasing collagen reproduction. Collagen is what improves skin elasticity and reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Your skin will not feel as ‘tight’ or dry, and it aids in the appearance of youthful, glowing and clear skin.
To make retinol as beneficial as possible for your skin, it is best to use products with retinol at night. Your skin becomes more sensitive to light while using retinol, which may cause irritation and the opposite effects of clear and clean skin. We recommend always applying sunscreen daily while using retinol in your routine.
All natural and organic retinol is gentle and allows users to apply retinol without the worries of irritation. Plant Mother’s Retinol serum is a great option because it is made with all natural and vegan ingredients.
Plant Mother packs their retinol serums with over 20 botanical ingredients, delivering the best skincare products that do not cause side effects of redness, irritation, or sun sensitivity.
6 Step Routine and Best Skincare Products For Each Step
Cleanse – The first step to a skincare routine is to cleanse the skin. Cleansers wash away any dirt, oil and dead skin cells sitting on the top of the skin. It also helps to prevent clogged pores and helps the skin hydrate and stay plump. Make sure you avoid cleansers with alcohol – they will dry out your skin and negatively affect your skin’s optimal pH balance.
Exfoliate (1-2 times a week) – Exfoliating removes dead skin cells from the outer layer of skin. It is best to limit exfoliating 1-2 times a week to avoid potential tearing of the skin, creating crevices for bacteria to hide in. Exfoliating also helps even the skin tone and allows other skincare products to penetrate deeper – making them more effective.
Tone – The third step is using a toner that removes any leftover impurities or residue that may be left behind from cleansing and exfoliating. It aids the next skincare steps to penetrate the skin deeper and minimizes the appearance of pores for smooth looking skin. Similar to cleanser, the best toning products are the ones without alcohol or any other harsh ingredients.
Best Serums in your 6 step skin routine
Use Serums – The next step would be to use serums. Serums are considered one of the best skincare products. They are full of nutrients to feed your skin. There are tons of different kinds of serums that target specific skin concerns. Serums deliver a mix of active ingredients on the skin while also giving your natural collagen production a boost to achieve supple skin.
Plant Mother’s Retinol and Vitamin C serums are great options due to them being made with over 20 organic vegan ingredients, and being oil-based. They are made with oils that won’t clog pores and cause break-outs.
Plant Mother’s Vitamin C serum also contains vitamin E and niacinamide, which helps with dry skin and regulates oil production. In turn, by regulating oil production, acne-prone skin will start to clear up.
As for the best retinol serum, it aids in reducing inflammation and should be packed with Vitamin A. Vitamin A is important to help speed the healing process of scarring, prevent breakouts, and promote natural moisturizing. Vegan retinol such as Plant Mother’s Retinol serum is rich is natural provitamin A derived from fresh botanicals such as Sea buckthorn Berry, Rosehips, Hibiscus, and Carrot seeds. It also doesn’t make your skin sensitive to sunlight while lab-produced and synthetic Retinol products make your skin sun-sensitive.
Moisturize – Moisturizing is an important step to lock in previously applied products with a protective layer. Moisturizer alleviates dryness and can soothe sensitive skin. If your skin is especially dry with rough patches or flakiness, moisturizing is especially crucial to your regimen.
Best sunscreen to use daily
Use Sunscreen – The last step is to always apply sunscreen. Sunscreen is an important step to protect your skin from UV rays, signs of aging, damage to skin cells, and preventing skin cancer. Opt for an environmentally friendly, biodegradable sunscreen. By using a biodegradable sunscreen, it protects your skin while also being safe for the environment. It does not contain harmful ingredients that could be toxic to coral reefs. Not only is clean and natural skincare (including sunscreen) better for your skin, it is also better for the fast-changing environment around us.
Final Thoughts
Taking care of your skin is for everyone, not just one peer group or one person! There are no rules to follow when it comes to a routine. A routine does not need to be elaborate or full of time-consuming steps. Quick and simple is still a big step towards a great reward. A simple skincare routine can make all the difference, especially when using the best skincare products for your needs.
MEDICAL DISCLAIMER
This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of such advice or treatment from a personal physician. All readers of this content are advised to consult their doctors or qualified health professionals regarding specific health questions. The publisher of this content does not take responsibility for possible health consequences of any person or persons reading or following the information in this educational content. All viewers of this content, especially those taking prescription or over-the-counter medications, should consult their physicians before beginning any nutrition, supplement, skincare product, or lifestyle program.
