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Chapter 1: What makes skincare routines feel overwhelming?
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Brands create a lot of noise in the skincare space. Like you can't just go to the store and buy a simple moisturizer. There's a dozen different choices, it seems, from every single brand. And just to figure out what you need for your skin, you have to wade through it all. It's super confusing and complicated.
Hey, it's Mariel Segarra. And today we're talking about skincare and how it's actually not as complicated as many brands make it seem. Kelly Walsh is a health journalist who also reports on wellness and lifestyle topics. And she has been deep in the weeds reporting a special newsletter series for LifeGit about skincare. Kelly, welcome to the show.
Hey, thanks for having me. What was your relationship to skincare before you started reporting on this? Um, I used a gentle cleanser because my skin can be sensitive, a moisturizer, and then sun protection in the form of sunscreen, you know, ridiculously big hats and scarves and sometimes long sleeves.
And then a few years ago, I started using a vitamin C serum because I'd heard it was good for brightening skin and mine was starting to look dull. And I think it helped, but it's expensive. The truth is I didn't feel very savvy about skincare and I actually had some FOMO around it.
Like I'd see these other women in their 50s and they would have this bright, dewy, shiny, buoyant skin and I'd be like, what do they know that I don't? What are they using? So every once in a while, I'd go down the rabbit hole and I'd buy some new product and usually I'd stop using it after a few weeks because either I didn't like the way it felt or I didn't think it was making a difference.
When I started this series, I discovered I had 10 different skincare products and only used four of them.
Wow. Okay, yeah, the rest were just sitting there on the shelf. Yeah, the skincare graveyard. So for the newsletter, you talked to a bunch of skincare experts, dermatologists, researchers, and it sounds like you got a lot more confident in your skincare routine.
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Chapter 2: How did the guest's skincare routine evolve over time?
Here's what New York dermatologist Michelle Henry has to say about this.
I think we are getting to a place where our aesthetic goals are kind of beyond what healthy skin is. So just because you don't have glass skin doesn't mean your skin's not healthy. Just because you don't have wrinkle-free, rosy skin does not mean it's not healthy, right? Just because you have large pores does not mean it's unhealthy.
So it is important to categorize what is aesthetic and what is truly the health of your skin. And healthy skin is comfortable, functional skin. skin. Yeah.
I've noticed like it actually improves my life significantly when I just put moisturizer on because I feel like I'm like I can move my body a little better. You know, that feels like it falls into the category of healthy skin.
Yes. Everybody I spoke with talked about moisturizer as being one of the most effective products you can use on your skin. Just moisturizer alone without all the extras.
Yeah, what are the main pieces of advice that the experts gave for how to have healthy skin particularly?
So it's easy to forget that skin is an organ, right? It's a living, dynamic part of your body. And everything that you do to support your overall health is going to support the health of your skin. So good nutrition, getting enough sleep, exercising, not smoking, all those things. Beyond that, it doesn't require much. Here's what Mayo Clinic dermatologist and researcher Serena Wiles has to say.
From a skin health standpoint, it's really two key ingredients. You just have to keep your skin moisturized and you have to keep your skin protected from UV with sunscreen. Now, of course, sunscreen is just one part of the equation when we talk about sun protection. Hats, scarves, long sleeves, seeking out shade, avoiding sun when the UV rays are strongest are equally important.
But those two products, I mean, moisturizer and sunscreen, they're supporting skin's primary function, which is to serve as a barrier that protects us from the outside world. And dry skin, which is more common as we age, threatens that barrier. So does UV radiation.
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Chapter 3: What are the essential products for healthy skin?
If you want plumper skin, use these. Kelly also talks more about medical interventions and what specifically a dermatologist can do for you on that front. And much more. You can sign up at npr.org slash skincare. And the link is also in our episode description. All right, now it's time for a recap.
Takeaway one, if your primary concern is healthy, comfortable, functional skin, you don't need much. Use a gentle cleanser, a moisturizer, and sunscreen along with other sun protection like hats, scarves, sunglasses. Those are the basics. Takeaway two, aesthetics. If you want to limit some signs of aging, sunscreen and moisturizer, great place to start.
But there are other topical ingredients too, like for brighter, smoother looking skin, look for products with antioxidants and exfoliants.
Chapter 4: What does it mean to have healthy skin?
For fewer fine lines, look for products with retinoids. You can get the less powerful version over the counter and the more powerful but also potentially more irritating version by prescription. If you have mild acne, you can use over-the-counter topicals, but if it's more severe, see a dermatologist.
Takeaway three, when it comes to skincare, more expensive does not necessarily mean more effective. You can get products that work in your price range. And takeaway four, there's only so much that over-the-counter topicals can do to change your face. And while we think you're beautiful just as you are... This is about what you want and what you're comfortable with.
So if you're looking for more results, again, see your dermatologist. This episode of Life Kit was produced by Claire Marie Schneider. It was edited by Rebecca Ramirez, and our digital editor is Malika Gharib. Our visuals editor is CJ Rikalan. Megan Cain is our senior supervising editor, and Lauren Gonzalez is our executive producer. Our production team also includes Andy Tagle.
Margaret Serino, and Sylvie Douglas. Engineering support comes from Tiffany Vera Castro. Fact-checking by Saciel Davis Vasquez. I'm Mariel Segarra. Thanks for listening.
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