What is skincare?

what is skincare - featured image: black woman is applying a face sheet mask

What does skincare really mean?

What is skincare? This word is everywhere from television and magazines to social media. 

Influencers, celebrities and pharmaceutical companies are selling and advertising face creams or offering magical solutions and DIY’s to look younger and flawless daily.

With all this heavy marketing skincare sure sounds like it’s just some type of cosmetic product. And not a cheap one either! But that’s not all there is to it. 

This article will help you understand better what we mean when we talk about skincare. 

For your convenience, you can find all external references used to write this post here.

writen definiton of what is skincare

Skincare is the care and keeping of the largest organ in your body — your skin! The etymological definition – Skin + Care stands for “caring for your skin”.

But with what objective? Although most research and marketing into the changes in the skin focus on the unwelcome aesthetic aspects of ageing and uneven skin, skin deterioration is more than a merely cosmetic problem. 

The structural and functional deterioration of the skin that occurs with time has numerous clinical presentations, ranging from severe acne but also potentially threatening carcinomas and melanomas.

 Maintaining a skincare routine will help you avoid the effects of time and elements on the skin.

What is skincare? Ideally, when we talk about skincare we’re talking about science-based practices that improve both the appearance and function of your skin. 

Skincare should address and manage both cosmetic and medical concerns.

Skincare involves more than cosmetics and includes a variety of practices that support skin integrity, enhance its appearance and relieve skin conditions. 

It can include nutrition, water intake, avoidance of excessive sun exposure and even avoiding stress. 

Practices that enhance appearance include the use of cosmetics, or other skin treatments.

quote: Health is true beauty. No amount of cosmetics can compare to healthy skin.

Skincare Uncomplicated!

Although more popular now, skincare practices are nothing new, existing since Ancient Egypt with the use of castor, sesame, and moringa oils. 

They also used olive oil and clay mixtures to cleanse their skin, milk masks to moisturize, and dead sea salts to exfoliate. 

Although evolved we can see the same elements of ancient skincare routines in today’s regimens.

Currently, skincare doesn’t have to be complicated if you don’t want it to be. According to Dr Paul Jarrod Frank, (as seen on Forbes – check references) the three basic steps of a skin-care routine are Cleansing, Moisturizing, and Protection.

You should use cleansers to remove excess oil, dead skin, dirt and bacteria from environmental impurities that end up on your face naturally throughout the day. 

Moisturizer will help keep the skin’s protective barrier functioning properly and your skin feeling smooth and soft. 

Finally, using sunscreen protects against UV rays daily will prevent wrinkles and skin cancer.

representative images of black woman following the 3 steps of an uncomplicated skincare routine: washing the face, applying moisturizer and sunscreen

The mentality about the care of skin must shift focus from aesthetic concerns to how the loss of structure and function affects the quality of life. 

A big number of adults have at least one treatable skin complaint, and many have more. 

We need to start looking beyond the surface to begin looking beautiful from the inside out.

Some skin-care companies make a lot of big claims about what their products can do without necessarily having the evidence to back them up. 

You should do your research and make the most informed decision before buying or trying a product. Move toward the options you know the most about.

Knowing what you are putting in your face and avoiding dangerous practices sold miracle cures is a step into having more conscientious and responsible skincare practices.

Now that you understand what is skincare, as well as the best simple practices you can apply in your daily life, take the next step towards healthy skin and understand why skincare is important.  

Find 6 reasons why you should have a skincare routine and how it would benefit your health and quality of life. 

Read the post below. 

This article will help you understand the value of caring for your complexion and present six reasons why skincare is essential for everyone.

Disclaimer: This article is informational only. This article does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Any information published on this website or by this brand is not intended as a substitute for medical advice, and you should not take any action before consulting with a healthcare professional.

Read The Other Articles of The Series.

What do you know about your skin? Many people skip the science behind the skin and move directly into creating skincare routines, but it is a mistake to ignore the facts and blindly follow advice on the internet.

The first step to having healthy skin and establishing an effective skincare routine is to find what is your skin type. Once you know what skin type you have, you can choose the best products to care for your skin. 

The steps for healthy skin are easy to implement. The three basic steps of a skin-care routine are Cleansing, Moisturizing and Protecting.