When you are buying daily skin care tools, it is important to know which cosmetic products dermatologists recommend--and which to avoid. Basic advice from the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) is to use fewer, not more skin care products, and to choose them for their active ingredients. Your skin's pH and moisture balance are complex and can be affected by any of the dozens, perhaps hundreds, of ingredients in compounds that you use regularly. To avoid damaging healthy skin with products meant to support it, dermatologists suggest focusing on your skin's main issue and applying only items with a proven active ingredient.
Cleansing
Young, healthy skin may not need any additives in cleanser to remove dirt and dead skin cells that can clog pores at the surface. Surfactants, such as cetyl alcohol and cocamide DEA are common active ingredients in soaps made for daily skin care.
Dermatologists recommend oil-free gel or foam soaps for oily skin types and lotion-based soaps that contain vegetable oils for dry skin. Cleansers that feature a hydroxy acid, such as lactic, citric, glycolic or salicylic acids, are cosmetic products proven to aid in exfoliation of the epidermis without damaging it. These may be appropriate for people with aging skin.
Moisturizing
Dermatologists highly recommend moisturizing cosmetic products, but your individual skin needs will determine which are best for you. Moisturizers come in different ratios of water to other ingredients, resulting in facial day creams and night creams, and hand and body lotions for normal and sensitive skin.
Daily skin care should include moisturizer application following your cleansing, while skin is still damp. Humectants and emollients, such as glycerin and mineral oil, promote healthy skin by restoring moisture levels disturbed by drying agents in soaps. Other active ingredients you may find in moisturizers include retinols, or Vitamin A supplements and ultraviolet (UV) light absorbers, such as octisalate, homosalate and avobenzone.
Protecting
All healthy skin is sensitive to UVA and UVB solar rays. The AAD recommends using a 30 SPF or higher strength sunscreen as part of your daily skin care. Sunblock cosmetic products work by absorbing damaging rays before they penetrate exposed skin. You will find sunscreen formulas that are hypoallergenic for sensitive facial skin. Others are designed to cover larger surface areas on the arms, legs and body.
Aging skin needs greater protection, as its rejuvenative properties are diminished. In addition to sunscreen, people with dry, damaged or aging skin may need night repair creams. Dermatologists recommend those that contain retinoids, kojic acid, azelaic acid and hydroquinone, a close relation to coenzyme Q10, which is found in many anti-aging skin care products.
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