Whether you are just dipping your toes into skincare or currently operating on a thirteen-step skincare regimen, double check that you are incorporating these essential ingredients for optimal skin health. I often edit my routine, but I always make sure to have the KEY THREE included. Below are the three key ingredients that will transform your skin and create long-term healthy skin cells.
Vitamin C: Protects and Neutralizes Your Skin
Every morning should begin with one of the most important nutrients your skin needs, Vitamin C. Vitamin C is essential for several reasons. It promotes collagen production, protects skin from free radical damage, and brightens the skin. Acting as an antioxidant, Vitamin C protects the skin from environmental stressors, such as pollution, UV rays, and even the blue light emission from your phone. It will prevent and treat UV-induced photodamage. When free radicals damage our skin, we are left with sagging, dull, pigmented skin that is often difficult to reverse. Vitamin C is your ultimate protector. It will neutralize those free radicals that grab hold of your skin and prevent cell damage.
Known as a great defender in fighting pigmentation and brightening the skin, Vitamin C will control the melanin production and lighten dark spots. Umm, yes please! Vitamin C is safe for everyone to use, including pregnant mothers and those breastfeeding. Read through my post on Vitamin C for suggestions on different Vitamin C serums.
Vitamin A: Educates Your Skin
Do you wish there was one ingredient that could instruct your skin to simply do what it needs to do? Well, you are in luck, because Vitamin A is that essential nutrient that is purposefully used in skincare to communicate to the skin to make healthier cells. Vitamin A is a naturally occurring molecule in our bodies. It is in fact the most important molecule for healthy-looking skin. As we age and expose ourselves to environmental factors, our Vitamin A levels begin to deplete, thus causing lines and wrinkles, pigmentation, etc… Therefore, we use topical Vitamin A products everyday to create stronger, normalized skin cells. Do you use retinol in your routine? If so, you are already on track. Retinol is derivative of Vitamin A. All retinols are Vitamin A. Not all Vitamin A’s are retinols though (but that’s for a later story). Vitamin A is used to normalize your skin cell behavior and actually repair skin DNA.
Vitamin A promotes collagen production, because it recognizes that there is a breakdown or loss of elasticity. This helps decrease the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles (our number one complaint as we age). Vitamin A also boosts skin cell turnover, smoothing the texture of your skin. Additionally, Vitamin A can make a drastic difference with both acne and pigmentation treatment. It strengthens, tightens, and lifts the skin. The list goes on and on! It educates the skin to do exactly what is necessary to keep the skin looking youthful, vibrant, and healthy. You can literally think of applying Vitamin A as sending a text message to the skin cells to get to work repairing your skin. That is precisely why it is needed daily, in lower doses, and gradually working your way up to higher does for long-term use.
For pregnant or breastfeeding mothers, speak with your doctor before using any vitamin A products. It is always recommended to use sunscreen when applying high levels of Vitamin A
Sunscreen: Shields Your Skin
Finally, and most importantly, sunscreen is applied daily to act as a shield for your skin. Sunscreen should be used 365 days of the year to prevent the sun’s rays from penetrating into your skin. When UV radiation penetrates the skin, we are left with pigmentation, wrinkles, and often sagging, dull skin. Not only does sunscreen help protect the appearance of our skin, it is most critical in preventing skin cancer and other conditions that can irritate or harm our skin.
Sunscreen can be used in a physical form or a chemical form. Physical sunscreen sits on top of the skin and acts as a barrier that reflects damaging UV rays away from the skin, almost like a mirror. Chemical sunscreen penetrate the skin’s surface to absorb the sun’s rays, preventing them from penetrating deeper into the skin where they cause damage. Chemical sunscreens should be applied twenty minutes prior to being in the sun. Whether you choose chemical or physical sunscreen, depending on your personal preference or activity, daily use is always recommended to shield your skin from harmful damage. Why invest in your skin if you are not doing everything you can to shield it from earth’s most potent disrupter? When creating your skincare story, sunscreen is essential!
As always, I am happy to help you create a routine that works best for you and your lifestyle. My best advice is to include products that will protect your skin and educate your skin to create heathy cells. This is the path to achieving your skin goals! Once the KEY THREE checklist is completed, you are well on your way.
xxxx
Lindsay
