The skin peels off on its own
Don't worry, your skin won't just be full of "dead" cells. Once the corneocytes reach their target, the skin peels off through "natural secretion called desquamation," says certified dermatologist Joshua Zeichner. The cycle from formation to desquamation lasts the average skin for 28 days. This process is activated by enzymes in the body that remove the bonds between the corneocytes and the barrier.
Your microbiome - a symbiotic collection of 1 trillion bacteria, fungi, viruses, and other microorganisms that live in and on your skin - offers another kind of completely natural care for yourself. Some bacteria "eat as much dead skin as possible," writes dermatologist Monty Lyman in The Remarkable Life of the Skin. Corneocytes can then be considered natural prebiotics (substances that nourish bacteria) because they feed on your natural probiotics (living bacteria living in the microbiome), which in turn produce postbiotics (beneficial substances that these living bacteria do not excrete, such as the ceramides and antimicrobial peptides). .). Incidentally, ointment is also a natural prebiotic. Bacteria absorb it, so you balance the oil level
The skin protects itself
In nature, the skin is easily affected by external aggressors such as pathogens, pollution, and sunlight. Don't worry: She has her own protection up to a scientific tank of sour hair on her face. The acid mantle is thought to be a microbiome product, "it is made up of natural oils and amino acids that form a protective film that covers the skin," says Icecreamwala. Sweat also contributes to the acid mantle and helps it maintain a pH of about 4.4 - the ideal level for neutralizing opportunistic bacteria, viruses, and more.
Lipids from the skin surface also reduce the effects of pollution. Antioxidant vitamin E and omega-3 fatty acids can reduce oxidative stress caused by free radicals. In addition, research shows that P. acnes - commonly and illegally known as the "acne-causing bacteria" - produces antioxidant proteins that protect against free radical damage.
The skin heals on its own
"The skin is a unique organ that heals itself from trauma," Zeichner said. When the skin is injured — whether in the form of a crack or wound, sunburn, exposure to free radicals, or an infected area — the skin kicks in — the complex healing process of "recruiting" certain cellular care from the injured area begins, Icecreamwala explains. "One type of these cells is the fibroblast, which produces collagen and elastin to replace damaged skin." In the event of sun damage, the skin sends enzymes and egg proteins to the damaged cells to begin DNA repair. The skin barrier also has natural photoprotective properties that help protect against the sun in the first place. (But help your skin with sunscreen - it's a traditional product that dermatologists advise you to use.)
The skin cleanses itself
Your lymphatic system constantly removes skin cells from waste products and toxins. Of course, you also have pore cleaners: sweat and sebum, which "wash" the pores as they flow, suppressing the formation and neutralization of opportunistic bacteria. Like almost all creatures on Earth, you want to wash away from time to time. The water is just fine. Skin irritation may cause irritation
"We don't use a lot of products at the moment, and yet our skin hasn't really gotten worse," says Elsa Jungman, a dermatologist and microbiome specialist. "The more ingredients we use, the more we damage our skin barrier and microbiome, and the more we remove the essential nutrients [that are needed] to function properly" - aka all-natural cosmetic chemicals. This can lead to the onset of inflammatory conditions such as acne, rosacea, eczema, and psoriasis, leading to the use of more products to correct the problems caused by the first products, over and over again.
As such, your skin sometimes needs support (or your brain needs a fun day at the spa). Several selected products may be good. In general, it should speed up the proper functioning of your skin, instead of fighting it with smooth and radiant suppleness. My personal routine consists of cleansing with manual honey, a prebiotic that nourishes the microbiome and using mineral SPF to protect the skin from sun damage. If I need to remove sunscreen or makeup, I usually use jojoba oil because it is a chemical that is very similar to human sebum. Jojoba is also an excellent moisturizer when applied to wet skin, so I use it when my face is dry. Your routine may vary depending on your body's unique needs and any health issues you need to address. (And definitely check your moles.)
Giving up (mostly) skincare looks scary, but that doesn't mean you reject "good skin". After a cycle of 28 days without products, your microbiome will multiply, your natural skin functions will regulate and you will probably find that you do not need those 10 steps, five or even two. A self-sufficient amalgam of oil and water and squalene and ceramides, which means it does not help the skin glow.