Make sure you've got these essential skin care products on hand

Is your bathroom shelf or cabinet cluttered with skin care and makeup products? Does it sometimes look or feel overwhelming? How many products are really necessary for the healthiest skin?

If it’s time to clear out some outdated and questionable skin care products from your bathroom and start fresh, what products are essential for optimal skin health according to skin care experts?

According to dermatologists, the best skin care products cover all the basic essential needs of our skin.

Cleanser

The primary need of our skin is to be properly cleansed. Cleansing the skin with the best cleanser for your needs is necessary to maintain the proper pH balance and to allow the pores to be cleared of impurities. This is especially important for those who wear makeup. Proper cleansing with the best skin care products for your skin type removes build-up, boosts hydration, and clears skin of excess sebum, allowing the pores freedom to replenish your skin. Cleansing also helps to remove dead skin cells and encourage cell turnover.

If you wear makeup—especially waterproof makeup—it’s best to use a makeup remover prior to using your cleanser. Oil-based makeup removers are best for removing waterproof makeup. After removing makeup, cleanse your face with warm water and a face wash that is formulated for your skin type.

Toner

While some skip this step, it’s important to know the benefits of a good toner. Toners help to remove dirt and impurities from deep within your pores, allowing your skin to better receive the benefits of the best skin care products you use after cleansing. There are toners for all skin types—from toners made with witch hazel for oily, acne-prone skin, to toners made with gentle rose water for older skin in need of antioxidants to reverse the signs of ageng. Toners should always be used after cleansing and prior to moisturizing.

Serum

The best skin care products for nourishing your skin are face serums. Serums are a liquid or thin gel which is normally applied with a dropper. Serums contain concentrated amounts of beneficial properties for the nourishing of skin cells deep below the skin’s surface. Because serums are made without the bulkier products of moisturizers that sit on the surface of the skin, the beneficial ingredients are quickly absorbed deeply into skin cells.

Serums usually contain both scientific and botanical properties to best replenish and restore the balance of skin cells and enable them to function more like those in younger skin. Look for serums containing retinol and antioxidants, two essential properties for healthier, younger-looking skin.

Moisturizer

A skin care regimen without a moisturizer, is like a meal without a main course. While serums deliver key ingredients into your skin cells, a moisturizer gives your skin essential hydration. Moisturizers are one of the best skin care products to add critical moisture to your skin, and then seal both the hydration, and all of the benefits of your serum, into your skin by strengthening the skin barrier meant to keep moisture in, and impurities out. Look for a moisturizer that contains hyaluronic acid, a substance found naturally in young skin which diminishes as we age. Hyaluronic acid is intensely hydrating. It helps your skin to absorb moisture from the air itself and store it in the skin’s surface.

Eye Cream

The skin in the eye area is different than the skin on the rest of the face. The skin around the eyes contains less oil glands than the remainder of the face, leaving it to lack moisture and be prone to wrinkling and sagging. An eye cream is one of the best skin care products to add the missing moisture back into your skin to diminish fine lines. Good eye creams also contain ingredients to alleviate dark under eye circles and puffiness.

Sunscreen

Protection from damaging UV rays is critical for every skin care regimen. Research suggests that up to 90 percent of the signs of aging come from environmental factors, especially from the sun. Sun exposure causes damage to critical collagen which is responsible for the structural integrity of the skin.

Exfoliating Products

In your bathroom drawer, shelf, or cabinet, your array of the best skin care products would not be complete without an exfoliating product. Exfoliation should be performed no more than once or twice per week. Exfoliating products include physical exfoliators, chemical exfoliators, and enzyme exfoliators. The exfoliating product you choose should be approved for your skin type.

Exfoliating removes the skin-dulling dead skin cells from the surface of your skin, allowing it to better receive the benefits of your best skin care products and leaving your skin healthy and radiant.

Resources— Cosmopolitan, Health.com, HudaBeauty

Coleen Figner (1302 Articles Published)

I am a mother of four and a freelance writer. I'm also the author of the novel, "The Harbinger," by Coleen Figner, now available on Kindle eBook. I have spent most of my life in the historical town of Micanopy, Florida. I spend quality time engaged in social media and I've used online research platforms extensively both for writing and for shopping research. Unlike most women, I hate malls and department stores. I do the bulk of my shopping online. I love the idea of a platform doing the research and comparison work to make online shopping easier for consumers. ReviewThis has given me the opportunity to engage in online shopping research even when I'm not doing the buying! (Though I've been known to splurge on some of the top-rated products for myself.)

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