skincare – Insha's Skinology

What do you mean by skincare ?

Skincare = Beauty!

With the emerging brands and products in the beauty industry, I see hardly anyone making difference between beauty and skincare.

So, what do you mean by skincare?.. Taking care of your skin.

Taking care of your physical wellbeing by exercising means you want to look beautiful and perfectly fitting to beauty standards, similarly doing skincare means you want to fit in, with beauty standards. This is what the reality of these terms have become. They are concluded and closely attached to the sigma of looking beautiful, looking perfect and appealing to the world and thats how it is promoted.

My question remains the same, what do you mean by skincare ?

Do you take bath to beauty yourself at first? or to keep yourself hygienic, well groomed. Do you eat daily to have perfect body? or to survive, to get energy. Why do you live the way you live ? Because that’s the way of life, then why when it comes to exercise, skincare, personal care becomes a beauty standard thing.

Beauty, Personality, Appearance are way further terms and aims for a person. First basic thing is to survive, be healthy, follow routine, be hygienically groomed. But when you see brands, market and influencers talking, you see them promoting it as the most important thing that has to done, they make you believe, that you have to some how fit in that beauty standard of Perfection.

Sadly perfect skin has become the goal of every girl and even guys today. And the huge beauty industry is helping you to get that by their endless products.

Firstly you are made to believe, then you are fooled

Similar patterns were seen with natural, ayurvedic and DIY culture. Sometimes the ingredients are not even that what they claim it to be. Perhaps, all of this is based on your insecurities and frustrations. And then there are those who straight away label them as beauty products and completely ignore the goodness it might provide.

So, I ask again.. What do you mean by skincare ? To some it’s an unachievable goal, and to some it’s a useless fantasy.

What do you mean by skincare ?
Insha

How to Use Epilator

There are two types of epilators in the market, corded and wireless. Both have the same functions but wireless can be used while taking shower, as corded once are for dry epilation. These come with multiple heads for particular areas of the body. So, use accordingly.

Attach the required head to the epilator and start the process of hair removal by holding the epilator at a 90-degree angle. Place the epilator just above the skin, do not press it against the skin, it will lead to injury if you do so. Start moving in the opposite direction of the hair growth, keep it slow and study. Don’t rush because you feeling pain. A little to moderate pain is expected as it removes the hair from the root. Do not repeat multiple times as it will cause dry skin and sometimes might cause scratches.

Pre-care steps: Scrub or exfoliate a day before epilation and apply moisturizer. Do not apply any cream, lotion, oil, or moisturizer while epilating. Just start directly, while in the process keep a cloth and aloe vera gel handy. Press down the skin with cloth and aloe vera gel.

After-care steps: Don’t scrub immediately after epilation, keep a gap of at least 1-2 days. After the epilation apply aloe vera gel, and let the skin be for about 4-6 hrs. Later a day after washing the skin with plain water and mild soap/facewash. Then apply moisturizer. Exfoliate after all the above steps, later in 2-3 days. To avoid any ingrown hair or pimples. Checkout the complete video of me doing the same process in detail on YouTube.

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Insha

Waxing Vs Epilator

Which is the best way to remove body hair at home?
Does it pain a lot?
What are the steps to follow?

Today I am going to talk about my best and most tested way to remove body hair at home.

Epilating :
Yes, there is a lot of confusion between waxing and epilating, as both involve high pain but are more effective in terms of hair growth. While trimming and using cosmetic creams doesn’t pain at all but the hair grows back within 2 weeks depending upon the person and thickness of the hair.

Whereas using wax strips and epilator reduce the time of hair growing back but many of us have difficulty choosing between them. And I’m sure many of us will go for waxing first as epilating sounds very painful, even though I did the same mistake. I further took it to the next level by forcing this method on myself, even after painful and unsatisfying results.

Here is why many would do the same, waxing is cheaper, applying warm wax seems that the pain will be less and it takes fewer attempts. But guys all of this is wrong, actually waxing is much more costly, more painful, and messy. Whereas epilating is much cheaper as 1 epilator would last around 3-5 yrs depending upon your usage.

It becomes less and less painful after a few uses. The skin of our body becomes stronger, identifies the sensation, and makes it bearable, after a certain time the thickness of hair reduces which makes it much less painful than the first few attempts. It’s not at all messy, super easy to use, and even removes small hair up to 3-5mm.

I have Philips 2 in one epilator with me. I have been using it for 2 years now and it is an amazing product. I got it for around rs.2800 or so, it may seem like a pretty big investment but it’s worth it. The build quality of the product is really good. it’s sturdy not so heavy, all the accessories are provided like a trimmer head, cleaning brush, head cap, and a simple cable.

It removes the smallest hair also, you don’t have to wait for the hairs to grow back up to a certain length as we do in waxing, it has 2-speed modes. You can start with less speed and gradually move to the next level for finer hair. The first few attempts seem very painful and scary so be relaxed and prep your skin a day before by scrubbing and applying some lotion.

Epilators are usually noisy and they does give a little bit of shake to your hand if you are not focused. After one attempt checks the area and goes 2nd time only if required. pat the skin with a hand or cool cloth and gently press down. apply aloe gel or any other cooling and calming gel.

Note:

Do not apply moisturizer or oil. You can try some talc powder to press down the redness and calm the traumatic skin.

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Insha

Top 5 facewashes for Oily Skin

In the monsoon, the skin becomes more oily, especially in coastal areas, and because of that, you might face extra skin problems like acne, blackheads, dust, and sebum. The oil cleansing facewashes present in the market make your skin drier and doesn’t work on actual skin issues. Hence I will share my top 5 facewashes that will work on these issues without drying out the skin the last one is the cheapest and my fav.

Kaya’s Skin Purifying facewash with 2% Salicylic Acid:

BHA is an amazing exfoliant to remove dirt and shade out other unhealthy skin cells and control sebum. I have used this for 6 months and it was my first ever BHA experience. it works amazingly and doesn’t dry out my skin. use sunscreen after this, it’s essential.

Beminimalist facewash with Mild Exfoliating Acids.

A combination of mild exfoliating acids in a very well-balanced formula. this product works very similarly to the kaya’s few. Again sunscreen is a must.

Aroma Magic Neem and Tea Tree Facewash:

It’s specified for oily skin. I used it for like 7-8 months, it work’s amazing, with natural ingredients, chemical-free, and strong herbs working on skin issues without causing any harm.

Rustic Art Juniper Berry Facewash:

It’s actually for dry skin but I think it will go very well for oily skin as I have used it for almost 6-7 months, it contains citrus with jojoba oil and other natural ingredients, it’s a kind of concentrate. cleanses very nicely and maintains the healthy natural oil of the skin. As its pure n natural patch test recommended.

Besan: DIY

Besan or Gram flour is a natural cleanser and exfoliant and we kind of going to make a DIY facewash with this ingredient. It is completely safe and doesn’t irritate or any other issue to the skin, the only reason you might avoid it is because of its drying property but I got a solution for that. mix it up with milk, honey, aloe vera, or malai all these moisturizing ingredients will balance the dryness making it the most amazing facewash ever. Do try it out and let me know how is it working for you guys.

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Insha

Best Skincare for Teenagers

Do you follow any influencers for skincare, or have you ever bought products by their recommendation? I know those crystal clear skin must have grabbed your attention. Or you might be a fan of the lasted natural look which is not so natural. Teens are very eager and excited to try out new products every then and now. And everything is trending these days.

Teenage skin is very delicate and at this time of age, you tend to get hormonal changes in your body. Hence, It is easy for you to see issues in your skin and the need for perfection too. But you might just need a good diet and a few simple steps to follow for your skincare. You need not invest in heavy and strong products at this age. your skin is already at its best at this time. All your issues are most likely related to hormonal changes which will improve over time.

Do your research and verify the reason for your acne or other skin issues. Don’t use strong actives and chemicals at this age. Don’t invest in expensive skincare that too for nothing.

A good diet is the main thing that you should be following, along with exercise. At this point, your skin is new, completely capable of providing all the nutrients to the skin cells.

The only aim or goal here is to maintain the good health of your skin and protect it from damage. The best skin care routine to achieve this goal is to follow 3 steps.

Cleansing – washing off all the dirt and impurities from the skin. twice a day is perfect.
Moisturizing – after cleansing the skin is dried out so give some moisture and nourishment. These 2 steps will be enough to maintain your skin cells healthy.
Sunscreen – it will form a layer that will keep the skin safe. this is to protect it from sun damage.

That’s it, only these 3 simple yet best skincare practices are more than enough for teenage skin. The usual acne and dark spots are most likely to go away with time and a good diet. Lastly, avoid applying any harmful and strong chemicals to protect against the damage.

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Insha

Acne vulgaris – Treatment and More

Acne is the most common skin disorder around the world. It is caused by blocked hair follicles and oil (sebaceous) glands of the skin, often triggered by hormonal changes. Some people get acne on other parts of their body too, such as the back and chest.

It occurs when sebaceous glands in the skin are over-stimulated to produce sebum and skin cells are not shed normally. These sticky cells block the skin’s hair follicles, trapping the sebum. The blocked, oil-filled follicle then causes the bacteria normally in the hair follicles to multiply. This leads to inflammation, redness, and pimples (pustules).

Factors that can lead to acne include:

Oily cosmetics
Humidity
Heavy sweating
Problems with the ovaries or adrenal glands
Drugs such as: Lithium
Steroids, both prescription steroids, and potentially harmful “body-building” steroids

Treatment – Acne can be treated with:

Salicylic acid washes. These washes help to empty comedones of sebum.
Benzoyl peroxide gels. These medications are applied to the skin as a thin film. They: Dry and peel the skin, Fight the growth of bacteria, and Help to clear blocked hair follicles. Azelaic acid cream. Apply to clean, dry skin twice per day to start. Then can decrease to once per day. Improvement usually takes a few weeks. It helps fight bacteria and may decrease comedo formation. Tretinoin (Retin-A). This is applied to the skin as a cream, gel, or liquid. It helps to clear the skin of plugged follicles by increasing the turnover of skin cells. It also increases the skin’s sensitivity to sunlight. So tretinoin should be used with sunscreen. Antibiotics. Certain antibiotics can be applied directly to the skin to reduce the growth of acne-causing bacteria.

If these topical treatments fail, acne is treated next with oral antibiotics. However, these medications can have side effects. They are available only by prescription.

Acne treatment by a dermatologist is important because acne left unchecked can often lead to permanent scars and dark facial spots.

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Insha

Vitamin C Serum

Vitamin C serum is the latest sensation trusted by many cosmetic and skin care experts for radiant and glowing skin. However, you need to pick the right one to get the desired benefits. Topical vitamin C can seriously benefit your skin. It is a key ingredient in many skin care products because of its reputation for reducing acne scarring, erasing fine lines, and evening out skin tone. And with a good vitamin C serum, you can improve your skin complexion, minimize hyperpigmentation, and help improve skin texture.

Skin care enthusiasts tout vitamin C skin treatments and serums as having a range of benefits. Many manufacturers package vitamin C products as serums, which are thinner in consistency than lotions or creams.

So what does that mean for your skin? It means that visible signs of aging disappear, and those pesky wrinkles and fine lines stop showing. You end up blessed with younger-looking skin that radiates a natural glow without artificial products or procedures.

You should replace your artificial serums with natural serums to always have that radiant glow. “usage of vitamin C on the face supports the epithelial barrier function against pathogens and promotes the oxidant scavenging activity of the skin, thereby potentially protecting against environmental oxidative stress.” Oxidative stress is a leading cause of aging, and vitamin C’s effective protection against oxidative stress is linked to its ability to reduce signs of aging. Daily use of a vitamin C serum will help protect your skin in the long run.

Work on Hyperpigmentation:

Natural Vitamin C inhibits the melanin production in your skin, allowing the gradual fading of sunspots and brown spots. Maintaining normal skin pigmentation while helping take away brown spots is one of the most valuable vitamin C serum benefits for the face.

Vitamin C Soothes Skin Inflammation and Reduces Acne:

Using a vitamin C serum for the face regularly helps soothe skin inflammation, reduces the appearance of red spots, and reduces acne.

It may help prevent skin sagging:

Applying a vitamin C serum may boost collagen production, resulting in an overall tightening effect. This is true for sagging due to natural aging, oxidative stress damage, or extreme weight loss.

This means it can help reduce the appearance of sagging skin, making your skin look firmer and more toned.

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Insha

Skincare Actives – Dry Skin Type

This is a continuation of the last post on Actives, You can read it here.

In the last post you might have got an idea of what are actives and How are they helpful. Now coming to its usage it varies in many things. Note that not everyone needs to use them or fall into FOMO.

As Actives are used for a particular purpose or target area, the first thing is to identify if you really need them. If you are a normal skin type person in her/his teens with basic acne issues then there is a high chance that it could be hormones, puberty, and other related stuff. You need not rush to apply any strong skin care products. You might just need some time and a good diet.

For Dry Skin type people with normal acne – Actives like Niacinamide (It’s the scientific name for Vitamin B3), LHA (Lip Hydroxy Acid), and HA (Hyaluronic Acid) are ideal. Always read the labels as most of the brand mentions what the product does and for what kind of skin type it works best.

Niacinamide:

A dry skin type person needs more moisturization and nourishment to the skin. B3 helps to nourish the complexion, build proteins in the skin, and prevent dryness. Niacinamide has anti-inflammatory properties which can help to soothe acne-prone skin and reduce further breakouts. It minimizes pores for a smoother complexion, Strengthens the skin’s barrier function, Reduces the effects of rosacea, Protects against UV damage, Reduces oily skin, and Diminishes the effects of hyperpigmentation.

LHA:

Lipo Hydroxy Acid is a chemical exfoliant. It helps to get rid of dead skin cells from the surface of the skin, just like acids that are used as chemical exfoliants. However, it’s active mainly on the skin’s outermost keratin layer, making it safer to use even for people with super-sensitive skin. It has a pH level that is close to our skin’s ideal level (5.5) which decreases the risk of irritation when applied. In addition to exfoliation, LHA is “comedolytic,” which is a fancy way of saying that it is exceptional in unclogging cores with sebum and blackheads.

Hyaluronic Acid:

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a naturally occurring glycosaminoglycan found throughout the body’s connective tissue. It functions as a humectant and holds water molecules onto the surface of your skin to keep it nice and hydrated. Anytime we’re talking about skin that’s well-moisturized, we’re mainly referring to skin that has a lot of water content. it’s very good for healing wounds, too! If you feel your skin is dehydrated then this Active is go to go.

As mentioned in my previous post all these are natural substances that are already present in our food or skin. Hence taking a good diet will always boost the growth of healthy cells in the body, resulting in healthy skin.

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Insha

Summer Face Packs

The top 5 and my most favourite summer face packs for oil free skin.

Multani Mitti (Fuller’s Earth):

Now, I know you must have heard about it so many times but this is the ultimate face and body pack for summers that can be used by any gender regardless of their age. There are so many combinations with different ingredients giving amazing results. Due to it’s oil sucking, cooling and skin firming properties it is usually used in many Indian and Asian households. Another substitute for this is Kaolin clay but still Multani Mitti is much more cheaper and easily available.

It reduces fine lines, remove external impurities, firms and soften the skin. It’s a bit drying due to it’s oil sucking properties, it may remove the natural oils which are essential for skin. But for that reason it is usually combined with moisturizing and nourishing ingredients. Honey, Milk, Curd, Milk Cream are most common. You can add enhancers such as turmeric, cucumber, rose water, liquorice, besan, etc to target conditions or just to give some extra love to your skin.

2. Aloe Vera Gel:

It is super cooling, antifungal, antibacterial, and protects from UV rays. Such an amazing ingredient for skincare. Your skin gonna love the texture and feel of this product. Mix it up with other enhancers or just apply directly the results are amazing. It can calm the skin down, adds hydration, treats sunburns and redness. It goes really well with all the Skin types. If you are skin is super sensitive then try to use cosmetic aloe gel with 99% purity and fragrance free.

3. Green Tea:

It is one of the best ingredients for anti-aging and dull skin. Perfect for a summer pack. Due to its relaxing and anti-inflammatory properties it is used for dark circles. It increases the blood flow, reduces the tension of the skin, brings calmness and boost freshness. Mix it up with Multani Mitti or Besan for a thick pack. Mix it with aloe Vera gel for a sleeping pack. Plus you can always use those tea bags for under eyes.

4. Coffee:

Yeah so this face pack is so good for winters as it super moisturizing but I have noticed that it makes a pretty good pack for summers too. Here’s why:

In summers the chance of skin becoming tanned and red is more. Some may love the tanned skin tone but for those who doesn’t or if it’s gone too far then coffee is best to bring back your original skin tone, reduce the redness and nourishes the skin. Mix it up with milk or oat milk for extreme sunburn or sensitivity and apply to the target area of the skin.

Note: This is the second step in case of sunburn as the first step will be to calm the skin down and that aloe vera gel is best.

5. Papaya:

Last but not the least is papaya face pack. It is for pigmentation or is an anti tanning face and body pack. Mixing papaya with tomato gives really good results for pigmentation, tomato bleaches the skin naturally and papaya works on pimples.

Pimples are a common concern for youth these days. This papaya face pack for pimples helps greatly to reduce pimples and also dark spots related to it. This bleaching pack is good to use once in a while and is great to remove dead skin cells and to give hydration as well to the skin tone.

How to remove Milia

What are milia? / what causes milia?
Milia are tiny white bumps (pimples or cysts) on your skin also referred to as milk spots or oilseeds. it looks like small white bumps on the cheeks, chin, around eyes, or nose. They can also be on the body.

Milia don’t cause problems. They aren’t painful or itchy. If you have symptoms such as inflammation, pain, or leakage then it may be signs of acne.

Causes and Risk Factors of Milia:

Your body sheds dead skin cells to make way for fresh new ones.

Milia happens when the dead skin cells don’t slough/shed away. Instead, they get caught under the new skin, harden, and form a milium.

Some other causes are:

If Don’t follow a proper skincare
Use cosmetics or makeup that clogs your pores
Don’t get enough sleep
or Have skin conditions like dandruff or eczema etc.

How to remove milia?

It’s fine to let milia be. They’ll go away on their own after a few weeks or months.

You may be tempted to pick at or pop the milia. If you do so this might irritate the skin around.

I once had milia around my eye and at that time I didn’t know what could help. And I was not following any skincare routine. I was just washing my face and keeping it that way all day long.

The best way to red off milia is to use a chemical exfoliant. AHA, PHA and BHA are some commonly known chemical exfoliants in the skincare industry.

When I came to know about chemical exfoliants I opt one for blackheads not particularly for milia but it worked great.

If you are dealing with milia then I am assuming you are not much into skincare and chemical exfoliants. So if you are a beginner then you should start with the mildest product first, don’t go for high potency peeling solutions.

A facewash with AHA, PHA, or BHA is the best way to start. It will show a visible difference after a month, so please be patient.

The product which I used was kaya youth face wash with salicylic acid and some of my recommendations are: facewash or tonner with AHA or Salicylic Acid, they are also available in serums and peel offs, in case you are experienced with chemical exfoliants and want to explore.

Also, skincare is subjective things that work for me might not work for you and vice versa.

Ps: Remember to do a patch test before applying anything to your skin for the first time.

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