The 5 most important things to know about your skin now and forever

As beauty enthusiasts, we can all appreciate good skin. But how much do you really know about it?

When it comes to skin care we’re often so focused on knowing the difference between a vitamin C serum and a glycolic one that it’s too difficult to take a step back from the buzzwords and hype and learn how to really look after it.

After all, there’s not much point piling on the latest products and ingredients if you’re not aware of how your skin works or what it’s trying to tell you.

So in order to be kinder to your skin and realise just how crucial its health really is, here are the most important things to know about it now and forever.

#1 Your skin is your largest organ

The ‘large’ factor may not come as a surprise considering our skin covers our entire bodies, but the fact that it’s a functioning organ might. The skin is actually responsible for water regulation, temperature control, vitamin D production, germ protection and nutrient storage. It’s not just a covering for our other organs, it works hard too.

#2 It works to protect us but we still need to protect it, too

As our largest organ, the skin is also one of our largest defenders. But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t need our help to protect it – we’re not covered in cast iron, after all. In order to keep the skin functioning at its best and doing all the tasks it’s responsible for, our care and attention should go towards safeguarding the skin’s moisture barrier. This means using products that are recommended by dermatologists and specifically formulated to avoid overdrying your skin, like Cetaphil*.

#3 Your skin will tell you if its barrier is weak

So how can you tell if your skin is in trouble? Well, you may begin to experience sensitive skin; five important signs of which include a weakened skin moisture barrier, irritation, dryness, tightness and roughness. When our skin’s epidermal barrier is weak, it interferes with the protective function of the skin, making it more prone to these symptoms.

#4 Cleansing, moisturising and protecting are most important

When it comes to defending our skin from five signs of sensitivity and keeping it healthy and happy, you can throw the old ‘cleanse, tone, moisturise’ out the window.

The real heroes? ‘Cleanse, moisturise, protect’.

Good skin care starts with gentle cleansing and the Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser ($7.69 for 250ml at Chemist Warehouse) is hard to beat – it actually hydrates while it cleanses. Plus, it’s dermatologically tested to be suitable for even the most sensitive skin.

Cleansing should then be followed by rich moisturisation. Note that ‘rich’ doesn’t have to mean ‘heavy’. The Cetaphil Moisturising Cream ($15.99 for 550g at Chemist Warehouse) doubles the skin’s moisture level in 24 hours and fully restores the skin’s moisture barrier in just one week (with twice daily application), all while absorbing easily into the skin.

Lastly, considering we have the highest levels of UV radiation in the world, us Aussies need SPF protection year-round. Luckily, Cetaphil also has sensitive skin covered with Cetaphil Sun SPF 50+ Ultra Light Lotion ($15.99 for 100ml at Chemist Warehouse) – both sensitive skin-friendly and with the highest possible level of SPF protection.

ALWAYS READ THE LABEL. FOLLOW DIRECTIONS FOR USE. Limit sun exposure and use protective clothing, hats and eye wear. Keep out of eyes. Reapply sunscreen regularly.

#5 Sensitive skin can occur anywhere on the body

We can imagine you’ve been thinking about your face the entire time you’ve been reading this, but the fact is sensitive skin and a weakened skin barrier can occur anywhere on the body. And as such, the same rules apply for your limbs: cleanse, moisturise and protect. Bonus points if it’s using products with clinically proven results.

*Dermatologist Recommended : Cedegim. DermReach Omnibus Research Report, 2010.

Main image credit: @maryphillips

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