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Understanding the Link Between Choice of Skincare and Skin Health

Everyday skincare choices shape the health of your skin.
Inappropriate products - often chosen through trial and error or online hype - can weaken the skin’s natural barrier, leading to irritation, breakouts, or long-term issues.

By understanding the link between skincare choices and skin health, you can adopt a routine that supports your skin’s resilience, defence, and radiance while avoiding unnecessary damage caused by detrimental practices.

How This Can Present on the Skin

Poor skincare choices can result in:

• Barrier disrepair: Redness, dryness, and sensitivity caused by over-exfoliation, harsh cleansers, or unsuitable actives.

• Increased breakouts: Triggered by occlusive products or ingredients that disrupt the skin’s microbiome.

• Premature ageing: Caused by lack of adequate UV protection or ineffective moisturisation.

• Persistent skin conditions: Mismanagement of eczema, rosacea, or acne due to inappropriate or overly fragranced products.

Tips for Choosing Skincare Products for Healthier Skin

• Avoid detrimental additives: Opt for products free of unnecessary preservatives, colourants, and fragrances, as these can irritate the skin.

(Explore more in [Happy Home, Happy Skin].)

• Don’t guess: Avoid basing your choices on advice from friends, influencers, or social media trends. A tailored approach is key.

• Support your skin barrier: Select products designed to protect, strengthen, and maintain the skin’s natural defence system.

• Choose intentional sun protection: Use high-quality, broad-spectrum UV sunscreen daily to prevent damage.

(Explore more in [Happy Sun, Happy Skin].)

• Ignore fancy packaging: Focus on the product’s formulation and function, not its aesthetic appeal.

• Consider professional skincare: When you're next replacing a product, choose something professionally recommended and tailored to your unique skin type, condition, and needs. Skin-compatible products are more effective, kinder to your skin, and often more cost-effective over time.

Need Advice?

A qualified skin therapist, such as a corneotherapist - trained in skin barrier care, can guide you in selecting tailored skincare products to meet your skin’s unique needs. With the right advice, you can avoid common pitfalls and focus on maintaining a healthier, more resilient complexion.

Is There Public National Guidance on the Effect of Skincare Products on Skin Health?

Not really. While the NHS and UK dermatology organisations offer advice for managing specific conditions - like avoiding MCI/MI preservatives in sensitive skin - there is no broad, practical national guidance for the general public on caring for different skin types or maintaining a healthy skin barrier in everyday life.

This creates a gap. In the absence of consistent, trusted information, it’s understandable that the beauty and aesthetics industry steps in. But without a clear national framework, people are often left to navigate mixed messages - about ingredients, routines, and what 'healthy skin' really looks like.

The Skin Well™ believes this matters. Skincare advice should be accessible, evidence-informed, and focused on long-term skin health, not just trends or product launches. What if national guidance helped set the standard - so everyone had a clearer path to care for their skin?

Trusted Sources:

Avoid Harsh or Unnecessary Additives:

• British Association of Dermatologists – Contact Dermatitis
  https://www.skinhealthinfo.org.uk/a-z-conditions-treatments/contact-dermatitis/
  Advises avoiding known skin irritants and certain additives, which can contribute to inflammation, dryness, or allergic reactions.

Choose Evidence-Based Skincare:

• British Skin Foundation – Navigating Social Media Advice
  https://www.britishskinfoundation.org.uk/blog/navigating-social-media-separating-fact-from-fiction-with-dermatological-advice
  Warns against following skincare trends without clinical backing, as misinformation online can worsen skin conditions.

• British Association of Dermatologists (BAD) – Public Skin Health Information
  www.skinhealthinfo.org.uk
  Offers a wide range of expert-led information on maintaining healthy skin, including advice on managing common conditions and protecting the skin barrier.

Strengthen and Support the Skin Barrier:

• Professional Beauty – Winter Skincare Tips
  https://professionalbeauty.co.uk/winter-skincare-tips-for-healthy-skin
  Recommends barrier-supportive ingredients like ceramides, oils, and antioxidants to nourish and protect the skin.

Use Sun Protection Daily:

• NHS – Sunscreen and Sun Safety
  https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/seasonal-health/sunscreen-and-sun-safety/
  Recommends using sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher and 4-star UVA protection to reduce the risk of skin cancer and premature ageing.

Don’t Rely on Trends or Packaging:

• Professional Beauty – Product Overload
  https://professionalbeauty.co.uk/site/newsdetails/product-overload-breaking-the-vicious-cycle
  Explores the risks of overusing active ingredients and following confusing, trend-driven advice instead of a tailored skincare plan.