Often when we think of products, our first thoughts are active ingredients, antioxidants and what is currently trending in the industry. What we forget is that these ingredients are just a fraction of what it takes to formulate a product. This can create confusion and controversy among those who specialize in skin care, whether they be the manufacturers or the estheticians.

Choosing Skin Care

Ideally, when choosing any product, one should keep at the forefront that skin is an organ, the largest organ of the human body. It is intricately connected to our tissues, other organs and body systems. Having a clear understanding of what the largest organ needs to be healthy should be the starting point in product use. Topically duplicating what the body does internally will always result in fewer contraindications and healthier skin. Unfortunately, this is easier said than done due to there being so many products on the market and a plethora of opinions on what a “good” product looks like.

Knowing the difference between science and sales will assist in better decision-making. Many products are formulated to make the skin feel better and temporarily look better, and let’s not forget to also smell better. Taking a science-based perspective on product choice is where things get more interesting and require an education that is not merely treating the dead layers of skin, but rather the skin organ. More questions and research are involved because the skin is being affected at a deeper level (See Questions to Consider Sidebar).

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