Skincare is so trendy right now. If you’re anything like me, half the ads you see while scrolling are for new skincare products that you desperately “need”. It seems like there’s a new exciting ingredient that comes out DAILY, with the seller convincing you that this one thing will change your skin forever. So how much of this do you need to tune out, and how much should you actually listen to?
Let’s start with the basics: why skincare actually is important. Skin is the largest organ of the body, and unlike the majority of our other organs, it has to face the outside world. Skin gets dirty, just from normal everyday life. Not to mention what lands on top of our skin: makeup, dirt, sunscreen, sweat, etc. This necessitates the need for a gentle facial cleanser to remove all of those impurities. Concerning a moisturizer, you might not need one. However, we love extra virgin olive oil for it's high antioxidant and vitamin content. The benefits of a moisturizer include supporting the skin barrier and preventing dehydration.
Other than a cleanser and moisturizer, during the day we recommend using sunscreen. You might want to incorporate a treatment serum to address a specific need like acne, fine lines, or hyperpigmentation. But let’s be clear: you don’t NEED anything. Your skin knows what to do, and we find that oftentimes less is more. That being said, if you are dealing with something serious we recommend visiting a dermatologist.
So the next time you see an ad trying to convince you that you “need” a specific product and you feel yourself about to be reeled in, take a step back. Take a few deep breaths, and analyze why you feel drawn to this product. Do you believe that it would add value to your routine? Or are you just feeling pulled in by the marketing? In times like these, I remind myself that I truly do like the products that I use, and they work for me, so why fix something that isn’t broken?
Skincare is important because it helps clean and support the largest organ of your body. It also might make you feel beautiful, like it does for me. But in order to accomplish both of those things, you don’t need more than a few products.