A Scientific Guide to Skincare

Skincare has taken over the internet in the 2020s. Wherever you go, you canÕt escape its wrath. Targeted ads making otherworldly promises are everywhere, and buying a moisturizer has never been overwhelming.

Like any other health regimen, you need products and skincare advice that is backed by science and free from any ingredients that might be potentially harmful to your skin health.

Examine your skin type

To determine your skin needs, you need to identify your skin concerns through your skin type.

• If your skin feels tight and rough, you probably have dry skin.

• If your skin produces a lot of oil and is prone to acne, you probably have oily skin.

• If your skin feels normal and hydrated and has no specific texture concerns, you have normal skin.

• If you have dry patches on your skin and have an oily T-zone (Forehead, nose, and chin) you have combination skin.

• If your skin reacts harshly to weather changes, environmental factors, new products, and strong ingredients, you have sensitive skin.

Identify your skin concerns

By correctly identifying your skin concerns, you will be able to seek treatment for them accordingly.

Dry skin: Dry skin typically suffers from dehydration, rough texture, and flaking skin. Try and incorporate hydrating ingredients into your routine that nourish and moisturize your skin.

Oily Skin: Excess sebum production causes skin to break out often and leads to clogged and infected pores. Try and incorporate products that adequately cleanse your skin, control sebum production, and do not disrupt the oil balance.

Normal Skin: Although not prone to any specific texture issues, you should use products that protect your skin barrier and follow a short and effective skincare routine to keep your skin looking healthy.

Combination Skin: To take care of combination skin, you must incorporate products that are hydrating, for the dry patches on your face and adopt products with actives to treat the oil balance of your pores. Special care must be taken to select products since ingredients that deal with oily skin can be extremely drying.

Ingredient checklist

With the abundance of ingredients being touted on the market, it can be confusing to figure out what might be beneficial and what might be harmful to your skin. WeÕve broken down some categories to simplify the process and simplify your skincare journey.

Ingredients to Embrace:

Vitamin C: Enriched with incredible antioxidant and anti-microbial properties, Vitamin C has incredible anti-aging properties, boosts collagen production, eases inflammation, hydrates the skin, and works to reverse sun damage. Vitamin C also fades hyperpigmentation, dark spots, and acne scars. ItÕs a powerhouse ingredient that can help ease a lot of skin problems if used properly.

Hyaluronic Acid: A natural humectant, Hyaluronic Acid helps the skin retain moisture on the surface and provides deep hydration. It also improves the flexibility of the skin and prevents fine lines and wrinkles. It also promotes wound healing and reduces scarring.

Niacinamide: An incredibly popular ingredient, Niacinamide supports the skin barrier, provides hydration, prevents water loss, and helps balance skin oils. Niacinamide brightens the skin and improves the appearance of uneven skin tone, wrinkles, fine lines, and large pores.

Tea Tree Oil: Enriched with anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, and antimicrobial properties, Tea Tree Oil is a fantastic ingredient to incorporate into your routine. It eases inflammation and treats active acne while preventing it from reoccurring. It helps soothe skin irritation and redness and promotes skin healing.

Ingredients to Avoid:

Mineral Oil:Commonly found in creams and lotions, mineral oil is comedogenic, i.e. it can clog your pores and lead to blackheads and acne. It should not be used often or over time, as it can disrupt the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K.

Parabens: They are synthetic compounds used to preserve the shelf life of products, but they have been linked to cancer, allergies, fertility problems, and hormonal disruptions. Although present in small quantities, exposure to parabens over time can have detrimental effects.

Alcohol: Often labelled as ethanol, methanol, denatured alcohol, or ethyl alcohol, alcohol might be sneaking under your eye and into your skincare routine. It is typically found in astringent, lotions, serums, and moisturizers. Alcohol in products can dry out your skin and erode its structural integrity. It also stimulates oil production, which can be particularly harmful to acne-prone skin.

Phthalates: Often found in makeup and skincare for preserving their shelf life, phthalates are dangerous chemicals that have been linked to respiratory, neurological, behavioural, and fertility problems and must be avoided at all costs.

You must carefully examine the ingredients present in any new products you incorporate into your skincare routine and even consult your dermatologist before introducing any strong ingredients or retinoids into your routine.

Skincare backed by Science Ð Psychodermatology and SEREKO

At the forefront of skincare science, Psychodermatology has emerged as the combined study of Psychology and Dermatology. While psychology is concerned with the internal state of the body and dermatology examines the external state of the skin, Psychodermatology explores the symbiotic connection of the skin and mind.

Acute and chronic stress levels can wreak havoc on the skinÕs overall health. Pre-existing skin conditions like psoriasis, rosacea, dermatitis, and recurring acne are exacerbated by the bodyÕs chemical response to stress.

IndiaÕs first Psychodermatology skincare brandSEREKObelieves that the skin and mind are deeply connected and aims to resolve stress and skin problems. SEREKO has an entire range of skincare and nutraceuticals equipped with their psychodermatology blend of plant-powered active ingredients, NeuroCalm¨.

NeuroCalm¨ works to lower cortisol levels, increase serotonin output, and target skin concerns like recurring acne, hyperpigmentation, and acne scarring. Within 2 weeks of application, NeuroCalm¨-infused products bring down cortisol levels by 70% and improve tolerance towards painful acne by 55%. It has also been found to stimulate collagen production in the skin and improve the protection of skin sensitivity by 33%.

Building a Skincare Routine- Products to Consider

The best way to take care of your skin is to curate a simple yet easy-to-follow skincare routine that is designed to address your specific skin needs and to consistently follow it for healthy, nourished, and radiant-looking skin.

Cleanser:Cleansing your skin is an essential step. It removes all the dirt, sweat, dead skin, and debris from the surface of the skin and works to prevent infection or acneremoves all the dirt and sweat accumulated over the course of the day.

SEREKOÕs Clarifying Cleanser has a light foam texture that gently works to treat active and recurring acne, improves collagen production in the skin, and gives the skin an instant glow from the first wash.

Toner:As the second step of a skincare routine, toner refines and hydrates the skin targets any impurities left behindprovides deep hydration, and balances the skinÕs pH levels.

SEREKOÕs Clarifying Toner has antiseptic properties, improves moisture retention, and allows products to penetrate the deeper levels of the skin and work more effectively.

Serum:Enriched with active ingredients, serum targets specific skin concerns like excess oil and acne and refines skin texture.

SEREKOÕs Clarifying Serumis enriched with 15+ natural actives that gently refine the texture of your skin and boost collagen production while fighting skin issues like active acne, scarring, dark spots, hyperpigmentation, signs of aging, and skin dullness.

Moisturiser:The last step in any good skincare routine, Moisturiser locks in all other products, provides skin hydration, and forms a sort of barrier between the skinÕs surface and outside impurities.

SEREKOÕsClarifying Face Moisturiseradditionally balances the skinÕs oils, deeply hydrates the skin without clogging pores, and fights active acne, hyperpigmentation, signs of aging, and reduces skin inflammation and redness.

A skincare routine equipped with products that are effective, gentle, safe, and backed by science is a recipe for healthy and radiant-looking skin. SEREKOÕs simple and versatile skincare routine consists of the building blocks of skincare- CTSM Ð Cleanser, Toner, Serum, and Moisturiser that can be adapted and tweaked to suit your skin needs.