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Showing posts from December, 2023

These are all ineffective skincare practices

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Many people fall into skincare misconceptions. Here are a few reasons your skincare might not be working: 1. Not using essence: Essence is a high-nutrient product in skincare, essential for its core benefits that water, lotion, and cream cannot replace. 2. Skipping moisturizer: Moisturizer locks in hydration, especially crucial in dry weather. Neglecting it means hydration efforts go to waste. 3. Being stingy with skincare products: Insufficient product use diminishes effectiveness. If a skincare set lasts a year, you're likely not getting enough nutrients, affecting results. 4. Daily mask usage: Overdoing face masks can lead to excessive hydration. 2-3 times a week is generally sufficient. 5. Excessive exfoliation: Skin renewal takes about 28 days. Frequent exfoliation damages the skin barrier, causing sensitivity. Monthly exfoliation is recommended for both dry and oily skin. Remember, everyone's skin is unique, so these suggestions may not apply to everyone. Feel free

Consequences of Collagen Loss

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Why am I aging more rapidly? Why does my skin seem to be deteriorating? Despite diligent skincare, wrinkles are increasing, and I appear older than my peers! These issues may be due to the loss of facial collagen. Collagen loss accelerates skin aging, leading to moisture loss, wrinkles, loss of elasticity, sagging, enlarged pores, and a dull, rough complexion. What is Collagen? Collagen is a crucial protein in the human body, primarily found in connective tissues. It provides strong elasticity, serving as a major component of ligaments, tendons, and the extracellular matrix. Maintaining skin elasticity, collagen aging results in wrinkles. Functions of Collagen: - Hydration and nourishment - Skin brightening - Firming and wrinkle prevention - Antioxidation and anti-aging Causes of Collagen Loss: - Aging - Prolonged exposure to UV rays - Environmental stressors - Irregular sleep patterns - Work-life stress - Excessive cosmetic procedures - Incorrect skincare practices Collagen l

Why Does Foundation Darken After Application?

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The issue of foundation darkening arises post-application. Initially, the pigments in the foundation disperse evenly on the face, creating a bright and uniform complexion. However, over time, as moisture and oils evaporate, the pigments undergo changes, appearing more densely stacked. This results in reflecting less light, giving the visual perception of "foundation getting darker." It's essential to note that the foundation itself doesn't undergo "oxidation"; it's a visual darkening effect. Additionally, excessive oiliness on the face exacerbates this darkening, leading to issues like makeup not holding well and smudging. Tips to Improve Skin Dullness: 1. Use sunscreen and incorporate products with vitamin C derivatives, niacinamide, and glutathione for whitening care to expel melanin. 2. Combat dehydration in the skin's stratum corneum by maintaining deep hydration. Use moisturizing serums or masks containing ingredients like ceramides, hyaluron

Why Skin Appears Dull

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One of the biggest concerns for girls is the dullness of their faces, looking gray and lifeless with poor complexion. For those who use makeup, encountering dullness is even more distressing – just applied foundation makes the face whiter than the neck, but in a blink, the face appears darker. From morning to night, it seems to darken by several shades. Uneven skin dullness affects the overall complexion, but dullness isn't synonymous with darkness. Precisely, it refers to the lack of radiance in the skin. Especially for women with darker skin tones, dullness makes the skin appear misty and lackluster. Dullness can be categorized into overall dullness and localized dullness based on the affected areas. Overall dullness makes the entire face look lackluster, while localized dullness, often occurring around the nose, lips, and eyes where the skin is thinner, appears particularly "dark." Regardless of the type of dullness, the causes are similar. Let's explore why du

Why Does Oily Skin Get Oilier? Exploring the Reasons and Tips for Oil Control

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Have you ever experienced the paradox of trying to eliminate facial oil, only to find it increasing? Here are reasons why oiliness might worsen: 1. Excessive use of oil-absorbing sheets disrupts the skin's moisture balance, leading to increased sebum production. 2. Regular use of strong cleansers damages the skin's lipid barrier, harming the skin's protective layer. 3. Applying strong oil-control products all over the face can lead to excessive dryness, especially in areas with underdeveloped sebaceous glands. 4. Using hot water to wash the face damages the skin barrier; it's recommended to use lukewarm water instead. 5. Neglecting hydration can result in imbalanced oil secretion, prompting the sebaceous glands to produce more oil. Moisturizing is crucial for oil control. Methods to Reduce Skin Oiliness: 1. Gentle cleansing with amino acid-based products visibly improves skin's oily appearance. 2. Absorbent products like loose powder or compact powder can provid

Factors Affecting Sebum Secretion

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The oil content of our skin varies from person to person and can significantly impact skin health. Below, I've compiled information on factors influencing sebum secretion. Let's delve into it. 1. Hormone Levels: Changes in levels of androgens, estrogens, adrenal sebum hormones, and pituitary hormones can lead to variations in sebum secretion. Elevated androgen levels, for example, can cause an increase in sebum production—a crucial factor in robust sebum secretion. 2. Temperature: As skin temperature rises, sweat and sebaceous glands become more active, resulting in increased sweat and sebum production. Research indicates that for every 1°C increase in skin temperature, the sebum secretion rate rises by 10%, contributing to oilier skin in summer and drier skin in winter. 3. Cleansing Habits: Improper cleansing methods, such as frequent use of soap or excessive exfoliation, can damage the skin's outermost sebum layer. Damaged sebum membranes make the skin sensitive, dry,

Understanding Excess Sebum Production and Its Impact on Skin Health

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Causes of Oily Skin: When we talk about oily skin, we're referring to sebum, primarily secreted by sebaceous glands. These glands are found all over, with higher concentrations on the face, head, chest, and back – the notorious sebum-prone zones. Sebaceous glands are connected to hair follicles and consist of cells that release sebum, the culprit behind our "shine." The Composition and Functions of Sebum: Sebum isn't just any oil; it's a mix of triglycerides, waxes, squalene, vitamin E, unsaturated fatty acids, and cholesterol. Its superpower lies in moisturizing, lubricating, and protecting hair. Teaming up with sweat, sebum forms the skin's outermost layer – the sebum film. This film acts as the first line of defense, inhibiting the growth of harmful microorganisms and shielding against external threats. Balancing Act: While sebum is a hero, excessive secretion or inadequate cleansing can turn it into a villain. Too much sebum gives us the notorious shiny

About Skin Balance

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Here is information I've gathered about skin balance that might interest you. The skin, the body's largest organ covering the entire body, plays a vital role in protecting various tissues and organs from harm. It prevents the loss of nutrients and moisture, contributing significantly to overall well-being. 1. The body's largest external metabolic organ 2. Directly exposed to the external environment 3. Maintains the stability of the body's environment 4. The organ most prone to aging Three key balances of the skin: 1. Balance between renewal and shedding of the stratum corneum: - Excessive shedding leads to compromised moisture retention, increased sensitivity, dryness, and susceptibility to microbial infections, resulting in various skin problems. - Over-thickening of the stratum corneum can cause dryness, flaking, and a dull complexion. 2. Water-oil balance: - Excessive moisture weakens the stratum corneum, making the skin more sensitive to external fact

Each layer of the skin actually has different functions

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The skin is the body’s largest organ, made of water, protein, fats and minerals. Your skin protects your body from germs and regulates body temperature. Nerves in the skin help you feel sensations like hot and cold. Your skin, along with your hair, nails, oil glands and sweat glands, is part of the integumentary system. “Integumentary” means a body’s outer covering. What are the layers of the skin? Three layers of tissue make up the skin: Epidermis, the top layer. Dermis, the middle layer. Hypodermis, the bottom or fatty layer. What does the epidermis (top layer of skin) do? Your epidermis is the top layer of the skin that you can see and touch. Keratin, a protein inside skin cells, makes up the skin cells and, along with other proteins, sticks together to form this layer. The epidermis: Acts as a protective barrier: The epidermis keeps bacteria and germs from entering your body and bloodstream and causing infections. It also protects against rain, sun and other elements. Makes n

How to Care for a Damaged Skin Barrier

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Signs of a Damaged Barrier: 1. Excessive oiliness with internal dryness, accompanied by facial redness. 2. Enlarged pores, dull and yellowish complexion, often with an overall oily appearance. 3. Skincare products are challenging to absorb, and they may even ball up. 4. Accelerated skin aging, with the emergence of fine lines and dry wrinkles. 5. Persistent issues like widespread closed comedones and stubborn conditions like seborrheic dermatitis. 6. Dry and itchy skin, accompanied by peeling and flaking. 7. Despite cleansing, the face remains dry and tight after 10 minutes. 8. Increased sensitivity and vulnerability, making hydration challenging in autumn and winter. 9. Redness, stinging, and itching occur after wearing a mask for over half an hour. Causes of Barrier Damage: Internal Factors: 1. Genetic factors: Naturally thin stratum corneum, weak sebaceous gland function, and lower oil secretion. 2. Aging: As age increases, overall body functions decline, reducing the ability to d

What is the Skin Barrier?

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The concept of the skin barrier, also known as the "natural barrier," refers to a natural protective layer of the skin composed of a microbial film, sebum film, and a brick wall-like structure of the stratum corneum. A stable skin barrier prevents moisture evaporation, maintains skin hydration, shields against harmful external substances, and provides a certain level of protection. Skin health and aesthetics are directly influenced by the integrity of the skin barrier. Barrier damage occurs when external stimuli or internal factors thin the stratum corneum or create defects. Severe damage can lead to fine cracks, itching, dryness, peeling, and roughness. Damaged barriers make the skin more susceptible to external microbes, exacerbating acne and sensitivity. Composition of the Skin Barrier: 1. Microbial Film: A community of microorganisms on the sebum film helps defend against harmful microbes and skin issues. 2. Sebum Film: A transparent layer on the skin's surface co

Winter Skincare Tips to Bid Farewell to Dry Skin

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1. Why Does the Skin Become Dry? Every autumn and winter, hydration becomes a real challenge. Tightness, dryness, peeling, and cakiness – all these skin concerns arise. Regardless of whether you have oily, combination, dry, or desert skin, fall always makes everyone feel an overall "skin tightening." Our skin relies on the first line of defense – the sebum film, which inherently has a "moisture-locking function." However, as the weather cools in autumn and winter, the secretion of sweat and sebum decreases, the sebum film becomes incomplete, and with dry weather, the skin's moisture evaporates rapidly. This damages the skin barrier, significantly reducing its ability to lock in moisture and defend itself. 2. Skincare Tips: - After cleansing, promptly use a hydrating toner and emulsion to moisturize the skin. During autumn and winter, our skin's natural moisture content is low, and its ability to retain moisture is weak. Therefore, it needs external r