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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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Skincare summary
Caroline Hirons
The Ultimate No-Nonsense Guide
21 mins
Topics
Table of Contents
Skincare
Summary of 8 key ideas
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Key idea 1 of 8
Understanding skin is the first step to understanding skincare.
Ask any skincare obsessive about her favorite serum, and she’ll be sure to tell you all about it – from the brand that makes it and the active ingredients it contains, to whether or not it’s perfumed, organic, and cruelty-free.
But what about the skin on which the serum is applied?
Here’s the thing: Whether you’re new to the world of skincare or you’re a pro who knows your peptides from your retinoids, understanding skincare doesn’t begin with understanding products or regimes. It begins with understanding skin.
The key message here is: Understanding skin is the first step to understanding skincare.
The first thing you should know is that your skin is an organ, just like your heart and your lungs. In fact, it’s your body’s largest organ. And, just like other organs, it works hard to keep your body functioning at its best.
Your skin acts as both a barrier that keeps essential nutrients inside the body and as a shield that keeps nasty toxins and pollutants from the external environment outside the body.
It moderates your temperature by opening and closing blood vessels and through perspiration, which also expels bodily waste, like ammonia and salt.
And your skin produces melanin to protect you from sun damage, and makes vitamin D, which is essential for keeping your bones and organs in tip-top shape.
Now that we know what the skin does, let’s consider what the skin is.
There are three distinct layers to skin. The topmost layer is the epidermis, which is made up of skin cells called keratinocytes. Right on the surface are squamous cells, which eventually die and are shed by the skin. But not to worry! Basal cells are constantly generated at the bottom of the epidermis, and they migrate upwards through the epidermis to replace the dead skin. The whole cycle takes approximately a month.
Beneath the epidermis is the dermis. It’s here that we find collagen and elastin, the connective tissues that help skin keep its shape. Then there’s the subcutaneous layer, located beneath the dermis and made up of more fat and tissue.
The tissues in the dermis and the subcutaneous layer degrade with age, leading to wrinkles and dryness. Unfortunately, over-the-counter products that claim to treat these concerns aren’t all they’re cracked up to be. That’s because oils and serums can only ever target the epidermis. The only way to get to the dermis is with treatments like filler and botox.
Clearly, your skin is a complex and hardworking organ. All the more reason to love the skin you’re in!
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What is Skincare about?
Skincare (2020) is the perfect primer on achieving and maintaining good skin. Whatever your age, budget, or skincare concerns, it offers the no-nonsense advice you need to nail your routine and put your best face forward.
Who should read Skincare?
- Skincare newbies who need a straightforward beauty guide
- Serum obsessives who want to level-up their daily routine
- Makeup mavens who want to perfect their canvas
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