The 6 Essential Skin Care Items every Woman should be using.

It won’t come as new to many of us that our skincare routine and how we treat our face really matters. The products we use – and don’t use – on a regular basis can drastically affect how our skin will look and feel not only now, but in the future. Many of us fall victim to the trap of thinking our skin is invincible; for those of us who aren’t prone to acne or imperfections, we may often think that we can get away with not washing our make-up off every day. Similarly, for those of us who do not yet have any wrinkles or fine lines, we may think we don’t need to worry about using an age-defying serum or protect our skin with SPF. You need some essential skin care products.

Download your Free 18 page Guide to Facial Rejuvenation treatments in Melbourne

For those of us who classify ourselves as ‘beginners’ when it comes to using and understanding skincare products, or simply for those who may have fallen into the wrong traps when it comes to caring for their skin, we bring you a list of the 6 essential skin care products that every woman should have on hand at all times.

Cleanser

Whether you wear makeup on a daily basis or prefer a more natural day-to-day look, cleansing your skin on a daily basis should not be overlooked.

A gentle, everyday cleanser is an essential skin care item for any skincare routine. Ideally, you should aim to cleanse your skin morning and night, paying extra attention and care when removing makeup at the end of the day.

There are many cleansers on the market that promise to eliminate acne or blemishes, although it is important to take note of the ingredients in the cleanser/s that you use and ensure there are no harsh chemicals that could be doing more harm than good.

Cleansers with Salicylic Acid or Benzoyl Peroxide are often the go-to for those who suffer from acne or blemish-prone skin
These ingredients can often dry out your skin and in turn, cause further skin problems or irritations.
You should look to use a gentle cleanser without any harsh ingredients
If you are unsure on what brands or types of cleanser to look for, it may be best to consult a professional.

Moisturiser

Hydrating our skin on a daily basis is essential. Therefore a good quality moisturiser suitable to our skin type is an essential skin care product.

You should apply moisturiser after cleansing your face in the morning, and before putting on any makeup. For daytime, it is often best to opt for a light formula that has a broad-spectrum sunscreen (if your moisturiser doesn’t have SPF, ensure that you apply this to your face separately).

Before bed, you should look to apply a thicker, richer moisturising formula or ‘night cream’ with active ingredients to help refresh and replenish your skin while you sleep.

Moisturiser can often be a tricky product when it comes to choosing and applying the right formula for your skin type.
People with oily skin often tend to skip moisturising all-together, although this can lead to your skin producing even more oil as it may become dehydrated.

If you are unsure about the right moisturiser for you, speak to a professional. Our Dermal Clinicians use the Canfield Reveal Imaging System, which helps to see beneath the skins outer surface to get a better feel of your skin’s particular needs.

Always be careful and light-handed when applying moisturiser and ensure that you have a product that works well for you and your particular skin type.

Serum

Need to tackle a specific skincare problem? Serums are key.

Serum is a skincare product you can apply to your skin after cleansing, and before you apply moisturiser. Serums are able to deliver a high concentration of active ingredients directly into the skin, as they are made up of smaller molecules that can penetrate deeply into the skin.

This makes serums perfect for targeting specific skincare concerns such as wrinkles, fine lines, acne and enlarged pores.

Vitamin C serum, for example, is known to have a number of benefits for your skin, such as:

Extra sun protection & some sun damage repair
Skin Brightening – Vitamin C can help to reduce age spots, hyper-pigmentation, or discolouration of the skin leaving you with a more even-looking skin appearance and an overall refreshing, brightening effect.
Stimulate collagen production to help prevent and reduce the signs of ageing

People with sensitive skin should look for serums that are specifically designed for their skin type and should ensure they test the serum on a small patch of their body before applying to their whole face. If you have sensitive skin and want a professional opinion on what essential skin care product might suit your skin best, phone (03) 8849 1400 and ask for a skincare consultation with a talented Dermal Clinician.

Exfoliator or Chemical Exfoliant

Want to speed up new skin cell production, clear away old skin cells and unclog pores? You need to exfoliate.

If you haven’t been using an AHA (alpha hydroxy acid) or BHA (beta hydroxy acid) exfoliant, your skin is missing out on significant benefits.

BHA and AHA exfoliants are non-abrasive and are known to work more effectively than grainy or often scratchy scrubs. The benefits include:

Minimising the appearance of wrinkles
Clarifying dull, uneven skin tone
Smoothing rough, bumpy skin
Unclogging pores
Increasing hydration

For those who prefer exfoliating scrubs, look for those made with natural fruit enzymes—they dissolve dead skin cells without the use of often irritating microbeads.

How often should I exfoliate? This depends on your skin type and any specific skin issues or conditions you may have. For normal to dry skin, you should generally exfoliate once or twice a week. For those with oily skin, it may be suitable to exfoliate three to four times a week. This is a general guide and optimum exfoliation will vary from person to person, but exfoliators are an essential skin care product.

Be sure to not overdo it, especially with any harsh or scratchy exfoliating scrubs.

Eye Cream/ Serum

The skin around our eyes is the thinnest skin on our body and is known to be one of the first spots to show signs of ageing.

Eye Cream or serum is usually overlooked by younger women. This is because they may not yet have experienced fine lines, wrinkles or dark circles under their eyes. Again, this is an easy mistake to make. But, it’s one one that should be remedied if possible. There are many beneficial eye creams and serums for younger skin that can help to maintain a fresh, brightened under-eye appearance now. And they’ll help into the future.

Get into the habit of using an eye cream from an early age. Do it every day, even if not treating any visible lines or wrinkles. This will help to keep the skin under and around your eyes hydrated and plumped. And it will put you in good stead for your older years.

Aim to use an eye cream or serum with active ingredients, such as retinol, to promote and build collagen
Vitamin A derived serums will help your eye area to remain firm, youthful and will also help with skin elasticity
If you have dark circles under your eyes, try an eye cream or serum with vitamin C
Vitamin C is known to promote skin brightness, as well as strengthen the skin to prevent shadows from returning.

Sunscreen (SPF 30 or above)

This is arguably the most important item in any skincare routine. Although it is one that can often be overlooked or underused – high SPF Sunscreen.

Wearing a high-protection sunscreen is should be a non-negotiable inclusion in your daily skin routine. You should apply a high-quality SPF 30 sunscreen daily, even if you’re indoors most of the day.

If possible, look for the ingredients of zinc oxide and titanium dioxide
These ingredients help to create an even finish and can cause fewer breakouts for those with sensitive or acne-prone skin.
If you’re out and active, you should reapply your sunscreen every 2-3 hours;
If you’re not spending a lot of time outdoors, then it’s fine to apply just once in the morning.

What is Cosmeceutical Skin Care?

Skin doesn’t allow just anything to pass the protective barrier. Facial serums and moisturising creams require advanced formulations containing high levels of active ingredients. These deliver essential vitamins and minerals into the skin.

Cosmeceutical or “medical-grade” skincare products contain active ingredients that are effective for rejuvenating, renewing, replenishing and protecting the skin.

It is important that you get products that actually work, and that they work well for YOUR skin. This is not to say that you must only purchase cosmeceutical or medical-grade products. This is not possible for everyone. However, you should look for products which have active ingredients that are proven to enhance, protect and rejuvenate your skin.

Active Ingredients include:

Vitamin A based products (sometimes called Retinoids)
Zinc/titanium (sunscreen)
Niacinamide (Vitamin B) – helps to improve skin immunity and cell metabolism
Antioxidants – including vitamin C, help to mop up free radicals caused by environmental damage
AHA/BHA (alpha-hydroxy acids/beta hydroxy acids) – helps to exfoliate and renew the skin
Growth factors – a relatively new addition, growth factors help to repair and regenerate skin

For those who suffer from specific skin conditions or problems, it may be best to seek professional advice from one of our highly experienced Dermal Clinicians or Injecting Team.

Not only can our Dermal Clinicians & Injecting Team prescribe a skincare routine that best suits your particular skin type and works to combat any of your skin issues, but they can also recommend the best in-clinic treatments available to supplement your skincare routine, which may help to improve your skin problems more efficiently and prevent any further damage.

Our team at Coco Ruby Skin & Anti-Ageing can help create an Essential Skin Care Kit for clients with skin conditions and problems such as:

Acne-Prone Skin
Scarring
Enlarged Pores or Blackheads
Pigmentation
Rosacea
Sun Damage
Melasma
Wrinkles & Fine Lines
Rough Skin Texture or Scaly Patches
Dull, Lifeless Skin

For more information about our team, the services we offer or our range of Cosmeceutical Skin Care, see our web pages or contact us on (03) 8849 1400 or via our online contact form.

The 6 Essential Skin Care Products You Need for your Starter Pack