Key Points
- Skin care is about more than our appearance.
- Our skin health and overall health are inextricably linked.
- It’s important to cleanse, nourish and protect your skin.
Who doesn’t want healthier, glowing skin? The good news is, creating a healthier skin care routine doesn’t have to involve a bunch of time-consuming steps and countless different skin care products.
A simple daily skin care routine that covers some essential steps is all you need – along with some knowledge about what to avoid. We spoke with Naturopath Gabbie Watt about the key aspects of looking after your skin.
Why it’s important to follow a skin care routine
Building a healthier skin care routine is about more than just what we put on our faces and taking care of our skin may have a direct impact on our overall health.
“Our skin is much more than what we look at,” says Naturopath Gabbie Watt. “It’s a reflection of our overall health. Many things can impact our skin, including our environment, stress and diet.”
A classic example is the link between gut health and itchy skin. The gut and the skin are intricately connected and studies have found a link between a healthy gut microbiome (the trillions of microorganisms living in your gut) and healthy skin.
Biologically speaking, our skin is an organ. In fact, it’s the largest organ in our bodies, which is why it plays an important role in our overall health. Some of the wonderful things that our skin does for us include:
- acting as a filtration system
- eliminating waste from our bodies
- preventing pathogens from entering our bodies
- regulating our body temperature
- absorbing vitamin D
- providing us with our sense of touch, which is deeply connected to feelings of wellbeing
Our skin is one of the first lines of defence for our immune systems, and we need to take care of it like we would with any other organ. This starts with being mindful of what we put on it.
“Our skin is permeable, meaning it can absorb the substances that we put on it,” explains Gabbie. “These substances can get into our circulatory and lymphatic systems, which can have either a positive or negative effect, depending on what they are.”
It’s important to have a good skin care routine in place to ensure we’re caring for our skin as well as we possibly can.
Look for a good quality moisturiser with nourishing ingredients
What are the most important steps in a daily skin care routine?
With so much advice out there about what makes a good skin care routine, it can be hard to know what’s actually necessary. But looking after your skin doesn’t need to be expensive or complicated.
Gabbie recommends three simple skin care routine steps:
- Cleanse
- Nourish
- Protect
Let’s look at these in more detail.
Cleanse
Cleansing removes makeup, sunscreen and other products that may have been sitting on your face throughout the day.
“My opinion is that you should never go to bed without cleansing,” Gabbie advises. “It’s an important step, as it helps prevent clogged pores that cause acne and irritation.”
When choosing a cleanser, Gabbie recommends opting for something gentle. “Look for a product that will support the skin’s microbiome and not strip away the skin’s natural oils.”
Nourish
After cleansing, the next step is to nourish your skin with a moisturiser. Moisturisers aren’t just for people with dry or dehydrated skin – they can also benefit those with oily or acne-prone skin. Gabbie recommends looking for a good-quality moisturiser with hydrating and nourishing ingredients.
“Our skin has a microbiome, just like our gut,” she says. “If we disrupt it with irritating products, it can lose its protective mechanisms. This is why it’s important to protect the skin with a moisturiser after cleansing.”
Protect
The final step in a daily simple skin care routine is protection. It’s important to shield your skin from UV rays as much as possible, even when it’s cloudy.
When UV rays reach our skin, they can break down collagen and cause damage. UV can also damage DNA in the skin, which may lead to a risk of other skin conditions.
You can help to protect your skin by using and reapplying sunscreen, wearing a hat, layering up with clothing and avoiding prolonged sun exposure.
An optional fourth step…
Gabbie recommends gentle exfoliation once a week to help remove dead skin cells and encourage growth of new skin. While it’s not up there with the daily essentials, exfoliating once a week may help give your skin a more polished and radiant appearance.
Creams that contain vitamins A, B, C and E help repair and protect the skin
What do I need to look for in skin care products?
There’s no one-size-fits-all solution to skin care, explains Gabbie.
“Every person’s skin is different. Your skin type might determine what products work best for you. Just as I’d recommend seeing a healthcare professional for your internal health, I recommend going to one for your skin health too.”
There are, however, some common ingredients that research shows might benefit the skin.
- Oils like avocado, jojoba, rosehip and macadamia nourish the skin.
- Sodium hyaluronate helps with hydration and skin repair.
- Vitamins A, B, C and E provide a range of benefits, including skin repair and protection.
There are also some common ingredients that some people may choose to avoid, particularly if they have sensitive skin.
Gabbie recommends being mindful of emulsifiers, harsh preservatives, fragrances and essential oils. “These ingredients may be disruptive to an individual’s skin microbiome so it’s best to see a skincare expert to determine what products are best for your skin type.” However, some people may still choose to avoid them if they have specific allergies or sensitivities.
Should I adapt my skin care routine throughout life?
The basics of a skin care routine can stay the same throughout life – cleanse, nourish and protect.
As people move into different phases of their lives, they may incorporate specific ingredients into their routines to target various needs.
It’s also important to remember that internal health affects skin health at all stages of life. So focusing on hydration, gut health and consuming enough protein and omega-3 may help to ensure overall wellbeing.
Teenage years
Most teenagers can opt for a basic skin care routine where they:
- cleanse with a gentle cleanser
- nourish with a moisturiser
- protect with sunscreen
20s and 30s
People in their 20s and 30s may choose to introduce more specific treatments into their regimens.
This might include an antioxidant like ferulic acid, usually in serum form, or professional treatments like LED light therapy, which are popular with people in this age group. Studies show that LED light therapy can promote skin healing, reduce UV damage and help treat acne and psoriasis.
40s and 50s
As we age, the collagen in our skin starts to break down. Collagen is the most abundant protein in the body and it helps keep our connective tissues strong. It’s an important component not only of skin, but bones, muscles, tendons and cartilage. People in their 50s and 60s may choose to incorporate richer moisturisers and more potent serums into their skin care routines.
And a fun fact: collagen isn’t just in our skin. It’s present all throughout our bodies, including our gut and studies are underway to determine whether it’s worth taking collagen supplements for gut health. Stay tuned!
60s and beyond
This is the time when many people who menstruate will have gone through menopause. At this age, there is less oestrogen in the body and less collagen production. People can help to keep their skin hydrated by drinking plenty of water and using good quality moisturisers.
A healthier skin care routine involves changing the types of products you use at different ages and taking care of your overall health
Skin care isn’t just skin deep
Skin health is so much more than what we look like: some people experience skin concerns that they can’t address with a simple skin care routine. By treating our skin as the valuable organ it is, we can start to work towards a healthier skin care routine – both inside and out.
Are you worried about your skin health? Speak to your healthcare professional, and they may be able to help you identify and treat the problem.
Related:
Gabbie Watt is a Naturopath and is passionate about blending evidence-based practice and traditional natural medicine into her approach. With experience previously working as a Radiation Therapist, Gabbie’s professional background in conventional medicine has been instrumental in shaping her holistic approach to health.
Reviewed by healthylife health experts February 2023.
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