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There are many places to read about skin care online and in print. So many cosmetic companies sell not only products but ideas as to how to achieve stunning beautiful skin. Why people untiringly read them is because they are self conscious about how they look. However, having beautiful skin is not as easy as buying nice, gorgeous clothes. Wouldn’t it be handy if we could just go out and purchase it?

Too bad that great skin is not even for sale on the market although some might even argue that with you. The foundation for beautiful skin is inherited and yet to achieve its maximum potential has to be cared for all of our lives. Along with the basic inherited traits come allergies, elastic ability and sensitivity to environmental factors. There isn’t much we can do to avoid all sensitivities if there are inherent conditions that cause it to react a certain way. But, understanding your skin and its needs is essential to helping you in choosing the best skin care regimen for your skin.

What are the parts of your skin?

The skin is made up of 3 layers namely the hypodermis, dermis and epidermis. All of these layers play important roles in maintaining healthy, beautiful-looking skin. They hypodermis is the deepest layer of the skin. It is made up of fatty tissue and it supports the two layers above it. The middle layer is the dermis where collagen, elastin, sweat and oil glands are found. As we get older, the skin loses its elasticity and collagen and oil production slows down making the skin dry and prone to stretch marks. The layer that we see on the outside is what we call the epidermis. It is the protective layer of the skin. Being prone to scratches and damage caused by the environment, skin renewal often takes place here. However, because it is constantly exposed to harmful substances like the sun’s heat, pollution and tanning chemicals, it easily loses its collagen and elasticity. That is why it is not advisable to take long, warm sun baths even with a sunblock. If the skin gets too beat up, burns and skin cancer could result.

Pop Quiz: How often does a skin renew itself?

Answer: For young people, the skin renews itself every 15-30 days. It takes twice as long when we get old.

What does your skin need?

Your skin care regimen, therefore, must include boosting your skin’s collagen and elastin production. Without these two, skin gets dry, saggy and wrinkly. Needless to say, avoiding these harmful environmental factors will keep your skin healthy. Another great defense from skin damage is hydration. Since your body is made up of 90% water, it makes sense that water is essential for digestion, blood circulation, temperature control, weight regulation, detoxification and so on and so forth. Therefore, water is the best medicine not only for your skin but for your whole body. Doctors recommend that one should drink an average of 8 glasses a day. Well, we have heard it before countless of times but we continue to ignore it. If you find it hard to drink water, give it some variety – cold, hot, squeezed with lemon juice to make it taste better. Your water therapy works best too if you don’t drink alcohol and sodas as these are diuretic, thus, flushing out fluids more than they can hold.

Your basic facial skin care regimen should be: cleansing, exfoliating and moisturizing. Cleansing can be done with products especially formulated for your face. Some soaps can harm your face’s skin as it is finer and sensitive than the rest of your body. Exfoliating, on the other hand, removes stubborn dirt that’s left on your skin by gently peeling off the dead skin cells. However, exfoliation must-do’s have to be observed because too much of it can be bad too. Lastly, moisturizing your skin is very important especially if you have dry to very dry skin. As we age, all the more that we need to moisturize our skin. While these products are easily available in the market, as a general rule, don’t just buy the first product you can find. Check the labels. Know your allergies and if it has ingredients that your skin will react to. If you have super-sensitive skin, don’t do anything unless you get your dermatologist’s approval.