Free Consultation in Central London

No obligation appointment with a surgeon

SKIN 101

An Ideal Skincare Regimen

Free Consultation in Central London


No obligation appointment
Click below to contact us

anti-aging

Introduction

There are so many skincare brands and lines being marketed, each claiming to be better than one another, it is increasingly difficult to filter out what are the most useful elements in a practical daily routine. This is a multi-part piece about a standard skincare regimen that will suit almost everyone and then, we will talk about more specific items that help a particular skin goal.

 

Here are the shortcuts to the Evidence Based Skincare Regimen Series!

  1. Cleansing
  2. Moisturising
  3. Sun Protection
  4. Anti-Aging Additions

Not everyone has time to prepare for an hour every morning and with this article, we aim to present a basic skincare regimen for almost any skin type and at any age. Then there are some elements that can be added onto the basic foundation, depending on your specific skin type. In this series, we will concentrate on anti-aging products as an add-on component. In other dry or acne-prone skin types, for example, there are other products that we can discuss in a consultation. We aim to provide only products that have been backed by good evidence. You won’t find anecdotal, untested products!

1. Cleansing

Cleansing should be the first step in any morning and evening routine. Removing dirt, pollutants, products, dead skin cells is important to maintain a good skin surface for the following applications of products. Dead skin cells normally slough off gradually and its removal, including gentle exfoliation, is essential for keeping skin looking rejuvenated.

 

How do cleansers work?

Water on its own removes 60-70% of excess oils and grime, but to remove these effectively, we need products that contain ‘surfactants’, which reduce the surface tension of skin. They form the basis of cleansers and will differ depending on the type of cleanser. By weakening the skin surface as part of its action, it also weakens the skin barrier – changing skin pH, moisture and irritating the skin. You may notice that some cleansers will lead to more tightness and dryness of your skin immediately after washing. The harshness of a cleanser can depend on how its surfactants react with skin lipids and proteins. Its pH will also affect this – slightly lower (more acidic) pH removes less oils from the skin and produce less irritation.

 

It is also important to note how many other ingredients are present, including fragrances, preservatives, stabilisers and additional moisturisers. Many components are either allergenic or irritants to sensitive skin. Therefore the ideal cleanser should be gentle, non-irritant, fragrance-free, non-comedogenic, slightly acidic pH and mildly moisturising.

 

Types of cleansers

Non-foaming cleansers containing non-ionic surfactants are generally less irritant than foaming cleansers as they contain less surfactant. Therefore, those with dry skin should use a thinner (more liquid) oil-based, moisturising cleansers, such as cleansing creams, milks, lotions or oils, and avoid foam cleansers. Oily skin individuals should use foaming or gel-based cleansers.

 

Cleansers that contain glycolic acids can be mildly anti-aging and suitable for use intermittently for those without too sensitive or dry skin. However, they can be more irritant.

Next Steps...

How to incorporate your cleansing into your routine should be very individualised. It depends on your skin type, needs and other components of your overall regimen. At Lumaesthetic, we can discuss all of these points at your free consultation. There is no single treatment type that can improve everyone's skin health and facial aesthetics in the same way. It will be a personalised combination of different treatments and skin advice.

 

Read on for the next steps in our Evidence Based Skincare Regimen Series!

  1. Cleansing
  2. Moisturising
  3. Sun Protection
  4. Anti-Aging Additions

 

Popular Topics

How to optimise your skin consistently using robust medical evidence, rooted in science.
Avoid fads and be wise to extravagant marketing.

The Needle & Knife
With so many options for facial rejuvenation, how do surgeons choose the right procedure for our patients?

 

What Ages Skin?
We look at the main influences that have been shown to significantly affect the way and rate our skin ages.

An Ideal Skin Regimen

1. Cleansing
Understand your cleansers and what works well for different skin types


 

An Ideal Skin Regimen

2. Moisturising
Understand your moisturisers and what is most appropriate for your skin

An Ideal Skin Regimen

3. Sun Protection
Understand why sun protection is one of the most important aspects of skincare

An Ideal Skin Regimen

4. Anti-Aging
Scientifically proven anti-aging products


 

View The Full List of Articles Here: