FAQs on skin care products
Which skincare products do I need for a healthy, daily routine?
Whether it’s for women or men, skin care products you absolutely need in your regular routine are a cleanser, a hydrator, an exfoliator, and a sunscreen. However, if you’d like to go beyond the basics, two other fantastic products for skincare aficionados are a toner and a serum tailored to your skin type. The toner helps to remove excess dirt your cleanser missed while also balancing the pH level of your skin, and the serum delivers a concentrated blast of ingredients with a specific focus (such as anti-aging, anti-acne, or skin-brightening).
How do I identify quality skincare products?
It’s not all about which ingredients; it’s also about the concentrations. Quality skin care products will typically contain a higher concentration of an active ingredient than a cheaper version, meaning they’ll work faster and deliver more noticeable results. Since ingredients are listed from largest to smallest quantity, look for skin care products which have key ingredients in the start or middle of the list, rather than right at the end.
What is the best way to store skin care products?
Most beauty and skincare products fare best when they are tightly resealed immediately after each use, and stored in a cool, dry environment which may need keeping them in your bedroom rather than the bathroom.
Be sure to also store your skin care products away from direct sunlight. This is particularly important when it comes to Vitamin C since sunlight oxidizes this ingredient, rendering it ineffective and even potentially harmful to your skin. Most skincare brands put their Vitamin C-containing formulas in opaque packaging for this reason, but it’s still a good idea to store them inside a cupboard rather than next to a window.
If in doubt, check the product packaging for storage instructions.
How long should it take for a skin care product to work?
That depends entirely on the quality of the product and the skincare concern in question! Certain issues, such as dark spots, are known for being difficult and time-consuming to treat.
But regardless of skin type or skin concern, remember that your skin cells turn over roughly every 30 days (longer as you get older). So while the best skin care products may be working their magic on the cells inside your skin right from day one, it will take a little time for those to rise to the surface and become visible. Expect to have to use your new facial skin care products consistently for around a month to see results, and if you notice changes sooner than it’s just a bonus.
