Perfecting your skin care routine isn’t easy, but using the best products can help. With so many available, which should you choose? Here’s what to think about when choosing skin care products.
Skin Type
Using blotting paper, gently pat on different areas of your face. The amount of oil you see can help you determine whether you have normal, oily, or dry skin. You could also have sensitive skin, which is skin that’s easily irritated.
Oily
Seek out oil-free products that don’t block pores. Products containing benzoyl peroxide or hyaluronic acid will be best for you, since they control excess moisture.
Dry
Look for products with ingredients that promote hydration, such as shea butter and lactic acid. Ointments and creams will be less irritating and more soothing for your skin.
Sensitive
If you have sensitive skin, products with calming ingredients such as chamomile, aloe, and oatmeal will be good for moisturizing without causing breakouts.
Skin Problems
Many products address specific skin concerns such as eczema and acne. Lotions are known to be drying, so instead, look for a heavier cream that contains petrolatum or ceramides.
Ingredients
Knowing which ingredients help and which hurt is a quick way to glance at a product and determine if it’s right for you.
What To Look For
As far as beneficial ingredients go, retinol is a great addition to your nightly skin care routine. It stimulates the production of collagen and refreshes your skin cells. L-ascorbic acid, or vitamin C, also helps with collagen stimulation. Vitamin C is an antioxidant that negates damage from UV radiation, so keep an eye out for that if you’re experiencing sunlight sensitivity.
Vitamin B3, also known as niacinamide, is useful in controlling oil levels. It also hydrates your skin while evening out your skin tone.
What To Avoid
Some ingredients have become staples of skin care products despite not adding any benefits, and in many cases, they even cause more problems. Sulfates, for example, create a pleasing lather that causes users to think they’re helpful cleansing agents, but they strip the hair and skin of natural oils and cause irritation. Parabens are useful in preventing bacterial growth in skin care products—but at the cost of throwing off hormonal balances, since parabens mimic estrogen.
There’s a lot to think about when you’re choosing skin care products, but now you have a sense of what to look for. Avoid irritants and get your skin looking beautiful!
