CLEARING THINGS UP HELEN KEARNEY ‘23
Skincare professionals and West students provide their tips and tricks for taking care of your skin. BY CAROLINE CHANDLER
SUNSCREEN
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JULIE SHIAN ‘20
PHOTOS BY ADITI BORDE DESIGN BY XIAOYI ZHU
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FEATURE DEC. 20, 2019
he heat of the sun glares down, signaling that it’s just about time to reapply that sunscreen. A couple of months later and the warmth of the sun will be swapped out for the frosty, chilly winter. Just because the humidity of summer is no longer here doesn’t mean the use of sunscreen should fade away along with the heat. Sunscreen is an essential part of our daily skincare routine. Dr. Jessica Harms, a dermatology physician resident at the University of Iowa, says that sunscreen plays a significant role in protecting our skin. “It’s the best way to prevent skin cancers as you get older,” Harms said. “It can prevent you from developing fine lines and wrinkles, so regardless of skin type, you should be using it daily.” One simple way to include sunscreen into your skincare routine is through moisturizer. This sunscreen should have at least a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 30 or more. According to Harms, studies have shown that sunscreens that surpass the SPF 30 mark are proven effective at preventing sun damage. “No matter what SPF is used, you should reapply every one to two hours while outside,” Harms said. For Helen Kearney ’23, skin care became a more important task following the process of attempting to find a new sunscreen. After her mother started having her use sunscreen at an early age, Kearney wanted to find a more comfortable sunscreen for herself. “The one product I could not go without would be sunscreen. It is the most important part of my routine,” Kearney said.
SKINCARE MISCONCEPTIONS
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here are an abundance of skincare misconceptions, and it can be hard to know what to look out for and how to take care of your skin. “People think that the more ingredients that you put on your face the better, when often just basic gentle cleansers and moisturizers are the best,” Harms said. Many inaccurately believe that people with oily skin should omit moisturizer from their daily routine. Instead, Harms recommends looking for specific ingredients on the product label. “[Products] that say oil-free and noncomedogenic can be helpful, meaning that they won’t cause acne,” Harms said. Those with oily skin are prone to breakouts, so using a gentle cleanser and an oil-free and noncomedogenic moisturizer are two ways to help combat oily skin. “Even people with oily skin can still benefit from moisturizers,” Harms said. The oil found on the surface of the skin comes from the sebaceous glands which are found throughout our skin. When excess oil or dirt builds up in them, it can result in irritation. Those who have a sensitive skin type should steer away from scented products, as these can irritate the skin. The fragrances found in these products are sensitizing ingredients, meaning that they often will make the skin react negatively to whatever the applied substance might be. Fragrances are frequently found in products and can be spotted on the ingredients list. Despite the pleasant scent they provide, negative skin responses can arise from overuse.