The Bare Essentials of Skin

Vanessa Yeo • UrbanWire
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Our skin is one of the most important organs of our body and yet most of us choose to neglect caring for the delicate surface by subjecting ourselves to tanning sessions that expose the skin to harmful UVB and UVA rays. And even those who don’t bake under the sun are guilty of not giving their skin the attention that it needs.

Here are some essential tips for radiant, healthy skin with minimal fuss for ever-active youths!

Cleanse, Tone, Moisturise!
Suncreen
Extra Care
Food for Thought

Cleanse, Tone, Moisturise!
It’s a no brainer, but something as simple as cleansing the face in the morning and night every day can make a difference in revealing a smoother surface. Getting rid of the grime and dirt accumulated during the day is paramount if you want to avoid clogged pores and pimples. A dirty face is a canvas for potential acne and blackheads.

Toning is most recommended for those with oilier and combination skin types. This step enables your pores to tighten and skin to firm up after being cleaned and preps the next step of moisturising. Without toning your skin, you will notice that creams and lotions are not as effectively absorbed. Daphne Oleveiro, 33, an aesthetician for La Mer Beauty Clinic says, “Many people often forget that toning sets the base for moisturising. Cleansing is an action that activates the skin so the toner is needed to relax it.”

Plumping up with moisturiser is important to prevent the appearance of fine lines or at least slow down the process that comes with aging. Even oilier skin types need to equip themselves with water-based or gel cream. Lu Wan, 37, Skin Analyst at Clinique stresses, “I know a lot of people think that they have enough oil in their skin so they skip the moisturising step but they are only depriving their skin of nutrients. Think of it as not getting enough water in a day.”

If your skin is sensitive, try to stay away from off-the-shelf drugstore brands and visit specialist skin care companies like Clinique, L'Occitane or Shiseido.

Sunscreen
What you may not realise is that every time your skin is exposed to the sun without being protected, you are encouraging pigmentation and heightening your risk of skin cancer. That tan might not be so worth it after your once-smooth surface takes on a leathery texture in the older years.

You should wear sun block every day for protection and prevention. An SPF level of at least 15 is required for the most basic needs like shopping in daylight or having an outdoor meal. For activities like swimming or beach volleyball, invest in a waterproof sunscreen with a SPF 24 protection.

Extra Care
There are many products available in the competitive beauty market to enhance or accompany the use of the basic cleanse, tone and moisturise steps. The most prominent craze in Asia is whitening.

Since Asia has always been fascinated with keeping skin as fair and flawless as possible, it is no wonder that the brands offering products that claim to restore the fair and radiant glow of skin are doing so well.
If you are interested in supplementary aidsto whiten and enhance its look, you may want to try SK-II, which will set you back about $200, or if the budget does not allow, L’Oreal.

Food For Thought
You remember the saying “You Are What You Eat”? Well that applies to the quality of your skin as well. You may realise that if you do not consume at least 8 glasses of water in a day, you skin tends to look dehydrated and lacklustre. This is why all skin doctors encourage you to drink as much H2O as possible.

Other foods that are good for your skin include fruits and vegetables, protein-rich items like eggs, soy products and fish. To up your vitamin intake you may even try out Evening Primrose Oil pills, which are available at most pharmacies and aid in skin suppleness.

Taking care of yourself isn’t hard. It just takes dedication to look after the layer that protects your body from free radicals and pollution. It deserves at least this much.