It’s no longer a secret that men and women can have different skin types: the palette ranges from dry skin to oily skin to combination skin. Accordingly, there is also an extremely large selection of skin care products that really outdo each other with their ingredients. To find out which substances are best for your face, you not only need to understand the active ingredients, but also your skin type – and that’s not easy if you’re not a dermatologist. Below you will find out what the terms on most masks, scrubs and creams really mean and how you can better classify your skin type.
The most common types include not only dry and oily skin or combination skin, but also sensitive, impure and even normal skin – the latter actually not requiring intensive care because it is neither too dry nor too oily. An ordinary day cream or night cream can be used here. For the other skin types, however, not every product is equally well suited, for this reason you should determine it in advance.
Our skin holds the body together, which is why it is the largest organ we have. It protects us from external influences such as the sun’s rays, pollutants and also dry air – so it has to perform at its best every day. This is also an important reason why you shouldn’t neglect your skin care: Instead of just smearing some cream or ointment on your face to prevent pimples or wrinkles, you should know your skin type and use appropriate cleaning and care products. In order to better understand the substances contained therein, you should also be able to distinguish between the active ingredients and classify them correctly. What do the substances in care products mean?
You have certainly heard terms such as hyaluronic acid or collagen before, but do you know what they mean? In the event that there is still a need for clarification, the most common active ingredients in well-known care products are listed and explained in the following table:
active ingredient
That’s behind it
Collagen
The active ingredient primarily strengthens our body (bones, tendons and ligaments), but can also make the skin more elastic and moisturize it in the form of creams or face masks.
antioxidants
Manufacturers of moisturizers and make-up advertise a lot with this active ingredient. These are simple vitamins (C, E and beta-carotene) that are intended to protect our skin from external influences – i.e. free radicals.
salicylic acid
This anti-inflammatory active ingredient is not only found in medicines, but also in many care products. First and foremost, it is supposed to help against impurities and is therefore found in various pimple creams.
hyaluronic acid
Even if our body produces the active ingredient itself, external application should moisturize dry skin and prevent wrinkles. That’s why many care products for mature skin like to advertise with it.
This active ingredient protects the skin from drying out and is therefore used in many moisturizing creams. The so-called lipids are found in the horny layer of the skin and form a kind of protective film against foreign bodies.
Urea
This is a urea that can bind moisture. Accordingly, care products with urea are primarily suitable for dry skin types, and it also has a healing-promoting effect.
Panthenol
In the past, this active ingredient was mainly found in après products to relieve sunburn. Nowadays, panthenol is used in care products for mature skin due to its anti-aging properties.
You probably know that too: when the temperature drops below zero degrees, the cold makes itself felt on the skin – from itchy shins and elbows to a feeling of tension in the face. To counteract this condition, skin care plays a crucial role, especially hydration. Depending on your skin type, you should definitely pay attention to the following points when buying new care products:
For all skin types, on the other hand, you should not put additional stress on your skin on cold days by taking a shower that is too hot – this dries out your skin. The same applies to your scalp: in the cold months, it is better to use a mild shampoo that does not dry out your skin as quickly. On the other hand, you can protect your hands from the cold by applying lotion to them regularly and wearing gloves outdoors. Otherwise the skin may crack – just like your lips, which you protect from the cold with a grease stick. Here you can rely on oils and beeswax, for example. And last but not least, sun protection plays an important role in skin care: So make sure you have the right sun protection factor on cold days, because there are suitable care products for all skin types.
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