Skincare is the set of practices and treatments you perform to take care of your skin. This term refers to a routine that includes various steps, such as cleansing, hydrating and protecting the skin, using specific products to keep the skin healthy, glowing and protected from external agents. Why is it important to take care of one's skin?
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Keep skin healthy: Skin is the largest organ and acts as a protective barrier against external agents such as bacteria and pollution. A good skincare routine helps keep this barrier intact and functional, preventing dryness, irritation, and infection.
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Prevention of premature aging: Skincare products can help reduce signs of aging such as wrinkles, fine lines and dark spots.
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Treatment of specific problems: Skincare is not only preventive but also curative. A well-structured routine can help treat specific problems such as acne, hyperpigmentation, rosacea, and other skin disorders.
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Improved appearance: Well-cared-for skin appears more radiant, homogenous and smooth. A regular skincare routine helps maintain a healthy complexion, reduce enlarged pores and minimize imperfections, contributing to an overall more groomed appearance.
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Overall well-being: Taking care of your skin can have psychological benefits as well. Spending time on skincare is an act of self-care, which can improve self-esteem and a sense of well-being. In addition, healthy, well-groomed skin can boost self-confidence.
Let's find out together what are the words and principles that encapsulate the true essence of skincare proficiency!
A - Attention to your skin type
Before starting any skincare routine, it is important to understand your skin type. Once identified, you can adopt the right gestures and products to take care of it:
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Normal skin: Balanced, neither too oily nor too dry, and generally without specific issues.
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Dry skin: Tends to be rough, tight, and can flake easily.
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Combination skin: A combination of dry and oily skin, with an oily T-zone and other drier areas (such as the cheeks and eye area).
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Greasy skin: Often shiny, especially in the T-zone (forehead, nose, chin), and prone to enlarged pores and blemishes.
B - Basic skincare routine
A self-respecting skincare routine goes through 2 basic steps that should never be missed. To be carried out daily, at least 1 time a day, let's find out together what they are and how they should be performed:
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Cleansing: A fundamental step within the routine. It is the process of cleansing facial skin aimed at removing all traces of impurities, sebum, sweat and pollutants that accumulate on the skin surface during the day and night. Proper cleansing helps keep the skin healthy, preventing problems such as pore clogging, acne, irritation and premature aging, as well as preparing the skin for subsequent products to be applied.
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When: 2 times a day, in the morning and in the evening. In the morning, as the skin also produces sebum during the night, a morning cleanse is necessary to start the day with clean, fresh skin. In the evening, on the other hand, it is essential to remove everything that has accumulated during the day on the skin, thus keeping the skin free of impurities and preparing it for night treatments.
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Products: our Anti-Pollution Cleansing Mousse is a soft, fresh foam that helps remove impurities and dirt, unclogging pores and leaving skin fresh and clean.
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Tips: Avoid using body soaps or shampoos on your face, as they can be too harsh and alter your skin's pH. Also, pay attention to the temperature of the water: if it is too hot it risks drying out the skin, and if it is too cold it may not allow the cleanser used to penetrate deeply. Therefore, use lukewarm water.
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Hydration: Hydrating means providing the skin with the right amount of water it needs. Good hydration strengthens the natural hydrolipid film, protecting the skin from external agents (pollution and weather). It also prevents its dryness and the appearance of premature aging signs, such as wrinkles and fine lines. Hydrated skin is therefore stronger, softer and younger looking!
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When: daily, morning and evening. In the morning, after cleansing, it is important to apply a hydrating product to prepare the skin for the day and protect it from external aggressions, such as wind and pollution. After evening cleansing, on the other hand, hydration is crucial to help the skin regenerate during the night.
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Products: Toning Hydrating Cream and Anti-stress Hydrating Gel. The former keeps the skin hydrated long and deeply by providing a powerful toning effect; the latter, on the other hand, energizes the skin with its astringent properties and fights the signs of stress on the skin, such as dilated pores and dull complexion.
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Tips: Depending on your skin type, opt for the right hydrating products. If you have oily skin, opt for non-comedogenic products (that do not clog pores); if you have dry skin, prefer richer formulations; and if your skin is particularly sensitive, opt for nonalcoholic products as your skin may dry out further. And remember: hydration should not only be limited to the face, but also include the neck, an often neglected area.
C – (Extra) Care
Once you have mastered the basic principles of skincare, you can broaden your scope by adopting more targeted gestures according to your specific needs. Let's see together what they are:
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Exfoliation: the process to remove dead cells from skin surface and to stimulate cell renewal. This helps prevent clogged pores and keep the skin smooth, free of impurities and ready to better absorb subsequent products. In addition, exfoliating the face is also particularly useful for those who shave regularly because it reduces the possibility of ingrown hairs and subsequent irritation.
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When: There is no set frequency for exfoliation, but it varies according to skin type. Greasy or combination skin can be exfoliated up to three times a week. Twice a week is generally sufficient for normal skin. Conversely, in the case of dry skin, limit exfoliation to once a week to avoid unpleasant irritation. Exfoliation can be done either in the morning or in the evening, but it is important to avoid exfoliating immediately before or after shaving so as not to further irritate the skin.
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Products: Anti-stress Exfoliating Gel and Anti-pollution Exfoliating Mask. The gel provides mechanical exfoliation by particles derived from hemp stem and chemical exfoliation by fruit acids in the formula, providing an instant relaxing effect. The mask, on the other hand, mechanically purifies and exfoliates the skin, allowing subsequent treatments to penetrate deeply. The former, after massaging into the face, should be rinsed off immediately with lukewarm water, while the latter needs a setting time of 10 to 15 minutes before being rinsed off.
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Tips: After exfoliation, remember to apply a good hydrating product to protect and refresh the newly exfoliated skin. Also, avoid direct exposure to the sun as your skin may be too sensitive to sunlight.
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Nourishment: By nourishment is meant the delivery of the right amount of essential nutrients to the skin. The goal is to restore proper lipid balance, protect the skin from external aggression and decrease water evaporation. Nourished skin is healthy skin, that is, perfectly hydrated, with a firm texture and free of enlarged pores, excess sebum, discolorations or hyperpigmentation.
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When: Nourishing the face is a step that does not have a set time cadence but varies depending on the nutrient supply and the way the products are used.
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Products: Our Anti-Stress Night Mask, to be used three times a week before going to sleep and rinsed off upon waking, restores radiance, softness and hydration not only to the skin but also to the beard. The Toning Nourishing Mask, on the other hand, offers an instant toning and refreshing effect in addition to soothing, protecting and deeply nourishment. Use 1-2 times a week, leave on for 10-15 minutes then rinse off.
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Tips: prefer products with formulations with a high percentage of oils and plant extracts. For example, the avocado oil in the Anti-Stress Night Mask increases collagen production, making the skin more elastic. The seaweed extract found in the Toning Nourishing Mask, on the other hand, has a high revitalizing power that stimulates cell renewal.
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Booster: A booster in men's skincare is a highly concentrated product that is used to boost the effectiveness of a skincare routine. Used singly or in combos with other products, boosters are formulated with active ingredients and designed to address specific skin issues, to provide an extra “boost” of benefits to the skin, or to address specific needs that change over time (e.g., change of season, stress level...).
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When: Boosters can be used either in the morning or evening, depending on the skin's needs. In the morning, vitamin C and hyaluronic acid boosters provide a powerful antioxidant and decongestant effect that brightens and hydrates the skin, preparing it to face the day. Applied at night before bed, on the other hand, the boosters regenerate the skin during the sleeping hours.
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Products: Oltresiero gives a hydrating boost without weighing down and greasing the skin. It can be applied all over the face before the Toning Nourishing Mask or before the Toning Hydrating Cream to boost their toning effect. The Anti-Stress Eye Contour Serum, on the other hand, should be applied to the eye area through the convenient metal roll-on applicator: it counteracts puffiness and dark circles while keeping the area fresh and hydrated for a long time.
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Tips: Be careful not to overload skin too much. Although boosters are effective, it is not necessary to use too many at once. Choose one or two to integrate into your routine and maximize their effectiveness.
