To go deeper into the right SKIN CARE and how the natural cosmetics to help us achieve this, we have spoken to Elena Franco, IQS Chemical Engineer and Dermocosmetics Specialist as well as one of our experts in our blog of SOIVRE COSMETICS.
We encourage you to read the interview carefully, it certainly gives us a lot of interesting and practical information to take better care of our skin :-) Thank you very much Elena!
What differentiates a dermo-cosmetic product from a cosmetic product?
Dermocosmetics is the area of dermatology which cares about the health and aesthetics of the skin. It solves or treats all skin imbalances or pathologies without neglecting beauty. Cosmetics, on the other hand, is the art or science of applying products to preserve or beautify the skin or hair. Cosmetics are products used for body hygiene or to enhance beauty, especially for the face. Dermocosmetics, on the other hand, provides solutions to certain skin disorders.
Dermocosmetics are products with formulations based on active ingredients with proven efficacy on the skin or hair. Natural products can be dermocosmetic or not. What is important is that they have the right active ingredients and in sufficient concentration to exert a beneficial action on the skin.
What are the benefits of natural cosmetics for skin care?
Many people are attracted to natural cosmetics. In some cases because certain skin problems and intolerance to chemical substances force us to look for natural cosmetics. healthier options such as natural cosmetics.
A natural cosmetic tries as much as possible to resemble our skin, and here we have the most essential virtue of the natural product: it seeks to integrate substances that have the greatest possible affinity with the biochemical composition of our skin. This is achieved through the use of natural or naturally occurring components in its formulations.
Which natural active ingredients are the most effective today for skin care? Why and for which skin types are they suitable?
It is difficult to summarise the most important active ingredients, as cosmetics is very rich in raw materials. An important group would be the natural oils, which have important benefits for our skin. Two good examples of these oils are tea tree oilwith known antioxidant, bactericidal, antiseptic, wound-healing, anti-inflammatory and regenerating properties, and the rosehip oilwhich promotes hydration and regeneration of the skin, helping in the healing processes. It also helps to reduce wrinkles due to its antioxidant action.
Natural cosmetics are suitable for all skin types, as long as we are not allergic to any of its components. It is a type of cosmetics that provides a good alternative for sensitive skin or skin that is reactive to chemical substances.
How long do we have to wait to see the results of a treatment?
The answer to this question will always depend on the active ingredients contained in the product. There are examples of treatments on the market that are effective within a few days or even hours. However, we know that for a treatment to be effective, consistency in its application is essential.
What are the needs of facial and body skin during the cold months? How does this change in temperature affect the skin?
Our skin has very different needs depending on whether we are at one temperature or another. In particular, the cold temperatures of winter mean that we need more hydration, nutrition and protection.
The sensitive skins and dry skin are the ones that suffer the most from the effects of winter: they dry out more, redness and irritation are normal. It is therefore necessary to switch to more nourishing and moisturising products. A good option is to use products with a high content in Panthenol. Dry skin is often the result of changes in the skin's barrier function. Factors that cause these disorders are e.g. cold and wind. Panthenol is a provitamin capable of effectively restoring the skin's barrier function. This type of product can be used on both the face and body, because although the body is covered with clothes and we pay less attention to it, it also suffers from external aggressions and becomes dry and irritated easily.
What daily routine should we follow to properly treat our skin?
The most important thing is to have a simple "Beauty Ritual" that allows us to keep our skin flawless without the need for too many steps.
Every day, before applying make-up, cleanse the skin thoroughly. Subsequently apply a moisturising cream that meets the needs of the skin. In all cases, the use of moisturising creams is recommended, i.e. creams formulated with substances capable of absorbing and retaining moisture. These creams act as a protective barrier on the skin, preventing the evaporation of the water contained in the tissue. In addition, they encourage the uptake of water from the environment. These creams are rich in glycerine, urea, allantoin and panthenol. At this time of the day, we can also take advantage of this and choose protection factor creams and depending on taste, we also have the option of using creams that give us some colour and that we can substitute for make-up. Among the colour creams we can highlight, due to their known benefits, BB and CC creams. It is important not to forget to also pamper the neck and décolleté, as the skin in these areas is very sensitive and ages easily.
Every evening, deep cleanse the skin.even if you have not applied make-up. The steps are: make-up removal, cleansing and toning. After this, apply the chosen night treatments, which are characterised by being very moisturising and nourishing creams. They are denser and contain active ingredients that help cellular renewal so that our skin remains elastic and with the firmness it needs.
The hands and lips are also parts of the body that suffer a lot in winter, so we must try to apply specific hand creams and lipsticks, several times a day. In the case of lipsticks, it is best to use regenerating balms, formulated with petroleum jelly or waxes that provide a high degree of hydration.
Finally, let us not forget to take care of our bodies. The application of a body moisturiser daily is essential. It is important to focus on the driest areas, such as the feet, elbows and knees. Creams enriched with oils (rosehip or argan) provide a high degree of hydration. It is also a good routine to perform a body peeling once a week.
How dermo-cosmetics helps us to fight ageing premature ageing of our skin?
Dermocosmetics allows us to have elements that help us to slow down and control the natural ageing process, making our skin regain its luminosity and natural glow. There are different active ingredients developed to control the passage of time on our skin.
One area in which dermo-cosmetics has been doing a lot of work in recent times is in the treatment of stains that the passage of time causes on our skin. The appearance of these spots makes our skin look duller and older. In this sense, there are local depigmenting treatments, facial anti-spots and tone unifiers, which are moisturising products with a progressive depigmenting action.
What habits should we avoid because they are harmful to our skin?
One of the most damaging habits for our skin is not choosing the right products to use on it. Using cosmetics that are not suitable for your skin type is a very common mistake.
Another common mistake is to ignore the care of the neck and chest. These parts of the body are always exposed and their care is often overlooked. It is important that they receive the same treatments as the facial area.
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A third mistake is related to exfoliation. The use of exfoliators is recommended, but be careful not to overdo it. Strong cleansing or using too much exfoliator can worsen the condition of the skin. As a recommendation, peeling should be done at most once a week.
Undoubtedly one of the most damaging habits for our skin and one that we often do not pay attention to is cleansing our face before going to bed. It is important not to miss our cleansing ritual, even if we have not used make-up.
Finally, one of the most frequently repeated errors would be the non-use of sun protection. Above all, when we are going to be exposed to the sun for a long period of time, it is very important to use a broad-spectrum sunscreen to keep the skin smooth, free of wrinkles and above all to avoid the appearance of spots. Always try to apply every two hours.
