| Winter winds can be drying here in the Mesilla Valley, and the results can mean skin that looks and feels as if all the moisture has been sucked right out of it. In arid climates like ours, the first places to show moisture loss are faces (particularly lips, but including the neck as well) and hands, the two body areas that see the most exposure to sun and wind. While everyone’s skin is different, there are some basic products everyone should include in their daily skin care routine: sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher, moisturizer and a good lip balm with an SPF of 15 or higher.
When prepping your skin for the summer months, it is important to keep in mind that some products may work better than others to replenish moisture and renew that dewy, youthful look that you crave. Some offer temporary moisture on the surface of the skin, but can’t penetrate deeply enough to have lasting effects. Others may provide plenty of intense hydration but offer nothing to help reverse existing skin damage. The problem comes in deciding which products are best for your skin, and the choices can seem endless.
Rather than buying and trying dozens to narrow down the best ones for you, take some time to look at ingredients rather than simply at brands and advertising claims. You should also look at your lifestyle and the time you have available in the mornings and evenings to care for your skin. If you have a reasonable amount of time, you may want to choose several products to address several skin issues. If you don’t have a lot of time, look for multi-purpose products that combine ingredients to address several things at once (such as moisturizers that also include sunscreen).
Make sure you identify your own needs and then you can tailor your skin care routine to ensure your skin looks the best it possibly can. Remember that the higher up a substance is on the ingredients listing, the higher the concentration of that ingredient in the product. If you’re still a little baffled, don’t worry. The Mesilla Valley is home to several dermatologists and spa professionals that can help you choose a routine that is right for you.
The following is a list of ingredients that serve various functions in skin care products. Look for them on your search for skin care products so you can be certain that you’re getting the most hydrating and moisturizing power for your money. The skin care products you choose don’t have to contain all these ingredients to be effective, however. Keep in mind that many of these things can be found in food sources and supplements as well, which can help keep your skin looking great from the inside out. Always check with your physician before you add vitamins or supplements to your diet. As with good ingredients, there are ones you’ll want to steer clear of. Avoid products that list parabens, mineral oil, alcohols and fragrances as ingredients because they all can irritate, cause breakouts and further dry your skin.
Alpha lipoic acid is an antioxidant that has been getting a lot of press lately for its ability to neutralize free radicals (chemicals that can cause cell damage). In skin care products, it can work with both the water and fats in skin cells to help repair and keep them plump and supple, like they are when we are young. As alpha lipoic acid works within the cells, the result over time is skin that looks healthier. It also works as an anti-inflammatory agent to reduce irritation and redness.
Aloe vera has long been used to treat skin problems like redness, irritation and sunburn. The gel produced by the aloe plant has soothing and moisturizing properties, and is used widely in skin care products. Though research is conflicting on the effectiveness of it as a skin care ingredient, many people experiencing chronic skin irritation and topical allergies report that products with aloe as a component have helped to reduce dryness and itchiness.
An herb with soothing properties, chamomile is often used in skin care products to help alleviate redness, irritation and itching, particularly in cases of very dry skin. It has antioxidant components that help to fight free radical damage, as well as regenerative properties at the cellular level and anti-inflammatory properties at the surface level.
Coenzyme Q10 is found under various other names: CoQ10, ubiquinone and ubidecarenone. It works as a cell energizer, and has antioxidant properties that work to keep skin damage to a minimum as well as repair existing skin damage over time. It is particularly effective at treating UVA and UVB sun damage.
Glycerin works as a humectant, meaning that while it moisturizes skin on the surface, it actually works to draw moisture into the skin as well. Products containing glycerin will help your skin pull moisture from the air, and keeping the surface of the skin well hydrated is a big step in keeping skin cells from losing moisture. Retaining moisture levels ensures that your skin doesn’t dry out and become flaky and irritated.
Glycolic acid is the smallest molecule of all the alpha hydroxy acids, which means that it can travel through cell walls easier than other skin care ingredients. It is derived from cane sugar, and works primarily as an exfoliant, encouraging dead skin cells to slough off more readily. Exfoliation is an important part of keeping skin looking healthy. During the day, dead skin cells mingle with moisturizers, sunscreens and makeup to form a hard-to-remove film. Glycolic acid in products helps make this film easier to remove, thus keeping pores from clogging as quickly and keeping the surface of the skin cleaner. It also attracts moisture to skin cells in a similar fashion to glycerin, helping skin stay better hydrated.
Hyaluronic acid works as a lubricant or cushioning agent and has been used in injectable products like Restylane to help fill out small wrinkles and lines by adding moisturizing volume under the skin. As a topical agent used in skin care products, it binds water to itself and the cells it enters, which helps keep the skin hydrated and reduces the effects of repeated pulling on the surface of the skin (such as putting on makeup every day). Reducing friction on the surface of the skin helps keep wrinkles and lines from forming.
A powerful antioxidant, vitamin C can work wonders both as a dietary supplement and as a topical ingredient in skin care products. Because vitamin C retards the formation of melanin (cell pigment), it can help to lighten certain types of pigmentation on the skin, such as freckling or darkened patches caused by sun damage. Vitamin C also increases the production of collagen, one of the substances that keeps skin cells plump and youthful.
Vitamin E is one of the best antioxidants available, and like vitamin C, it can work both internally as a dietary supplement and externally as an ingredient in skin care products. It can extend the benefits of sunscreen, act as a protector from UV rays, create a barrier against moisture loss, soothe the effects of sunburn and reduce the appearance of some scars. Pure vitamin E oil has been used for years as an intense moisture treatment, and its inclusion in skin care products generally boosts the effectiveness of many other ingredients.
Zinc oxide is a mineral compound found most often in sunscreens, but it is used in other skin care products as well. It is the only ingredient that can block both UVA and UVB rays and this makes it highly useful in keeping sun damage to a minimum. Sun damage is one of the primary culprits of skin that looks older than its years, so zinc oxide’s natural sunscreen properties are valuable. It has been proven safe, effective and gentle for use in skin care products, even those formulated for babies. Over time, zinc oxide can help repair some existing sun damage.
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