Okay, there are plenty of skincare products on the market.
So many.
And often you feel overwhelmed, you don’t know what to choose, or you end up buying unnecessary products that can hurt your skin. In the following article, we will show you which skincare products are really essential for a correct beauty routine and which can be a real cuddle for our skin, but not strictly necessary for its health, and on which it is worth investing only if we really want or need them.
So the real question is: take or toss?
Take: Cleanser
As many of you already know, cleansing not only is the first step of skincare but also the fundamental step. Without cleansing, all the “sacrifices” you make with serums, moisturizers, and treatments could be in vain. And we don’t want that to happen, do we? The skin needs a meticulous cleansing to ensure that the active ingredients penetrate the epidermis effectively, but not only: in the morning, cleansing is essential to eliminate all that our skin has “produced” – so to say – during our night sleep, such as excess sebum, moisturizer residues, dead skin cells, and toxins, while in the evening, it removes makeup and skin secretions, alongside sunscreen and pollutants such as smog and dust. If not cleaned effectively, our hydrolipid film can go haywire: and then come breakouts, irritations, redness, and itching, not to mention possible inflammation. So, if you’re one of those who meticulously follow all the steps of their skincare routine but do not thoroughly cleanse their skin, you’d better go buy a cleanser right away!
The one we are loving: Caudalie, Vinoclean Instant Foaming Cleanser
A foaming cleanser that feels and looks like a cloud of softness: Chamomile, used for centuries in traditional medicine, soothes and nourishes the skin; Green Grape has a moisturizing power and is a brightness booster and Sage helps regulate the production of sebum. In addition to that, its base is formulated without soap and without synthetic agents to cleanse all skin types, even the most sensitive ones!
Toss: Mask
Ok, we love masks, and after a stressful day, we cannot wait to open a nice book, dip in the bathtub filled to the brim with hot water and let a beautiful mask rest on our face, making us feel like we’re in a spa, but at home. The masks are by definition specific and concentrated treatments that act in a deep and immediate way, quickly introducing the active ingredients inside the skin. But are they essential? The answer is no. The masks are not considered essentials in our routine and cannot be used as a daily cream or serum replacement treatment. In fact, their use is recommended only a few times a week to enhance the actions of daily skincare!
Take: Serum
Serums are natural boosters of active ingredients. Why? Because, thanks to their liquid or gel texture, they contain active concentrates in very high levels and ensure that these ingredients penetrate in-depth. Unlike moisturizers, which have a more full-bodied texture, serums have a fluid and light consistency, are hyper-concentrated and are more immediate in their action. Their formula differs by the richness of specific substances reduced in micro molecules that reach the deepest layers of the epidermis, enhancing the effects of the treatments that will follow and making them penetrate deeper. Moreover, some active ingredients are difficult to add to moisturizers’ formulas and work better in aqueous solutions, and can be added in much larger quantities. Some examples? Our beloved acids, hyaluronic acid, some vitamins, and amino acids. Also, in the summer, when it’s too hot and our skin can only tolerate a small number of products, the combination serum + SPF is enough to ensure an adequate intake of beneficial ingredients and protect us from UV rays.
The one we are loving: Origins, Ginzing Into The Glow Brightening Serum
A multitasking serum that aims at making the skin look brighter. It contains Vitamin C, a complex of acids AHA, BHA, which helps support the natural enzymatic action of the skin to stimulate cell regeneration, Hyaluronic Acid, and extracts of Green Coffee, to visibly smooth the skin and soften the appearance of the pores over time.
Toss: Scrub
Also known as physical exfoliants, scrubs contain solid micro-granules aimed at removing dead skin cells manually by friction. Of course, their action is immediate and visible, but at the same time, there may be some significant cons to its use: if you have sensitive skin, physical exfoliants with a high abrasive action can cause irritations, dryness, and damage the skin, and for this reason, whether the skin is sensitive or not, it must always be used with caution. Compared with chemical peelings, which work more “depth” than a scrub, in any case, we choose the peelings, always!
Take: SPF
UV rays from the sun are the leading cause of premature aging. Whether the sun shines high in the sky, whether there is bad weather or the sky seems overcast, the SPF is there. 365 days a year.
It conquers the podium of the “to take” products: UVB rays are responsible for sunburn and redness, while UVA rays cause discoloration, spots, and photoaging, therefore sunscreen must be the most essential product in our skincare routine, as it is the number one defense against the formation of other signs of aging. Of course, it always depends on the skin type – perhaps, the driest ones will still need a moisturizer before applying the SPF – but nowadays, sunscreens can act as both moisturizers and treatment, all in one: some contain antioxidant ingredients, moisturizing agents, and repairers that can help dry skin, while SPF can be oil controlling or mattifying, containing ingredients that help regulate sebaceous production, perfect for oily skin.
The one we are loving: Darling, Glowy Face Cream Spf 50+
An SPF whose formula is based on Vitamin E, which with its anti-aging and antioxidant properties allows you to reduce skin stress and prevent aging. Furthermore, Apricot Oil promotes the maintenance of skin elasticity, protects the skin from atmospheric agents such as cold, wind, and even UV rays; Jojoba Oil moisturizes and protects against external factors and chemicals in the air; Allantoin promotes tissue repair and extract of Blueberry and Aloe Vera make this sunscreen suitable for even the most delicate skins!
Toss: Eye Contour
We know that the skin around the eyes is more delicate, thinner, and more sensitive than the rest of the face and there is often where the first wrinkles and fine lines concentrate. But do we really need a specific eye cream? In fact, all skin, including the eye contour, can only benefit from delicate and fragrance-free formulations. This does not mean that a specific moisturizer is not a good investment (for example, a retinol eye cream will necessarily have a different formulation than a generic retinol cream) but it is not strictly necessary where your moisturizer is already very delicate and highly tolerable (this is usually mentioned in labels, if you do not find anything about it, avoid using it, especially in such a sensitive area).
Take: Day and Night Moisturizer
Keeping a moisturizer in our beauty bag is never a bad choice, but its constant use depends mainly on your needs (and skin type). Starting from the fact that SPF is necessary every day and, as we’ve already said, it often contains active ingredients that can act as a treatment – and that oily skin may tolerate less the use of moisturizer before the SPF (in summer, a moisturizing serum often seems to be enough) – we would include it in the “to take” products mainly for its night use and for dry skins that still need daily nourishment.
The one we are loving: Dr.Jart+, Vital Hydra Solution Biome Water Cream
A cream formulated specifically for “thirsty” skins: thanks to the Jartbiome technology, it rebalances the beneficial bacteria present on the skin creating an optimal natural environment. Fermented probiotics preserve the hydrolipidic barrier to retain moisture and prevent moisture loss, three forms of hyaluronic acid moisturize it, and finally, the Hydra-Nutrition 2X complex helps maintain optimal hydration levels.
Toss: Face oil
To be used as the last step of the skincare to create a protective filter that allows the ingredients to penetrate effectively into the epidermis and prevent external agents from coming in contact with the skin: it is useful for both dry skin and, contrary to what is often believed, oily and mixed skin. There are many different oils that contain various ingredients: just look for the one that best suits you, but keep in mind that it can be too heavy to be used as a makeup base. This forces us to relegate it to evening use or to those days when we’re staying in.
Take: Peeling
A peeling a day (or rather, when needed) takes the doctor away! Sure, we have a bit revisited the sentence but, the point is: never say no to a good peeling. Perfect for more radiant and smoother skin, they remove dead skin layers from the face, exfoliate and accelerate the process of cell regeneration. Furthermore, they can attenuate spots, scars, acne, and even wrinkles and induce an inflammatory reaction that contributes to the production of collagen and elastin, the two essential proteins for elastic skin.
And then, for every skin/need, its own kind of peeling: salicylic acid works deeply, while glycolic acid, mandelic acid, and lactic acid (suitable for the most delicate and sensitive skin) act on the most superficial layer of the skin, and enzymatic peels are perfect to use in summer!
The one we are loving: Paula’s Choice, Skin Perfecting 25% AHA + 2% BHA Exfoliant Peel
A rinse-exfoliating concentrate peeling (in lilac!) that acts in 10 minutes, exfoliating and smoothing the skin to reduce sun damage and unclog pores. It contains 2% salicylic acid and a combination of AHA: 8.4% glycolic acid, 7.1% lactic acid, 5% mandelic acid, 2.5% tartaric acid, and 2% malic acid. It also contains plant extracts such as allantoin, bisabolol, and glycyrrhetinic acid that have a soothing effect on the skin. In addition to all that, the Butterfly Pea flower extract is responsible for the peel’s lilac color that we love!
