By: Agoo Bengzon
Taking care of your skin is a little like eating—stick to moderation, and things will turn out all right. Often times, there’s a tendency to overdo things because in our minds we think: “the more, the better.” When it comes to skin care though, this almost always isn’t true. Take for instance the application of eye cream. A tiny amount goes a long way because eye creams are made that way—they’re potent enough to target wrinkles, and you don’t need too much product to cover such a tiny area. The end result of applying too much eye cream on such a thin and fragile area of skin can lead to bumps under the skin, almost like tiny whiteheads. The reason this happens is because the excess product gets trapped under the thin layer of skin.
Another skin care step that tends to be overdone is exfoliation. It’s true—skin does need to be exfoliated at least once or twice a week, but daily exfoliation just seems a bit too much since our skin naturally sheds dead skin cells on its own. Your choice of exfoliant is also a huge factor. Opt for those with gentle microbeads that are gentle on skin but tough on grime.
However, there are times when a little is just that—too little. I’m talking about SPF application. A sun protection product is perhaps the single most important product to have because most beauty experts will agree that UVA rays, aka the “aging” rays, will be largely responsible for your wrinkles, sun spots and overall aging. It’s important to note that not all SPF products are created equal. Aside from a minimum of SPF 30 (SPF 15 just won’t cut it anymore these days), look out for the ones that have “Pa+” or a Protection Grade of UVA in their formula—the more plus signs, the better. These plus signs indicate that the product shows very good protective abilities against UVA rays. After you’ve found the perfect SPF product, it’s a must for you to know how much to apply. Most people apply too little and not often enough, and this often results to burning or worse—premature lines and pigmentation years after. The right amount is at least a teaspoon for the entire face and neck, and this should be reapplied every 2-3 hours if you’re swimming.
All in all, proper skin care habits also have a lot to do with gut-feel. If you sense that you’re overdoing something, stop or turn it down a notch, and if you feel like your skin needs help or an extra boost, then it’s time to experiment with other brands or try out techniques. More importantly though, try to have fun with the whole regimen. Skin care should never feel like a chore—otherwise, you will end up purposely forgetting to attend to it.
