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nataliaramirez1820
Oct 9, 20247 min read

Honestly, skin care

SPF, stress, glowing skin, texture, and the in-betweens.



let me skin-troduce myself

At sixteen, I had a friend who needed a skin model for esthitician school practices. I began going regularly and receiving facials from her. Not only did she introduce me to SPF, exfoliating, and skin care, but she taught me something larger: your skin is only yours, embrace it, care for it, enjoy it.

If you grew up like I did, with a generation of women lacked skin care education, the concept of self-care was foreign.

I have a natural love and passion for skin care that I love to share with others, but the truth is that this is something I struggle with in the most unexpected ways. Throughout my journey, I have developed products, habits, and mindsets that penetrate beyond the skin barrier. From the basic to the complex, it is time I share them with you.


Your skin is yours for a reason.

The first thing to know if that your skin's health is based entirely on your internal and external life. The quality of your mental health could be clouded by the quality of the air around you. The taste of rest melts with the taste of rich antioxidant berries. These factors co-exist, constantly bickering or harmonizing with one another.

Because of this dynamic, your skin can be fragile. This fragility varies between different cycles, stages, and experiences you and your skin go through. When you view your skin as a partner on the same team, you grow to stop hating it.

Your skin is yours for a reason. It is dictated by your organs, decisions, emotions, and life. You will live in it until you don't, and it is one of the first things that is yours. Together, we can learn to take care of it.


Ah, double cleansing

The growing phenomenon of double cleansing is fairly new to the internet. According to Statista, the fourth-leading skin care trend of 2024 is the Ginseng cleansing oil that sits at an impressive 84% growth in searches. Double cleansing is an additional step taken with an oil based cleanser prior to the use of a regular cleanser.

The remarkable science behind double cleansing is that oil break down oil. Tuel Skincare shares that this first step is essential in breaking down pollution, oils, dirt, and makeup from our skin. These excess oils stay trapped on our skin until they are properly removed. This step is followed by general cleansing with a gel or water based cleanser. This practice has existed since the 14th century among Japanese, Korean, and French skincare habits that have proved timeless success.

I have integrated regular double cleansing every one-to-two days into my nighttime skincare routine and have observed positive changes. If you are considering experimenting with this process, consider the Anua double cleansing oil as a gentle start.

Tips to consider:

  • Advise an esthitician or dermatologist if you are applying prescribed medication on your skin.

  • Introduce this process lightly with a few double cleansing sessions a week.

  • Observe reactions if additional dryness occurs after use.


Skin essentials & when to use them

This April, I took a trip to Paris and visited one of the renowned skin care pharmacies. I purchased some of the cleanest, pleasing, and effective products to expand my skin care collection. Among them, Caudalie and Avène, some of France's favorites. I observed how French culture embraces skin care, makes it more affordable, and understands that less is more for your skin.

With an overwhelming amount of beauty and skin products being targeted at us daily, where should you start? Let us return to the basics.These products are listed in chronological order of when they should be used.

Cleanser


Toners

Serums

Moisturizer


Sunscreen (SPF)


Additionally


The underserved

One of the biggest lessons I have learned is that skin care does not border on your face. There is so much more to skin beyond the skull. Some of the most under-treated areas of the skin include the neck, hands, earlobes, and chest.

When I first learned about sunscreen, I sifted into panic knowing I spent majority of my adolescent life not applying sunscreen when I should have. Healthline Medical Dermatologist, Jessica Dietert, shares that UV rays are potent and damaging within just fifteen minutes of being outdoors. The possibilities of sun damage still transfer into indoor settings, vehicles, and shaded areas. Sun damage risks include rapid aging, hyperpigmentation, dark spot development, and skin cancer. The truth is that sun damage cannot be entirely prevented, but it can be tackled through frequent protection and application of sunscreen on targeted areas.

Growing up, my mother never taught me to apply sunscreen. She would get frustrated with its inability to blend well and her impatience was not fond of it. In a way, that impatience translated into me until I found the right products and mindset to shift that impatience.

Now, I embedded SPF application into my routine every morning, before leaving the office back into sunshine, every four hours, and before I start driving. I make sure to apply sunscreen on my hands and neck regularly as a part of my daily rituals, which has facilitated this habit. In full transparency, this is a habit that I have had to built and continue to discipline myself with. Most of the time I forget to reapply sunscreen or restock a bottle in my other environments. Instead of feeling bad about that mistake, I utilize other alternatives to protect my skin.

To create more intentional habits and sun-protective environments, consider the following:

  • carry a small umbrella in your car to protect you during outdoor activities and walks.

  • purchase a foldable UV protection hat to carry in your bags.

  • carry a travel size sunscreen in your bags, at your desk, and in your car.

  • wear a light long sleeve sweater or cover up to take on and off when needed.


A textured truth

Like the many layers of our skin, there are layers of complexities behind your skin's performance. I would like to share a layer I have felt trapped in.

As a woman, hormonal imbalances impact our entire body. Our skin is one of the first surfacing signs that tell us something is wrong. The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology shares that unlike men, our skin is disrupted by our hormone cycle. Whether it is during menstruation, ovulation, or a stressful time in our life, our skin is dictated by our internal functions.

For the last year, I have experienced significant changed in my hormonal imbalances which have affected areas of my skin along my chic and cheeks. One of the first signs was small texture bumps that would not disappear despite frequent exfoliation. The second sign developed into new flare ups in these areas every week.

As am someone who receives bi-monthly facials, takes care of her skin, nutrients, and overall health- this experience has been incredibly frustrating. From having clear, blemish and texture-free skin my entire life, it has been a struggle to recognize my skin. Despite these struggles, I find comfort in the community of women who share the same frustrations. The Cleveland Clinic shares that 50% of women in their 20s struggle with hormonal acne. This is due to an increase in pressure and stress from work, school, and daily life, harmful ingredients in our food and products, and endless hormone disruptors.

You could be wondering that my hormonal acne does not look as bad as severe acne patients which is correct. However, my skin is my everything. It is my first impression, what I care for the most, and means a lot to me. For someone with this mindset, a sudden, unexplainable shift can feel degrading.

I would like to share what this experience has taught me:

  • Your skin heals when you stop trying to control it:

    I have invested endless stress into my skin's performance, that I have not given it the peace to heal.

  • Be grateful for this wake-up call:

    Living an intense on-the-go life was going to have consequences eventually. My skin is responding with a reminder to slow down, be present, reduce stress, and take care of myself again.

  • Just a cycle:

    Like the cycles of my hormones, this cycle of my skin will pass and I need to address it with grace and patience. To have a responsive body is a blessing.

  • My skin does not define me:

    Despite my obsession with my skin's performance, it is not my entire character. I should not determine my mood, confidence, or value off of how clear my skin is. Comparison is a killer.

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