When you visit a drugstore, you’ll come across a wide array of skincare products. While we often put thought into purchasing makeup items, are we as discerning when it comes to skincare?
For some, the distinctions between products can be perplexing, leaving them uncertain about which ones to select.
In this article, we’ll be introducing essential skincare tips and budget-friendly skincare cosmetics available at drugstores for those in their teens to twenties. Additionally, we’ll provide information tailored to men. So, if you’re someone facing skincare challenges or questioning the significance of skincare, be sure to keep reading.
Skincare involves taking steps to keep your skin healthy.
So, what exactly is skincare?
Many might say it’s the routine care of your skin to achieve a beautiful complexion.
But, in truth, skincare serves a purpose beyond just maintaining outward beauty. It carries a deeper significance.
In this article, we’ll delve into two key aspects:
・The Importance of Skincare
・Different Types of Skincare and Their Roles
The Significance of Skincare
Skincare serves a dual purpose, not only preserving the aesthetics of our skin but also contributing significantly to its overall health.
Our skin, often hailed as the body’s largest organ, fulfills a spectrum of essential functions:
- Protective Role: Safeguards the body against external aggressors such as UV rays, bacteria, viruses, and chemicals.
- Secretion Function: Produces sebum and sweat.
- Temperature Regulation: Manages body temperature through perspiration in heat and insulation in cold conditions.
- Storage Function: Stores subcutaneous fat.
- Excretion Process: Removes bodily waste products.
- Sensory Function: Allows us to perceive sensations like cold, warmth, pain, and itching.
Comprising three layers—epidermis, dermis, and subcutaneous tissue—the skin’s outermost layer, the epidermis, shields against external harm, thanks to its stratum corneum (cornified layer).
Neglecting skin health can lead to potential physical and psychological discomfort. Thus, it remains imperative to uphold a routine skincare regimen for the maintenance of skin well-being.
However, it’s equally essential to tread with caution, as improper or excessive skincare practices can inadvertently harm the skin. For instance, excessive use of exfoliants or harsh brushes can compromise the stratum corneum, weakening the skin’s protective barrier and paving the way for issues like dryness and skin irritation.
Let us always remember that the core essence of skincare lies in the preservation of a healthy complexion, and it is vital not to overlook this fundamental aspect of skincare.
Types and Functions of Skincare
Now, let’s delve into the fundamental categories of skincare and their specific roles.
Cleansing
The primary purpose of cleansing is to remove makeup that adheres to the skin. Cleansing products often contain oily components to effectively eliminate oil-based impurities.
Tips for Choosing the Right Cleansing Products
When selecting cleansing products, consider both the type of makeup you use and your skin type.
- Stubborn Makeup: Opt for products with robust cleansing power, such as oil-based cleansers.
- Natural Makeup: Choose gentler cleansers with a mild cleansing effect, like gel-based cleansers.
- Dry Skin: Look for cleansing products with moisturizing ingredients.
- Oily Skin: Select cleansers designed to efficiently remove excess sebum.
If you’re concerned about acne, consider products that have undergone non-comedogenic testing. (Note: Not everyone is prone to acne.)
Among these options, “Double Cleansing Not Required Cleansers” are user-friendly and highly recommended. As the name suggests, they streamline the makeup removal and cleansing steps into one.
Using these cleansers, you can both remove makeup and cleanse your face in a single step, making your skincare routine more convenient while reducing potential skin friction and stress.
Some may question their effectiveness in removing makeup, but rest assured, they work efficiently.
If you decide to use a “double cleansing not required” cleansing product, there are four primary types to consider. Here’s a breakdown of the “cleansing power” for each type:
Choose the cleansing product type that aligns best with the makeup you use based on the specific characteristics of your makeup products.
Facial Cleansing
Facial cleansing plays a crucial role in removing impurities like sweat, dust, and sebum from your skin. Additionally, it helps wash away any remaining remnants of cleansing products on your skin.
Choosing the Right Facial Cleansing Products
The selection of facial cleansing products should align with your specific skin type.
If you have oily skin, consider using soap-based facial cleansers known for their ability to effectively remove sebum buildup. On the other hand, individuals with dry skin are encouraged to opt for facial cleansers with gentle cleansing properties.
For sensitive or dry skin, milder cleansers are preferable, while those with normal or oily skin can benefit from stronger cleansing options. If you’re concerned about acne, look for products labeled as non-comedogenic.
We recommend “foamless facial cleansers” for the following reasons:
- Time-efficient
- Easy to rinse off
- Less likely to cause dryness
Additionally, it’s crucial to pay attention to how often you use facial cleansing products.
Overusing facial cleansers can sometimes lead to over-cleansing, so it’s advisable to limit your facial cleansing routine to twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening.
This frequency allows you to maintain your skin’s natural moisture balance without excessively stripping essential oils. Avoiding over-cleansing helps preserve your skin’s barrier function and prevents the onset of increased dryness, forming a healthier skincare routine.
Make sure to cleanse while thinking about these 4 points:
Toner
Toner serves the purpose of moisturizing the skin and leading it towards a hydrated state. Approximately 8-9% of the components in toners consist of purified water.
How to Choose the Right Toner Products
The objectives and benefits of using toner are as follows:
- Restoring moisture lost during facial cleansing
- Enhancing the absorption of subsequent skincare products
The primary aim of applying toner is to hydrate the skin. Toners are primarily composed of water.
While some toners claim various effects such as whitening or anti-aging, these are usually supplementary. The core expectation from toners is their ability to replenish moisture lost during facial cleansing.
Additionally, by hydrating the stratum corneum (the outermost layer of the skin), toner can facilitate the penetration of ingredients in the skincare products applied afterward.
Similar to how water can’t effectively penetrate dry soil, skincare products won’t efficiently penetrate the stratum corneum if it lacks adequate moisture.
Recently, all-in-one moisturizing skincare products that also serve as toners have become more prevalent. To maintain skin moisture, it’s essential to replenish both “water” and “oil” components. Hence, using all-in-one skincare products might be the most efficient approach.
Using fewer products reduces the burden on the skin and can have positive effects on the skin’s barrier function.
Beauty Serum
Beauty serums play a crucial role in supplying essential ingredients to the skin. They address various concerns like dullness caused by dryness and pore care, making them a part of daily or occasional skincare routines.
It’s important to note that there isn’t a fixed quantity of ingredients in beauty serums. Therefore, there are instances where the serum from Company B, for instance, may contain a variety of ingredients that effectively address specific skin concerns more than Company A’s beauty serum.
Emulsion and Cream
<Emulsion>
Emulsion falls between toner and cream in terms of texture. It provides moisture, balances the ratio of oil to water, and seals in hydration.
<Cream>
Generally, creams contain a higher proportion of oily components compared to emulsions. Their role is to prevent moisture evaporation and maintain moisturizing effects.
How to Choose Emulsion and All-in-One Gel Products
The primary purpose of emulsion is to maintain skin moisture. My top recommendation is the use of all-in-one moisturizing skincare products.
All-in-one products typically consist of 20% oil and 80% water, allowing for efficient hydration of the skin. They strike a balance between oil and water content, preventing moisture loss. Additionally, applying a single product completes the moisturizing routine, reducing the risk of irritating the skin.
All-in-one products are both time and cost-effective, making them highly suitable for individuals who are new to skincare.
Sunscreen
Sunscreen serves the essential role of protecting the skin from UV rays. Sunscreen ingredients include UV scattering agents that reflect and block UV rays before they reach the skin and UV-absorbing agents that absorb UV rays before they penetrate the skin.
Sheet Masks
Sheet masks are masks in the form of sheets soaked in toner or beauty serum. Therefore, their role is similar to toner and beauty serum. They come in various types, allowing you to choose based on your specific skin concerns.
3 Steps Beginners Should Learn About Skincare (with pictures!)
Now that we’ve introduced the different types of skincare, beginners who haven’t been taking care of their skin may be wondering, “Where should I start?”
Here, we’ll simplify it for skincare beginners by focusing on just three fundamental steps.
Start with the basic methods we’re about to introduce, and as you become more familiar with skincare, you can add items and try various techniques that suit your skin.
In a nutshell, here are the three basics of skincare that beginners should learn:
- Cleanse to remove dirt from the skin.
- Hydrate the skin.
- Lock in the skin’s moisture.
Let’s explain each step in order.
Cleanse the skin with facial cleansing and makeup removal
Keeping the skin clean is the first step in skincare.
By removing sebum, dirt, dust, and makeup from the skin and keeping it clean, it becomes easier for the moisturizer you’ll use later to penetrate.
Makeup removal
Facial cleansing methods
Hydrate the skin with toner
You can cleanse the skin to remove dirt, but after cleansing or bathing, the skin has reduced sebum and resident bacteria, leading to a weakened barrier function.
When the barrier function is compromised, the skin becomes vulnerable and can even become dry.
Especially after bathing, the skin is prone to drying out due to high body temperature and ambient temperature.
Such conditions can be very irritating to the skin and can lead to skin problems.
Therefore, it’s essential to provide moisture to the skin and moisturize it as soon as possible after cleansing or bathing.
Methods to hydrate the skin
Lock in moisture with moisturizer
After using toner to moisturize the skin, be sure to seal it with oil (AKA moisturizers).
While toner provides moisture to the skin, it quickly evaporates and cannot maintain moisture.
Moreover, during evaporation, it can take away moisture from within the skin.
What the skin needs is to supply both “moisture” to hydrate the skin and “oil” to prevent evaporation simultaneously.
It’s essential to provide them in balance and at the same time.
Methods to provide oil to the skin
These are the fundamental steps that beginners should learn about skincare.
Skincare Tips for Beginners (By Age Group)
Have you grasped the names, types, and roles of skincare products to use?
Here, we will segment the information by age group and provide guidance on skincare considerations.
As the condition of your skin changes with age, it’s important to stick to the skincare basics we introduced earlier while adapting your skincare routine gradually to fit your age and skin condition.
Keep in mind that the information provided here serves as a general example, so feel free to adjust it according to your lifestyle and specific skin needs.
Teenagers (Middle School & High School)
Both boys and girls in middle and high school often experience an inclination towards oily skin due to the influence of hormones, leading to various skin concerns like acne.
However, the heightened sebum production during adolescence is temporary, and the level of sebum on the skin evolves with age.
While it’s common for teenagers to become overly concerned about their skincare regimen and stress about their skin, it’s also essential to strike a balance and not obsess too much.
Now, when teenagers embark on their skincare journey, here are two key points to consider:
- Limit the use of facial cleanser to 1-2 times a day.
- Always prioritize sunscreen to protect against UV rays.
Limit facial cleansing with a cleanser to 1-2 times a day
Given that both boys and girls tend to have oily skin during this phase, the temptation to wash the face multiple times a day to combat issues like acne and oiliness is common. However, it’s advisable to restrict facial cleansing with a cleanser to 1-2 times daily.
Excessive facial cleansing can disrupt the skin’s natural barrier and even trigger increased sebum production. To maintain a healthy skincare routine, pay attention to details like using lukewarm water during face wash and ensuring adequate moisturization after cleansing.
For those particularly concerned about acne, consider using a facial cleanser that has passed the “non-comedogenic test,” as it is less likely to clog pores.
If you have severe inflammation from acne or want a faster remedy, it’s advisable to consult a dermatologist and obtain prescription medication.
Ensure Sun Protection at All Times
It’s crucial for middle and high school students to prioritize sun protection.
UV rays are a year-round concern, regardless of the season or weather conditions, so it’s vital to consistently take steps to shield your skin.
While UV rays are often associated with sunburn, they actually contribute to more than just that. UV rays can lead to “photoaging,” which encompasses issues such as dark spots, wrinkles, and skin sagging.
Photoaging doesn’t manifest immediately after UV exposure; it accumulates over the years due to ongoing skin damage. Therefore, even if you don’t see immediate signs of dark spots or wrinkles, it’s crucial not to underestimate the impact. The damage from the UV rays you encounter today will undoubtedly accumulate in your skin and become visible on the surface decades later.
20s
Entering your 20s brings changes to your surroundings and various transformations to your skin. It’s a period when some individuals start to worry about issues like enlarged pores, dryness, and pigmentation that didn’t trouble them during their teenage years. Additionally, as makeup becomes a more significant part of daily life compared to high school, your skin may accumulate more damage.
For skincare beginners in their 20s, here are key points to keep in mind:
- Tailor your skincare routine to your specific skin type.
- Aim to reduce stress on your skin.
Customizing Your Skincare Routine to Your Skin Type
During your 20s, some people may experience an increase in sebum production, while others may notice a decrease over time. Here are common skin types and their associated concerns:
- Dry and sensitive skin: Issues like dryness, fine lines, and adult acne.
- Oily skin: Dealing with excess oiliness and adolescent acne.
- Combination skin: Balancing both oiliness and dryness.
It’s crucial to select skincare products that match your particular skin type, as the needs of individuals with “inner dry” skin but high surface oil levels are quite different from those with “sensitive skin.”
Minimizing Stress on Your Skin
During your 20s, frequent makeup use can potentially irritate and damage your skin. To minimize this stress, consider using “double cleansing not required” cleansing products that combine makeup removal and cleansing in one step.
Using a single product not only saves time and cost but also reduces the frequency of washing your face, which lessens the burden on your skin. Such products typically have mild cleansing properties and are gentle on your skin.
If possible, you can further reduce stress on your skin by opting for all-in-one products in your moisturizing skincare routine.
30s
In your 30s, the fundamental principles of skincare remain similar to those in your 20s.
However, if you start noticing changes in your skin, it might be a sign to consider anti-aging skincare. This approach differs from age-appropriate care and focuses on addressing signs of aging such as wrinkles, fine lines, and loss of skin elasticity.
The timing to begin anti-aging skincare varies among individuals, but if you observe signs like prominent nasolabial folds, wrinkles, pigmentation, or reduced skin firmness, trying anti-aging products may be worthwhile.
Skincare Brand Recommended for Beginners: Earthcare Asia
Have you grasped the basics of skincare, including the order of product application and techniques?
What we’ve covered so far is just one example. Considering your own skin condition and compatibility with skincare products, it’s essential to experiment with various methods.
Here, we introduce skincare brands that are ideal for beginners. We also highlight products like “all-in-one gels” that combine the roles of toner and emulsion, so use this as a reference when selecting products.
Aqucrio Series
Earthcare Aquatect Gel – Recommended Features
- Achieves “Ultra-High Moisturization” with 16 moisturizing ingredients
- Guaranteed “Low Irritation” through 3 skin tests
- An all-in-one solution for complete hydration with just “one product”
The Aqucrio Series has been used by over 100,000 users, with cumulative sales exceeding 1.5 million units.
Aquatect Gel (pictured on the left), an all-in-one moisturizing gel, can replace the need for toner, emulsion, and beauty serum. This eliminates the need to worry about the order and usage of these products, reducing physical friction and irritation to the skin, ultimately lowering the burden on your skin.
On the other hand, Double Cleansing Gel (pictured on the right) allows you to cleanse and wash your face in a single step, eliminating the need for double cleansing.
Both products have undergone three skin tests to ensure safety and are easy to use, making them highly recommended for skincare beginners.
Interested? Click here!
The Proper Skincare Routine for Beginners
Skincare routines vary between morning and night.
In the morning, your goal is to cleanse away sweat, sebum, and impurities that have accumulated overnight, moisturize your skin, and shield it from UV rays. Conversely, in the evening, your focus shifts to removing makeup and dirt while providing your skin with essential moisture.
Morning Skincare
While there are various skincare products available, we will outline the essential steps of cleansing, toning, and moisturizing for your morning routine.
Step 1: Cleansing
Your morning skincare regimen begins with cleansing. A simple rinse with water won’t effectively remove sebum and impurities. Use a gentle facial cleanser and avoid harsh scrubbing.
Step 2: Toning
After cleansing, apply toner to hydrate your skin and refine its texture.
Step 3: Moisturizing
Next, apply a moisturizer to balance your skin’s moisture and oil levels. Opt for a moisturizer with UV protection for added defense against the sun.
Evening Skincare
In the evening, start with cleansing to remove makeup, impurities, and old skin cells while ensuring your skin remains adequately moisturized. The fundamental steps include cleansing, toning, and moisturizing.
By diligently removing makeup and exfoliating to remove old skin cells, you ensure that your skin stays well-hydrated. This is a crucial aspect of nighttime skincare.
However, skincare products containing sunscreen should not be used at night. Avoid using products that include sunscreen ingredients in your evening routine, such as serums with built-in sun protection.
Skincare Q&A
Let’s address two questions related to skincare:
Q: Do middle school and high school students need skincare?
Yes, skincare is essential for middle school and high school students to maintain healthy skin. During these years, acne often becomes a concern as the skin becomes oilier and more prone to shine.
Key steps for skincare in middle and high school students, especially for those dealing with acne, include proper cleansing and moisturizing. Use a gentle foaming cleanser to wash your face, being careful not to rub too harshly to avoid skin irritation.
After cleansing, moisturize to restore the skin’s balance. Avoid relying solely on toner, as it can lead to skin dehydration and worsen acne. Instead, use products like toner, lotion, or all-in-one gel to ensure hydration that lasts until the next day.
If makeup is worn, it’s crucial to remove it thoroughly with makeup remover. Leaving makeup residue on the skin can contribute to issues like acne. There are makeup removers that require double cleansing (using a cleanser after makeup remover) and those that do not, so choose accordingly.
Q: Are there specific points to consider in men’s skincare?
Yes, for men, skincare routines should be adjusted based on their shaving habits and skin condition.
<Shaving with a Razor>
Begin by washing your face to remove dust and dirt. Apply shaving gel or foam and shave with a razor. After shaving, rinse off any remaining gel or foam and use an aftershave lotion to soothe your skin.
<Using an Electric Shaver>
After cleaning your face, use the electric shaver on dry skin. Apply shaving cream or gel before shaving, ensuring it dries thoroughly after application. Using a powder-based shaving agent can save time.
After shaving, create foam with a facial cleanser, wash your face, and follow up with moisturizing. Since electric shavers may leave some beard residue, be sure to perform regular maintenance on your shaver.
Summary
Here are the key points for beginners starting a skincare routine:
- Skincare is important for maintaining healthy skin, whether you’re in your teens or twenties.
- Skincare involves cleansing to remove dirt and moisturizing to keep your skin hydrated.
- Cleansing products: Cleansers and makeup removers.
- Moisturizing products: Toner, lotion, and cream.
- Your skincare routine should differ between morning and night.
- When selecting skincare products, consider their compatibility with your skin and choose products that fit your budget.
- Consistency in your skincare routine is crucial for achieving clear and healthy skin.
It’s essential to understand your skin’s needs and remember that not all advice you hear aligns with conventional wisdom. What works for one person may not work for another, so explore different sources of information to find what’s best for you.
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