In our endless search to find the best versions of ourselves, it can be difficult to separate the products that work from those that overpromise. Understanding the unique characteristics that make up your Skin and the outside factors that impact it are the first steps to discovering the skin care solutions that will have the greatest benefit to the health of your skin.

Skin is very complex, but there are several key areas that we can influence to help our skin stay radiant and youthful for as long as possible. In this article, we will look at internal and external factors that have an effect on our skin, as well as a few things to look for when creating your ideal skincare routine for the best results. Resources for evaluating skincare ingredient toxicity and more are also included in this article.

Understanding your Skin Type

Though it’s not an exact skin science, knowing your skin type based on your genetic makeup will help you quickly determine greater risk areas and how to defend your beautiful skin properly.

In addition to genetics, Internal factors also include things like hormones. We have little control over our hormones, but there are ways we can work with them and our skin rather than fight against them. Hormones known to affect the skin are impacted most by age (puberty), sleep, diet, and exercise. We will look at these external factors in the next section.

It is also important to note that how our genetics and hormones impact our skin will evolve over time. So what has worked for us in the past won't always work forever. Understanding how different skin types age and what signs to look for will help us find effective treatments that meet our skin's changing needs.

Making Choices to Support Skin Health

External factors like environmental free radicals, diet, and lifestyle habits all play a big role in our skin health. You’ve heard it all before but it is worth repeating again.

Before you reach for harsh skin care products or spend hundreds of dollars on skin care solutions that may or may not work, look for simple ways to improve your skin through adjustments to your daily routine.

Lifestyle choices that support skin health:

• Using SPF daily
• Drinking plenty of water
• 8-hrs of quality sleep nightly
• Eating a mixed diet of whole fruits, vegetables, & lean protein
• Maintaining regular personal hygiene

Using SPF Daily

The American Cancer Society recommends choosing a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher. It is also important to read the label carefully for the expiration date and to note how frequently you should be reapplying.

Protecting your skin from UV damage should be a top priority of everyone's skincare routine. By regularly applying SPF, you can minimize dozens of skin issues, including the appearance of fine lines, age spots, or the chance of having basal cell carcinoma, a common type of skin cancer.

Drinking plenty of water

Though water alone cannot erase crows feet or other visible signs of aging, it can help prolong their development and contribute to your overall health. Things like environmental factors and activity level will impact how much water is needed to maintain your optimal hydration levels. Click here to estimate your specific water intake.

8-hrs of quality sleep nightly

The nighttime hours are when the skin undergoes the majority of its regeneration and natural healing. The same is true for many other restorative bodily functions. When you get a good night's rest, it not only benefits your skin but your whole body.

Eating a mixed diet of whole fruits, vegetables, & lean protein

We all know eating mindfully is important for a healthy lifestyle but it's not just about watching your calorie intake or balancing fats and carbohydrates.

Whole fruits, vegetables and lean proteins will have higher levels of vitamins and minerals essential for maintaining many bodily functions like supporting the immune system and glands responsible for hormone production.

Maintaining regular personal hygiene

Remember to always wash off any makeup before bed and shower daily to prevent and minimize skin blemishes like blackheads, rough patches, pimples, and acne.

Using mild cleansers and once or twice weekly exfoliation followed by a moisturizer is all you need to keep your skin looking and feeling great.

Selecting the best Skin Care Products for Skin Health

In order to create the very best skin care ritual, it is wise to know what types of ingredients may be detracting from your skin and those that are most beneficial and proven to have amazing results.

Unscented Skin Care Products

Many skin care products, luxury and drugstore brands, include use synthetic fragrances in their formulations. These fragrances are known to cause irritation to the skin, but it is difficult to pinpoint exactly what about them irritates the skin.

Synthetic fragrances are made of hundreds of different chemicals in small amounts, so listing fragrance or perfume as an ingredient doesn't provide a full disclosure of all the potentially harmful or irritating chemicals.

Choosing unscented products is an easy way to reduce the number of chemicals your skin is exposed to.

Ph Balanced Products

Your skin naturally maintains its own unique biome that allows it to function regularly. When your biome and natural pH are disturbed it can lead to a domino effect of unwanted skin troubles like a breakdown in the skin's natural moisture barrier, loss of healthy skin bacterial that can lead to dermatitis or folliculitis, excess oil secretion, uneven skin tone, and more.

Choosing products with balanced pH levels helps your skin continue its natural functions with as little disruption as possible.

Opt for Gentle Skin Care Solutions over Harsh Formulas

When we’re suffering from poor skin health it can be tempting to want to eliminate the issue as quickly as possible by opting for ‘extra strength’ or concentrated formulas promising to be the ideal skin solution.

However, many of these strong formulas may do more harm than good. The litany of chemicals may in fact treat the issue, like acne, but also have side effects like being overly drying or increasing the sensitivity of the skin to sun exposure.

So before you reach for strong formulas, it is always recommended to seek medical advice from your dermatologist and take a look at other external factors that could be detracting from your natural beauty.

Best Skin Care Available on Amazon

Below are several personal care products available on Amazon shown to have the lowest toxicity and skin hazard scores based on current scientific findings. These items were selected based on the ingredient ratings from INCI Decoder and EWG’s Skin Deep database.

Always consult your dermatologist and health care provider to ensure the products you’re using are safe for your specific skin type. As an Amazon associate simplylivinghappy.com earns from qualifying purchases.

Eucerin Advanced Cleansing Body & Face Cleanser

Everyone 3-in-1 Soap

Honest Mega Moisture Duo

Avalon Organics Thickening Shampoo & Conditioner

Honest Beauty Gel to Milk Facial Cleanser

Honest Beauty Hydrogel Cream

Amazon Aware Balancing Facial Moisturizer

Amazon Aware Nourishing Body Cream

Honest Beauty Makeup Removing Wipes

Developing a Your Personalized Skincare Routine

Establishing healthy lifestyle habits, continually educating yourself, and consulting your dermatologist or healthcare providers is the best way to build a skincare routine that is simple yet comprehensive. This trifecta will ensure you find the best skin care solutions no matter your situation. Research and testing of products is ongoing so make sure you check ingredient lists and databases frequently before making your next purchase. Below are a few of our favorite resources to date.

Skincare Resources

Don’t just take ours, any other wellness blog, or brands, word for it. Check the ingredients list of your cosmetics and skincare products so you can pick the safest products to add to your easy skincare routine.

Knowledge is power and we want you to have the power to make informed decisions no matter what you’re purchasing. Many of the resources listed below are independent organizations with a mission to hold the beauty and personal care industry to the highest standard through rigorous clinical testing and analysis.

Skin Care Ingredient Checker - INCI

Just type in the brand or product name to see a list of the ingredients included and their purpose. Ingredients are listed with skin irritation warnings and benefits. If you start to notice particular ingredients or a group of ingredients that look most beneficial, you can also search for products known to include those ingredients, making it very easy to determine what products you may want to purchase next or those you may want to remove from your existing skincare routine.

EWG’s Personal Care Product Database

Similar to INCI the EWG’s database includes thousands of products, including fragrances, haircare, and baby products. You may be shocked by the number of big-name brands with hazard scores on their list.

Clearya- Browser Extension

How about being notified as you shop online if a product lists known toxic or harmful chemicals in its ingredients list? Now, you can by installing the Clearya extension. As you browse popular online retailers like Amazon, Target, Sephora, and more, you will be given a notice if the product you're viewing contains known harmful or toxic ingredients. Using this extension is especially helpful for finding the best skin solutions for sensitive skin.

Chemicals of Concern

This list is designed to inform consumers about common ingredients in cosmetic and skin care products that may be linked to health concerns like cancer, genetic disruption, hormone imbalance, and more.

Bottom Line

Drawing precise correlations between skin issues and their cause isn’t easy, but there are simple steps you can take along your skincare journey to choose the best treatments for healthier skin.

Maintaining a balanced lifestyle, including diet, exercise, sleep, and hydration, paired with good hygiene and a regular skincare routine, will give you the greatest benefits for your skin health.

We hope this article has helped you feel more confident and informed about actions you can take in your everyday life and when selecting the best products known to nourish skin.