Professional Skincare Tips for Every Age

Professional Skincare Tips for Every Age discussed by HL Cosmetics

Whatever age you are you should look after and care for your skin every day. As we age our skin doesn’t have the ability to naturally rejuvenate as it once did so looking after it from an early age and throughout your life will help as you get older. Our Professional Skincare Tips for Every Age will help you understand your skin, how you can look after it and the products to choose to ensure you have healthy and glowing skin every day.

Our Skin

Our skin is the outer covering of our bodies and is the largest organ of the integumentary system. It plays an important immunity role, protecting our bodies against pathogens and excessive water loss. It also keeps up warm, regulates our body temperature, gives us sensation, synthesis of vitamin D and protects our vitamin B folates.

The Epidermis Layer

The Epidermis is the outer layer of our skin which you see and it provides a waterproof barrier and creates our skin tone. Our skin’s colour is created by special cells called melanocytes, which produce the pigment melanin. The epidermis is very thin on some parts of our bodies, including our eyelids and is thicker on other parts of our bodies. As an example, the epidermis is thicker on the bottoms of our feet to allow for the pressure and friction they endure every day.

What is the Purpose of the Epidermis Layer?

• The epidermis makes new skin cells for our skin and this happens at the bottom of the epidermis layer. Our skin cells naturally move to its top layer and then flake off on average every month after they have formed leaving new and fresh skin cells at the top of our skin
• The epidermis makes melanin which gives our skin its colour and tone
• The epidermis has special cells that are part of our immune system, protecting our bodies, helping us to stay healthy

The Dermis Layer

The Dermis layer is beneath the epidermis and contains tough connective tissue, hair follicles, and sweat glands and has many functions and works really hard.

What is the Purpose of the Dermis Layer?

• The dermis layer makes sweat which regulates our body temperature and helps to get rid of the bad toxins things in our bodies. The dermis layer has pockets called sweat glands and when we sweat it travels through tiny tubes and comes out of tiny holes called pores
• The dermis layer has nerve endings which give us sensation and enable us to feel things. The nerves send important signals to our brain telling us if something is hurting, as an example if something is too hot or cold then your brain tells you to stop touching it or move away from it. The nerve endings tell us if our skin is reacting to something and tells our brain if it is hot or itchy and they also tell us when something feels nice
• The dermis is where the roots of every tiny hair on our skin are. The roots attach to a tiny muscle that tightens and gives you goosebumps or makes your hair stand on end if you are cold, scared or feel a strange sensation
• The dermis contains the glands in our skin that make oil. The oil in the dermis keeps your skin soft, smooth and waterproof, sometimes our skin can produce too much or not enough oil which then gives us oily or dry skin and both can result in certain skin conditions like acne, blackheads, spots and dry skin
• The dermis brings the blood into our skin, feeding and removing toxins and bad stuff through the tiny tubes called blood vessels

The Deeper Subcutaneous Tissue (Yypodermis) Layer

The deeper Subcutaneous Tissue is made of fat and connective tissues.

What is the Purpose of the Deeper Subcutaneous Tissue Layer?

• The deeper subcutaneous tissue attaches the dermis to our muscles and bones using connecting tissue
• The deeper subcutaneous tissue helps the blood vessels and nerve cells that start in the dermis layer to increase in size and move to the rest of our bodies
• The deeper subcutaneous tissue also helps to control our body temperature and the fat is the layer that helps to regulate our temperature preventing us from getting too hot or too cold
• The deeper subcutaneous tissue stores our fat which protect our muscles and bones from knocks and falls

Skin Types

Knowing your skin type will help you understand which products to use to improve the appearance of your skin, feel, tone and complexion. Skin pigmentation varies amongst populations and skin types can range from dry to oily with many others. Our skin type can change as we mature, when we are in changing environments and when we use certain products.

Normal Skin

Normal skin has a good balance of moisture, small pores and an even skin tone. It is quite unusual to have normal skin and it is the goal for most people. Normal skin feels comfortable, soft and translucent and has the best balance of oil to water with a smooth texture appearance and no visible blemishes or pores. It will be soft to the touch with no dry flaky or greasy areas. By looking after your skin every day and by using the right products you can help your skin to look and feel normal.

Oily Skin

Oily skin happens when the dermis layer produces too much sebum (oil). It results in your skin having larger follicles or pores compared to other skin types and these tend to be visible on the skin of your face. The oil can make your skin look unusually shiny and is prone to blackheads, spots and acne. Hormones affect oil production in our skin so any changes in your hormone levels can affect your skin. Caring for our skin and having a good skincare routine using the right products will help your skin to look and feel normal.

Dry Skin

Dry skin can feel tight and it often has dry patches and flaking skin areas. It can result in a loss of skin tone, broken capillaries and an ashen looking complexion. Our pores can appear smaller, and our skin can appear dull on the cheeks and around the eyes and forehead. Dry skin can be uncomfortable and cause itching and cracking and often makes us feel self-conscious. Having a good daily skincare routine and using the right products can provide your skin with the moisture it needs, making you look and feel better.

Combination Skin

Combination skin is very common and is a combination of oily and dry skin. A lot of people suffer from oily skin on their t-zone which is the forehead, nose, and chin. It is possible to have oily skin but for it still to be dry on the surface and professional skincare consultants will be able to determine if your skin is producing too much oil, even if your skin looks dry and will recommend the best products for you to use. Dry skin can be a result of the overuse of high concentration surface exfoliants which are used to remove blocked pores which are often used to treat oily skin. There are many different products available for combination skin but it is always best to use a skincare professional who will assess your skin and understand what is happening and can recommend the right products for you.

Dehydrated Skin

Dehydrated skin can appear dry, however, it’s not the same as having dry skin. The skin can feel rough and coarse to the touch and fine dehydration lines can appear. It can make your skin feel tight with a loss of skin tone, broken capillaries and an ashen complexion and tone. Dehydrated skin is relatively easy to treat with the right lifestyle changes, products and a good daily skincare routine.

Sensitive Skin

Skincare Routine & Products

We can spend a lot of money trying different skincare products to use at home and they often don’t do what they say they will do.

Professional home use skincare products can’t be brought in a shop as they are made for aestheticians who have the qualifications and experience to assess your skin and recommend the best products for you. The PH and percentage of active ingredients in high street skincare products won’t be the same as professional products and they aren’t always what you think your skin actually needs. Professional skincare aestheticians undergo extensive training, will understand your skin, their products and can advise you on which ones you should be using as well as your skincare routine.

Using professional skincare products recommended by a qualified aesthetician will provide you with the maximum benefits and a revitalised look and feel to your skin.

The environment and your lifestyle also have a big impact on the look and feel of your skin. A healthy diet with lots of fresh vegetables and fruit, plenty of water, reducing your alcohol intake, following a professional skincare regime and ensuring you use a product that protects your skin from UV rays will also make a difference.

The goal of your skin-care routine is vital to give your skin anything it is lacking so it looks and feels the best it can be, targeting any troublesome areas. Everyone’s skin changes as they get older so the skincare products that you have always used may no longer be giving your skin what it needs, so always change your products when you start noticing changes in your skin. A good and experienced aesthetician will be able to advise you on the products you should use and will adapt your skincare routine as your skin improves or changes. Always give new products time as it can take days and sometimes weeks to really see the benefits.

A glowing complexion takes time, a regular skincare routine morning and night and often weekly, bi-weekly or monthly treatments to give it a boost and to keep it looking healthy. Always remember, a good skincare routine is essential to ensure the health of your skin and to prevent and help the signs of ageing.

The Three Main Steps to Good Skin Care

• Cleansing
• Toning
• Moisturising

Weekly Skincare Routine

Your daily skincare routine removes make-up, excess dirt, traces of oil and corrects and balances the pH of your skin, keeping it moisturised and protected from the sun, however, a weekly, bi-weekly or even monthly skin treatment will give it an added boost and your aesthetician will be able to advise you on these and the products to use.

• Exfoliation
• Face Peel
• Face Mask