S.fold the skincare and cosmetics through the eyes of science but in a way understandable to all, it is not absolutely simple: Maria Pia Priore, cosmetologist, entrepreneur and popularizer, is well aware of this, who every day undertakes to share all her knowledge on beauty products, from a formative point of view.
His new book, published by Mondadori, is a complete guide on how to take care of your skin: the ingredients to be used in synergy, those not to be mixed and the whole truth about skin aging.
“Skincare for all”: i universal gestures for all skin types
“The essential and necessary steps are: cleansing, exfoliation (the frequency of use depends on the product you are applying), hydration with a face cream and sun protection “, begins to explain Maria Pia Priore, cosmetologist and founder of the Skin First brand.
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“All the skincare products can be widely used by every person, regardless of gender, for the simple reason that skin is skin. Men may have it more oily but there is no particular reason why a product for men’s oily skin cannot also be used on women’s skin and vice versa.
I always recommend to choose skincare products based on your skin type and not on the basis of one’s gender. What really matters is what our face needs. And if you are wondering what the real difference is between skincare products targeted for female or male consumers, the answer lies solely in the packaging and perfume.
In fact, we all should perform daily skincare in order to keep the skin in good conditionhydrated and luminous ».
Skincare trends, does skin care also follow trends?
“Absolutely yes. Now, for example, there is that of “Clean beauty”: used as claim to point out anything that is devoid of certain ingredients deemed harmful to us and the environment.
The truth is that this claim, although it has become a trend, is meaningless and has no scientific basis. All cosmetic ingredients are safe and evaluated by the Scientific Committee for Consumer Safety (SCCS) before and during the placing on the market. In Europe there is the Regulation (EC) 1223/2009 on cosmetics which protects the health of consumers.
Better set aside fashions and prefer products that are formulated with functional substances, really supported by scientific research “.
The ingredients to be used in synergy
“There are some combinations of functional ingredients that if present in a skincare routine offer greater benefits to our skin. For example, toHyaluronic acid and ceramides donate a boost from hydration and improve skin elasticity.
Or the niacinamide together with salicylic acid: they are the perfect duo for counteract impurities and refine enlarged pores. While peptides and retinol they can be used together because stimulate cell turnover and the synthesis of collagen counteracting aging », Maria Pia Priore specifies.
And the couplings to avoid
«It would be better not to combine them exfoliating acids (alpha-hydroxy acids or beta-hydroxy acids) with the retinol, as being very performing substances they could make the skin more dry and sensitive.
Or the exfoliating acids with Vitamin C, especially if the product has an acid pH, for the same reasons mentioned above. Furthermore, in a same routine skincare no longer need to apply exfoliating products at the same time so as not to stress the skin ».
Skincare: the steps to always take
“Regardless of your skin type, the cleansing that eliminates dirt and excess sebum“.
«The key is balance. TOin the morning, after cleansing, I recommend cosmetic products with moisturizing and antioxidant active ingredients. In the evening, however, active with a purifying action such as niacinamide “.
Combination, dry and oily skin, the musts not to be forgotten
Each type of skin then needs ad hoc care. “THE must have for dry skin are: moisturizing serum, for example with hyaluronic acid and ceramidesemollient face cream and oil.
While for the mixed skin you have to focus differently on the different areas of the face, alternating products with purifying action to reduce the production of excessive sebum in the T area and moisturizing products to combat dryness in others.
Finally, for the oily skin I recommend a chemical exfoliator formulated with salicylic acid as it is capable of penetrating inside the pores to free them from what obstructs them.
Don’t forget that the oily skin needs hydration“.
Skincare: the most common mistakes
«Taking care of your skin does not only mean having a good skincare routine, but also paying attention to do not make certain mistakes or believe false skincare myths “.
Among the skincare mistakes to avoid: washing face with hand soap, do not remove make-up in the evening, squeeze pimples, and do not apply sunscreen“.
And the false myths
“While among the false myths many really believe that the skin you breathe. The skin has no respiratory function since the most superficial skin layer is “dead”. It is in fact oxygenated by the blood vessels located in the dermis, the skin layer that is located below the epidermis.
Or that the skin that can get used to skincare products: The truth is that the skin does not create immunity to skincare products over time.
Finally, the quintessential false myth is that the tonic rebalances the skin pH. Nothing could be more wrong: the skin independently manages to rebalance its pH.
Also, nowadays, face cleansers on the market are formulated to respect it»Concludes the expert.
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