4th Requirement of Skin

4th Requirement of Skin ~ Moisture Support

This requirement is probably one of the biggest-selling skincare products in the industry with the next being anti-aging. All you have to do is Google moisturizers and in seconds an endless array of products will appear on your screen each targeting a different part of your body. This is nothing short of confusion when it comes to the health of our skin.

Two important questions that help to remove confusion: What are you doing? Why are you doing it?

The Truth

One of the core values at GINAMARIE is to always speak the truth, unapologetically! Our body naturally creates its oil through approximately 5 million hair follicles. Attached to these follicles are a cluster of oil glands. As the hair grows, our natural oil comes to the surface of the skin, giving it lubrication and protection. In addition, our natural moisture system contributes to the pH balance of our skin, protecting us from environmental damage.

The Purpose of a Moisturizer

Moisturizers help to support the skin’s natural moisture system. If our skin’s natural moisture system is functioning properly, using additional moisturizers may cause skin to become sluggish. It is not uncommon that moisturizers can be heavy, adding build-up to the top layer of skin and, in turn, not allowing the cell reproduction to function properly. Cell turnover is key to having healthy, radiant skin as well as keeping our skin hydrated. The more dead cells build up on the epidermis layer, the more likely the skin will look sluggish, lines and wrinkles will look deeper, and hyperpigmentation will look more pronounced. And of course, all of the skin issues just mentioned lead our clients to buy more products to try and solve skin issues that may have been avoided.

Remember, the skin is made to function on its own. However, when the skin is compromised, whether externally or internally, using a moisturizer may become essential. The purpose of a moisturizer is to prevent the loss of water in the outermost layer of our skin, the stratum corneum, and to help reduce the chance of developing extreme dryness or oiliness. Moisturizers can be a vehicle to deliver other ingredients to the skin, such as vitamins and antioxidants, both benefitting the skin’s overall health.

Dehydrated or Dry ~ What’s The Difference?

There are several reasons the skin can become dry or dehydrated. Although they can look very similar, they are due to different factors.

Dehydrated skin, is a skin condition, caused by a lack of water. It is not the same as having naturally dry skin. Dehydrated skin is typically caused by damage to the skin’s protective barrier or various external factors, such as extreme cold, dry weather conditions, or inadequate water in one’s diet. This skin condition can give skin a rough, flaky, cracked, dull appearance. Skin is an incredible diagnostic tool for what is happening internally. Staying hydrated is essential for healthy, radiant skin and for our overall health. Keeping our body hydrated has a multitude of benefits.

Dry skin is a skin type, caused by a lack of natural oils called sebum. Again, the appearance can look very similar to dehydrated skin. Several factors can play a role:

• Aging – as we age our oil glands lessen
• Medication – certain medications can dry the skin
• Weather – can have a detrimental impact on the health of our skin. Overexposing our skin to extreme cold or heat (sun) can dry the skin
• Vitamin Deficiencies – play an integral part in the health of our skin and overall well-being. When we are deficient in certain vitamins such as Vitamin E, our skin can become dull and dry. Choosing moisturizers with antioxidants is extremely beneficial as long as the other ingredients do not cause occlusion
• Occlusive Ingredients – to maintain healthy skin and oil production avoid products that have plugging ingredients

Ingredients Matter

For healthy skin, you want to avoid occlusive type ingredients ie. paraffin, mineral oil, lanolin, and petrolatum, to name a few. These types of ingredients can clog the pores causing many other skin conditions ie. acne, enlarged pores, blackheads, whiteheads, lines, and wrinkles. When our hair follicles are not functioning properly, our natural oil cannot reach the surface of the skin efficiently, leading to dry skin or excessively oily skin. Keeping 2800 openings per square inch of skin clean and free from bacteria will allow the skin to function as intended.

Simplify skincare. When we take a step back and use our common sense, everything and I do mean everything, becomes much clearer and yes simpler. Stick to the science of skin and you can’t go wrong.

The skin has five specific requirements to keep it healthy:

1. Proper Cleansing
2. Tone Muscles and Stimulate Circulation
3. Topically Nourish
4. Moisture Support
5. Maintain a Proper pH Balance