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Showing posts from March, 2024

Is Having Wrinkles a Sign of Aging? Consider Aging from These Four Perspectives

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Many women see wrinkles around the eyes, forehead, and mouth as indicators of aging. But is this really accurate? How should we truly define aging? Do wrinkles automatically mean aging? Answer: Not necessarily. Having wrinkles doesn't always equate to aging. Wrinkles can result from various factors. Some are related to the natural aging process, while others are due to habits like making exaggerated facial expressions. For example, repeatedly pursing your lips can lead to lip lines, which aren't necessarily signs of aging. How can we accurately determine aging? When it comes to understanding aging, there are multiple facets to consider. To get a comprehensive view of aging, focus on these four key aspects: First Aspect: Facial Drooping. The face loses some of its firmness and starts to sag, leading to issues like droopy eyelids or the emergence of wrinkles such as smile lines and marionette lines. Second Aspect: Reduction in Skin Volume. You might find the term "volu

Why Is Nighttime Skincare So Important?

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Maximize Your Sleep Time for Skin Repair The rise of nighttime skincare products like night creams, night serums, and sleep masks suggests that targeted nighttime skincare is becoming increasingly important. So, why exactly is nighttime skincare getting all this attention? How Does Your Skin Differ Between Day and Night? When it comes to skincare, the rule of thumb is protection during the day and repair at night. This means that nighttime is when your skin gets to work on repair. Just like other organs, your skin's "detox" time is at night. When you're asleep, skin cell renewal speeds up, and your skin temperature rises by about 0.3-0.5℃ compared to when you're awake, promoting better blood circulation. Why Is Nighttime Skincare Crucial? The importance of nighttime skincare is closely tied to your skin's biological clock. When you're asleep, your body goes into rapid renewal mode, with skin metabolism and self-repair peaking about 2 hours into deep

Improving Skin Metabolism to Prevent Acne

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Wondering what to do when your skin metabolism is sluggish? A robust metabolism is key to healthy and radiant skin. It supports overall bodily functions and keeps the skin looking soft and smooth. However, a slow metabolism can lead to a range of skin issues over time, including troublesome acne. Today, we'll discuss effective ways to boost your metabolism and achieve glowing skin. First, let's clarify what skin metabolism means. Simply put, skin metabolism is the ongoing process of cell renewal and turnover. New cells continuously form within the body, pushing out older cells. This dynamic ensures a balanced metabolic state in our body. So, what skin issues can arise from poor metabolism? 1. Dull Complexion: A high oxygen level in the blood with smooth circulation gives your skin a rosy, radiant look. In contrast, a slow metabolism can result in lower oxygen levels, causing your complexion to appear dull and yellowish. 2. Rough Skin: A slow metabolism, combined with insuffici

Why You Shouldn't Apply Serum Directly to Your Face

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Serum, known for its potent concentration, has long been a favorite among women for its powerful skincare benefits. However, many people often overlook the proper application method, simply applying it on without much thought. How to Use Serum the Right Way? To truly maximize the benefits of serum, it's crucial to know the correct application techniques. 1. Start with Toning After washing your face, it's a common misconception to think your skin is ready for serum right away. Instead, always tone your skin before applying serum. This helps to open up the skin's absorption pathways, allowing the serum to penetrate deeper and enabling your skin to better soak up its nourishing ingredients. 2. Perfect Your Application Technique Before applying, warm the serum between your hands. Then, gently press it into your skin, avoiding rubbing or pulling. This technique activates the serum's potent ingredients, ensuring they're effectively absorbed. A little facial massage

Do you understand the difference between hydrating and moisturizing?

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Often, people mix up hydrating and moisturizing, but they're actually two distinct beauty concepts. To put it simply, "hydrating" means adding water to the skin, while "moisturizing" is about sealing in the skin's existing moisture. Even though they serve different purposes, they work best when used together. Here's a breakdown: Hydrating focuses on replenishing the skin with essential water, hydrating the surface and penetrating deep to boost the skin's moisture. Common hydrating ingredients include hyaluronic acid, polyols, collagen, and natural moisturizing factors. On the other hand, moisturizing aims to prevent water loss from the skin's surface by creating a protective barrier. After using toner, serum, and face masks, it's crucial to apply a moisturizing cream to lock in the hydration and nutrients. Typical moisturizing ingredients to look for are ceramides, various plant oils, mineral oil, synthetic lipids, and beeswax. Products

What is Antioxidant Skincare? Why is Antioxidation the First Step in Anti-aging?

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When it comes to skincare, besides sunscreen, there's probably no ingredient skincare experts love more than antioxidants. Even nutritionists often remind us to load up on foods packed with antioxidant goodness in our daily meals. Why? Because antioxidants have this superpower to stabilize and clear out those pesky free radicals in our bodies, which in turn slows down aging and keeps diseases at bay. When your skin lacks antioxidant protection, it not only looks dull and lifeless but also tends to develop those dreaded fine lines. So, getting on board with antioxidant skincare is basically step one in the fight against aging. So, What's the Deal with Antioxidation? Before we dive into antioxidants, let's quickly grasp the basics of "free radicals" and the whole "oxidation" thing. You've seen apples turn brown when left out, right? That's oxidation in action, where polyphenolic substances in the apple react with oxygen, giving you that unappet

The "blackheads" on your nose may not actually be "blackheads."

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First, let's address a common misconception: many people equate the concept of "blackheads" with "blackhead acne." However, there's actually a distinction between the two. Blackhead acne is a manifestation of acne (or what we commonly refer to as "pimples"). Its contents typically consist of a large number of keratinocytes, microorganisms, and amorphous substances. If not addressed promptly, it may progress further into inflammatory acne. In comparison, the contents of blackheads contain relatively fewer cells and microorganisms. They generally fall into two categories: one where sebum and keratinocytes accumulate together in the pores, and the other where there's a significant presence of hair-like structures containing melanin, making them appear very dark. Here, we'll mainly discuss the causes, classification, and treatment methods of blackheads. Causes of blackheads: 1. Excessive sebum secretion: Blackheads tend to occur more frequ

The Three Major Harms to Skin Caused by Staying Up Late

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We all know that staying up late regularly, having poor sleep for an extended period, or not getting enough sleep can lead to feeling drowsy the next day, inability to concentrate, weakened immune system, and increased burden on the liver, causing many adverse effects on bodily functions. One of the concerns is how staying up late can also cause various skin problems! Today, pharmacist Gan Yiwen will help us summarize the three major harms to the skin caused by staying up late. 1. Acne and Pimples Keep Popping Up Staying up late at night or having chronic sleep deprivation can disrupt the body's normal physiological cycles, leading to hormonal imbalances. This can stimulate the secretion of adrenaline, increasing sebum production from the skin's sebaceous glands, resulting in clogged pores and increased acne formation. So, besides being related to many lifestyle habits (such as cleanliness, diet, and menstrual cycle), staying up late is also a significant factor that cannot

To have good skin, it's crucial to understand the skin's metabolic cycle

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Do you know what the skin's metabolic cycle is? Our skin's ability to self-protect is closely linked to its metabolic cycle, playing a vital role in the condition of our skin. Let me explain what the "skin's metabolic cycle" is. The skin's metabolic cycle is a critical moment for skin regeneration. Metabolism refers to the skin's ability to undergo self-renewal, a key aspect of skin regeneration. New skin cells generated from deep within the epidermis mature while ascending to the skin surface. The old cells on the epidermis peel off after completing their protective task. The ideal cycle for new cells to be born and shed is around 28 days. If it exceeds 28 days, it can lead to dryness, swelling, and aging. If shorter than 28 days, cells may grow immaturely, causing a decline in the skin barrier's function. If you often feel your skin is unstable, it's likely due to disruptions in the skin's metabolic process. Around the age of 20, the skin

How to prevent enlarged pores

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Enlarged pores are a common occurrence and are considered normal since the average pore size on an adult's face ranges from approximately 0.1mm to 0.6mm. Enlarged pores do not affect physical health, but they can impact aesthetics. When pores exceed 0.3mm, they are considered enlarged. The size of pores primarily depends on factors such as genetics, age, skin color, skin type, lifestyle habits, and external influences. However, if you notice your pores becoming larger, it may be related to excessive sebum production, repeated acne and skin inflammation, or aging-related reduction in skin elasticity. To prevent enlarged pores: 1. Control sebum production - Niacinamide: Besides its well-known whitening effect, it can also reduce the production of fatty acids and triglycerides in the skin, thus controlling sebum production and stimulating collagen regeneration for anti-aging and firming effects. - Witch hazel extract: It contains tannins that can also control sebum production.

Did you know that our skin also has a biological clock?

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Similar to the body's internal clock, the skin's biological clock regulates the release of most hormones, participates in regulating most body functions, and manages the body's 24-hour activities. As the body's largest organ, the skin undergoes regular changes in function and activity in correlation with the body's metabolic activity. With a growing understanding of the skin's biological clock and increasing emphasis on cosmetic medicine, following the guidance of the "skin biological clock" can lead to doubly effective beauty practices. The body's metabolism and skin function vary at different times due to changes in neural and humoral regulation.Based on the regular changes in body and skin function, the activities can generally be divided into several periods: sleep, afternoon, afternoon, and evening. Each period has its own metabolic characteristics. By understanding the changes in the skin's biological clock, we can make full use of fa

Skincare Products: Less is More

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Nowadays, the plethora of products on skincare shelves can be overwhelming. Especially with so-called "multifunctional cosmetics" claiming various benefits such as whitening, moisturizing, and repairing in one essence. Are these multifunctional products really more cost-effective than single-function ones? Let's analyze from three perspectives. Firstly, in terms of ingredient proportion, achieving diversity in functionality inevitably requires more ingredients than single-function products. However, due to concentration limitations, the proportion of each ingredient in the entire product decreases, resulting in less than ideal functionality for each component. Secondly, regarding the nature of ingredients, each ingredient has its own physical and chemical properties, such as form, density, solubility, acidity, etc. These properties determine which ingredients can coexist in the same product without reacting, which could otherwise weaken or nullify their functionalities.

What are the symptoms of early aging? At what age should you start anti-aging?

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Many people believe that anti-aging skincare is something to consider after the age of 30, but due to busy modern lifestyles, high stress levels, imbalanced diets, and prolonged use of electronic devices, among various external environmental factors like blue light or UV rays, the age at which skin begins to show signs of aging is decreasing. The average rate of aging is increasing year by year. Many people in their early twenties may already have signs of early skin aging without realizing it. Therefore, recognizing the changes in modern lifestyle habits and environments, the trend towards anti-aging skincare in recent years no longer relies solely on age distinctions. Instead, it is suggested to assess the actual condition of the skin to determine whether one should start using relevant anti-aging skincare products. Only by doing so can you maintain your skin in its optimal condition, combat symptoms of early aging as soon as they appear, delay the aging process, and stay youthful

Discover the hidden skincare wonders of Vitamin F! Wondering how it sets itself apart from other vitamin ingredients?

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In the world of beauty products, we often hear about various vitamin ingredients, each boasting unique skincare benefits. Vitamin A gets the spotlight for reducing wrinkles and tackling acne, while the different B vitamins bring their own set of advantages. For instance, B3 manages oil and fights acne, and B5 steps in with its moisturizing and anti-inflammatory perks. And then, of course, there's the widely-known Vitamin C, celebrated for its brightening effects. But what about the less-discussed Vitamin F? 1. Unveiling Vitamin F: Beyond the usual vitamin suspects, Vitamin F has quietly made its way into skincare products recently. But what exactly does it do for your skin? First off, Vitamin F is a combo of unsaturated fats like OMEGA-3, OMEGA-6, and OMEGA-9. You can find these essential fatty acids in oils like rosehip and Moroccan argan, enriching your skin with the fats it needs. 2. Why Your Skin Craves Vitamin F: Vitamin F is like the "good fat" your body craves