Beginners-guide-to-skincare Skinstore

Beginners guide to skincare

Where to begin:

 

  1. Ask a medical professional:

If you are struggling with a serious skin issue/concern that might require medical intervention, please speak to your doctor (or our doctor, Dr Ferreira, if you’re in the Western Cape area) before deciding on products. We recommend that you always follow the advice given to you by your doctor.

 

  1. Fill out our skin assessment form:

Kindly fill out our free skin assessment form, this helps us to determine the most suited product/s for your specific concern.

 

If you have never had a skin assessment before, please contact our aesthetic therapist (me) via the messaging channel or social media platforms (skinstoreofficial) to help guide you in the right direction.

 

  1. What type of cleanser will suit your skin type best:

 

*REMEMBER to always double cleanse (cleansing the skin twice) your skin and to use make-up remover beforehand if you are using long-stay or water-proof make-up.

 

Product recommendations can be found below

 

Dry skin: Cream, oil, and hydrating cleanser.

Oily & acne-prone skin: Foaming, gel, and clarifying cleanser.

Balanced skin: Foaming or hydrating cleanser (depending on your skin concern).

Sensitive skin: Gentle cleanser.

Combination skin: Foaming cleanser.

 

*Some things to keep in mind:

Pigmentation:

Pigmentation develops because of the Melanogenesis process being stimulated. There are two different types of melanin, Eumelanin (black/brown pigment) and Pheomelanin (yellow/red pigment). Remember ALWAYS to incorporate broad-spectrum sunscreen into your daytime skincare regime. Pigmentation will not improve if your skin is not protected from the sun, you are wasting your money!

 

Sensitive skin:

If you suffer from atopic conditions, I recommend seeing your doctor first so that the most suited treatment can be established. There is also a difference between sensitive skin and sensitized skin. Sensitive skin is a condition you are born with, and sensitized skin is a condition caused by external or internal factors, especially if the skin's barrier is impaired.

 

Dry skin:

There is a difference between dry skin and dehydrated skin. Dry skin is a skin type, you can be born with dry skin, or the skin can become dry because of taking certain oral or topical medications (like Isotretinoin). Dehydrated skin is caused by trans-epidermal water loss which occurs when the skin loses water and becomes dehydrated. Sometimes the small “wrinkles” you see on your skin are not wrinkles but dehydration lines.

 

Premature ageing:

Returning to the sunscreen topic, premature ageing can be heavily prevented if a broad-spectrum sunscreen is applied daily. Nothing ages us like the sun… and smoking! I would never tell someone how to live their life but just in case you were wondering, here are some other external factors that speed up the ageing process, these include poor diet, lack of exercise, living in a highly polluted area, using the wrong products etc.

 

Aged/mature skin:

Many people see aged skin as the point of no return but that’s not entirely true. Quite a few products can help to turn back the clock, not drastically but enough to make a difference. I highly recommend incorporating skin treatments like laser, chemical peels, micro-needling, and other aesthetic treatments if you are looking to immensely improve the condition and topography of your skin. Products that contain peptides or growth factors can be used in conjunction with these treatments to REALLY step up your anti-ageing game.

 

Sun-damage:

Most of us love the sun, and yes, Vitamin D is essential, but sun damage is not. It’s very important first to have sun-damaged skin examined by a doctor or Dermatologist before deciding on products. This is because of lesions called Actinic Keratosis (AK), which are pre-cancerous lesions.

 

Acne-prone skin:

Dealing with acne lesions can be very tricky and sometimes painful, thus the first thing to do when you have painful or cystic (large, red, inflamed bumps that feel like they are deep in the skin) acne lesions, is to visit a Dermatologist. This is because some types of acne lesions always require medical intervention. Another reason why it’s important to establish the correct course of treatment when it comes to acne is to prevent acne scars, which are very difficult to treat once they are there.

 

Dullness:

Dull skin can be the result of a variety of different factors, the most obvious one being a buildup of dead skin cells which causes the skin to lack luster. It’s important to exfoliate the skin once to twice per week, always be careful not to over-exfoliate the skin since this can lead to a whole new set of problems. There are many different exfoliating products and exfoliating methods, use what works for your skin, just keep in mind to not choose a method that is detrimental to the health of the skin. Using a Vitamin C-based product daily can be highly beneficial for skin cell turnover and the natural keratinization process.

 

  1. How to choose an active/serum:

Pigmentation:

Sensitive skin:

Dry skin:

Pre-mature ageing:

Aged/mature skin:

Sun-damage:

Acne-prone skin:

Dullness:

 

  1. How to choose a moisturiser:

 

Pigmentation:

Sensitive skin:

Dry skin:

Pre-mature ageing:

Aged/mature skin:

Sun-damage:

Acne-prone skin:

Dullness:

 

  1. How to choose a SPF/sunscreen

 

Pigmentation:

Sensitive skin:

Dry skin:

Pre-mature ageing:

Aged/mature skin:

Sun-damage:

Acne-prone skin:

Dullness:

 

  1. When to add Retinoids into your routine:

 

First, it is important to understand that not all skins can tolerate Retinoids, and some are contraindicated. Something likely to occur when you start to use Retinoids for the first time, is a Retinoid reaction. The severity of a Retinoid reaction varies from person to person and should not exceed 8 weeks.

 

SUPER important: ONLY use Retinoids products at night-time and ALWAYS use a broad-spectrum SPF/sunscreen when using Retinoid products.

 

When it comes to retinoids, it’s always best to start with a low percentage, and then work your way up from there. Keep in mind that not all skins can tolerate Retinoids, and that’s okay! There are plenty of alternatives that you can use.

 

Please always consult our skin store therapist before purchasing products that contain active ingredients if you are not sure about the following:

Contraindications:

  • Hypersensitive skin.
  • Very dry skin.
  • Sunburn.
  • Any active topical dermatitis.
  • Pregnancy.
  • Breastfeeding.
  • If you are using certain medications that causes the skin to become sensitized.
  • Non-sunscreen users.

Indications:

  • Acne (consult your doctor first).
  • Fine lines and wrinkles.
  • Hyperpigmentation.
  • Dull skin.
  • Rough textured skin.
  • Uneven skin tone.
  • Premature ageing.
  • Photoaged/photo-damaged skin.

 

Ingredients you can mix with your Retinoids in your skincare routine (always wait at least 20 minutes before layering ingredients after Retinoids):

  • Hyaluronic acid.
  • Niacinamide.
  • Ceramides.
  • Peptides.

 

Be cautious when mixing the following ingredients with Retinoids in your skincare routine:

  • Alpha Hydroxy Acids.
  • Beta Hydroxy Acids.
  • Vitamin C.
  • Benzoyl Peroxide.

 

When it comes to beginner skincare, it’s best to start with 2-3 products to not become overwhelmed by all the different products. It’s best to start with a cleanser, moisturizer, and sunscreen, and to have your skin assessed by a professional who can recommend the best products for your skin concern and skin type.

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