With simple, yet well thought-out steps taken regularly, our skin can become healthy and vibrant again.

Developing a skin care routine can feel at times, like a difficulty or a drag. Our busy schedules rarely enable us to find the time in the morning or evening, as other routines tend to dominate, with so much to do at home and at work. However, most of the steps to perfect skin do not require much additional time in our daily routine. As the different recommendations below demonstrate, we can integrate appropriate and efficient actions daily to improve and preserve the quality and tone of our skin.

Exfoliation of the skin

After figuring out what our skin type is; be it dry, normal or oily - it is a good idea to exfoliate the skin, especially that of the face, as it is more exposed to outdoor environments. Beyond washing the face twice daily, to remove dirt, bacteria and whatever makeup traces that may have escaped our attention, exfoliation enables us to remove the dead skin cells on the skin’s surface.

There are 2 main categories of exfoliators; they are either chemical or scrubs. We have little control over chemical exfoliators - other than selecting the right product on the pharmacist’s shelf. Manual exfoliators such as scrubs depend on how we apply them on the skin.  Using fingers to make circles and moving them upwards while applying it to the skin is recommended.

Exfoliators should be chosen wisely, since they must match our needs and skin type: If they are too strong, chemical exfoliators or scrubs can irritate the skin because they are abrasive. Asking for a dermatologist’s advice as to which type and strength of exfoliator is needed is the right move when in doubt. Generally, stronger exfoliators should be used for oily skins, while gentler ones are recommended for dark skins or skin types that are prone to dark spots.

Lastly, for those of us who are environmentally conscious consumers, it is worth noting that some scrubs contain plastic beads, which pollute by going into the water cycle once the skin is rinsed off. So instead of using plastic bead-based scrubs, some people opt for scrub bases made with ground nut or even sugar and salt, or simply use chemical exfoliators.

Moisturizing the skin

Whether they are used after exfoliation, when skin becomes dry, or in a conventional way, moisturizers are an essential component of daily skin care. After cleansing, moisturizing must become the norm. Moisturizing nourishes and soothes the skin and is of particular importance to the skin that is exposed to the outdoors, such as the face or hands.  Hydrating lotion, cream, or serum can be used morning and evening to keep the skin nourished and glowing. Doing so should rehydrate the skin and reduce the risk of irritation (1).

Furthermore, moisturizing the skin also helps the skin fight against daily aggression in environments which contain pollution, and enables the skin to dehydrate less when exposed to the sun, especially for skin on the face, décolletage and hands. As moisture is one of the essential elements needed for our skin to stay healthy, moisturizing complements water drinking by nurturing it from the outside, and this is even more crucial for aging skin, which tends to dry out easily, so a cream-based moisturizer should be used.

Drinking water regularly

Water is the main component of the body and makes up about 60 percent of your body weight. We all need water to survive, and lack of water for an extended period leads to dehydration and can cause serious damage to the body.

Numerous medical opinions indicate that about 1.5 litres of water are necessary for the average human being living in a temperate climate and living in normal conditions. Obviously, this may vary depending on the amount of other water we ingest though the types of foods we eat. Eating plenty of water-rich fruit such as radishes, zucchinis, strawberries, grapefruit, cucumbers, melon and celery (2) also indirectly contribute to the hydration of the body since they hold so much water. Incidentally, it is worth noting that about 20 percent of our daily fluid intake usually comes from food and the rest from drinks (3), which shows how everyone should adapt their daily water intake to suit their diet.

Fruit also provides us with antioxidant capacities, which is even more beneficial to our system because they neutralize the skin’s free radicals and help maintain our suntan for longer. For those who have difficulties drinking water in recommended quantities, one trick to induce drinking is to flavour the water; this enables water to be perceived as more interesting because it has taste.

Exercising regularly

On top of being an excellent stress reliever, daily or regular exercising helps generate the sensation of thirst, which in turn helps our body evacuate toxins through drinking, urination and perspiration. Exercising also helps preserve cutaneous tissue elasticity by slowing down the aging process. Whether it is jogging, fitness workouts, yoga, meditation, taking a walk or even practicing deep breathing, anything that helps us practice some kind of physical activity turns out to be beneficial to the body, and eventually to the skin.

According to dermatologist Ellen Marmur (MD), practicing sports increases blood flow, which helps nourish skin cells and keep them vital. As blood carries oxygen and nutrients to working cells throughout the body, it is also nourishing the skin. In addition to providing oxygen, blood flow also helps carry away waste products, including free radicals, from working cells. She points out however, that contrary to some claims, exercise doesn't detoxify the skin. The job of neutralizing toxins belongs mostly to the liver. "But by increasing blood flow, a bout of exercise helps flush cellular debris out of the system," Dr. Marmur adds. "You can think of it as cleansing your skin from the inside."(4)

Using a 100% natural filler to keep looking youthful

However well we may take care of our skin, there might be times in our lives when skin damage can become irreversible, such as when skin ages. In such cases, professional dermatological help may be required. Skin aging is a natural process, and the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles becomes inevitable at some point in life. At this stage, the use of subdermal injectable fillers can be an appropriate middle ground between letting the skin sag and wrinkle more, or opting for cosmetic surgery, which is often invasive.

The benefits of a subdermal injectable filler, such as ALGENESS, are twofold: Firstly, the results are immediately visible and can be seen by both the dermatologist and the patient. Secondly, the filler’s effects last up to 12 months, and the purified agarose-based injectable complex used and designed by ALGENESS is 100% biodegradable and contains no toxic additive as many other fillers do, which makes it fully absorbable by the patients’ systems. When used on the face in areas of skin-sagging or bone resorption (which comes with aging), the patient’s face is replenished, and the patient’s skin is plumper and regains some of its youthful appearance.

In fact, taking care of one’s skin isn’t the tedious activity it might first seem. With a set of straightforward and common-sense actions added to our morning and daily routines, it is possible to preserve the skin’s youthful appearance and elasticity for as long as possible. For those readers who wish to have additional information regarding injectable subdermal fillers and their benefits, (which may be less well-known), they can contact the ALGENESS team via the ALGENESS website. The team at ALGENESS will be delighted to answer any questions and provide any information they might need.

References 

(1) "How to Exfoliate Your Face in 3 easy Steps":

/www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/05/12/exfoliate-face-how-to_n_2528493.html

(2) “12 Ways To Drink More Water Throughout The Day”:

https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2015/05/22/drink-more-water_n_7421876.html?guccounter=1

(3) “Nutrition and healthy eating", by Mayo Clinic Staff”:

https://www.mayoclinic.org/water/ART-20044256?p=1

(4) “ Exercise for Healthy Skin”, by WebMD:  

https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/acne/features/exercise#1