One of the main functions of the skin, which is the protective layer of the body, is to prevent harmful pathogens from entering the body. In addition, the skin plays an important role in maintaining the body temperature and synthesizing vitamin D, which is important for bone health (1). Many factors such as stress, air pollution, unhealthy eating habits, exposure to UV rays and the natural aging process brought about by modern life can disrupt the natural structure of the skin and accelerate the signs of aging. Creating an effective skin care routine is one of the main ways to reduce the signs of aging and maintain skin health.
What is Skin Care?
Skin care is a process in which cosmetics available on the market and products prescribed by experts are applied to the skin at regular intervals to make the skin look younger, brighter and more vibrant. Vitamin C serums, sunscreen, moisturizers that help maintain the moisture balance of the skin, skin cleansers and masks are products frequently recommended by experts for skin care. However, it is not possible to ignore professional skin care when it comes to skin care routine. Non-invasive methods such as peeling, micro-needling, laser treatments applied by competent dermatologists can help accelerate the natural regeneration process of the skin and make it look more vibrant and bright (2).
How to Perform Skin Care?
A skin care routine helps reduce the signs of aging by protecting the skin against external factors throughout the day. In the fast pace of modern life, creating the right skin care routine against these external factors is challenging for many people. At this point, it is useful to start with basic steps suitable for every skin type. You can also contact Güven Rejuvenation Clinic's expert health team within the scope of the Anti-Aging Program to determine the most suitable care routine for your skin and get professional support.
The First Step of Your Skin Care Routine: Skin Cleansing
Skin care starts with proper cleansing of the skin. During the day, the skin is exposed to many external factors such as various makeup and air pollution. If skin cleansing is not done properly with the right skin cleansing products, the pores on the skin become clogged and become prone to skin problems such as acne and blackheads. In order to minimize these problems, it is important to cleanse your skin twice a day, morning and evening, with the help of a skin cleanser suitable for your skin type.
According to the amount of sebum, i.e. oil produced on the skin, skin types are categorized as dry, oily, sensitive, combination and normal skin types (3). If a cleanser suitable for the skin type is not used, the normal oil balance of the skin may be disrupted. For example, if you have an oily skin type, choosing an oil-based cleanser may cause more oil on your skin. Therefore, those with oily skin may prefer water-based cleansing gels. Those with dry skin can turn to oil-based products with moisturizing properties (4).
Deep Skin Cleansing with Toner
According to various studies, the natural pH value of the skin is approximately 4.7 (5, 6). However, cosmetic products with different pH values may cause the natural pH value of the skin to deteriorate, resulting in undesirable conditions such as dryness or oily skin. To prevent such conditions, tonic applied immediately after skin cleansing helps to balance the pH level and tighten the pores. However, some cleansers may not completely remove dirt and makeup residues from the skin surface. At this point, using a toner that does not contain alcohol and is suitable for your skin type can ensure deep cleansing of the skin.
According to experts, when the skin is not moisturized enough, the effectiveness of skin care products decreases and it becomes difficult for them to penetrate the skin. For this reason, the use of tonic moisturizes the skin and helps prepare it for the next steps of care. If you plan to add a toner to your skin care routine, it is recommended to use it twice a day, morning and evening. However, if you have sensitive skin or have problems such as excessive dryness on your skin, it may be right to get a dermatologist's advice before choosing a toner (5).
Serum Usage
The use of serums also plays an important role in skin care. Thanks to their highly concentrated active ingredients, serums quickly penetrate the skin and directly target skin problems. Serums that are quickly absorbed by the skin are usually used before moisturizer. In this way, it can increase the effectiveness of moisturizer or face and eye contour care creams applied on top.
Serums can help solve skin problems such as fine lines and skin blemishes. Today, there are various types of serums specially formulated for anti-aging, skin brightening, moisturizing and sensitive skin. Serums applied in the morning provide protection against environmental factors and support the skin's regeneration process when used at night. In addition, serums with antioxidant content such as vitamin C can help minimize the damage caused by free radicals on the skin and minimize the signs of aging on the skin (7).
Moisturizer Use
The use of moisturizers has long been considered by dermatologists as one of the most important steps in skin care. The most important reason for this is that moisturizers help to increase the amount of water in the outermost layer of the epidermis, known as the stratum corneum, thus helping to prevent skin dryness. There is a close relationship between the protection of the skin barrier and the amount of water in the outer layer of the epidermis. Moisturizers are products that help maintain the skin's moisture balance and restore its natural protective barrier function.
What is a Daytime Skin Care Routine?
The daytime skin care routine starts with cleansing the skin with an oil or water-based cleanser. Then, it is recommended to use a toner to deeply cleanse the skin and maintain the pH balance of the skin. After the toner, serums, especially those containing antioxidants, can be applied to the skin to nourish the skin and prepare it for other skin care steps. After the serum, moisturizers are used to help the skin regain lost moisture. One of the last and most important steps of the daytime skin care routine is the use of sunscreen that helps protect from the harmful rays of the sun (8).
What is the Night Skin Care Routine?
For night skin care, the skin should first be cleansed of makeup with the help of an oil or water-based makeup remover. Applying a mask or peeling to the skin once or twice a week during night skin care can help open the pores and deeply cleanse the skin. Tonic, eye contour care cream, serum and moisturizing products can be used in night skin care as during the day. During the night, the skin is in the process of renewal. Therefore, it is recommended to prefer products with nourishing ingredients when choosing night skin care products (9).
Skin Care Routine According to Skin Type
Every person's skin and its needs are unique. Therefore, it is important to consider your skin type when determining your skincare routine. If you have oily, dry, combination or sensitive skin, you can shape your skin care according to the ingredient recommendations below (3):
- Oily skin: Light, oil-free formulas and products with a mattifying effect,
- Dry skin: Intensive moisturizers and oil-based serums,
- Combination skin: Water-based products for the T-zone, moisturizing products for the cheek area,
- Sensitive skin: Alcohol and perfume-free products.
Deciding on your skin type may not always be easy. At this point, within the scope of the Stay Young (Antiaging) Program, our experts determine your skin type and create a special road map for you.
Why is the order of the skin care routine important?
Applying skin care products in the right order as well as choosing them correctly is of great importance in order to get the best efficiency from skin care. For example, serums are products that can penetrate the active ingredients deeply into the skin. For this reason, it is recommended to apply serums before moisturizer. Thus, the skin can make the most of the potential benefits of the moisturizer. Another important step in skin care is the use of sunscreen. Sunscreen should be the last step in the skin care routine to protect the skin from the harmful rays of the sun and should be applied before going out.
As Güven Rejuvenation Clinic, within the scope of the Stay Young (Anti-aging) Program, our experts offer anti-aging treatments and skin care solutions to protect your skin health in the long term. Thanks to this program supported by scientific methods, you can create a care plan suitable for your skin's needs with our expert team.
