Much is written about the skin and skincare products. It’s a huge industry, and one that is not well regulated. In order to make wise choices when navigating the stores, spas, and doctors offices, it is good to be an educated consumer. That is my aim with this article.

Lets get down to basics:
The skin is the largest organ in the body. It is highly specialized and fulfills numerous functions including the following:

1. Protection: from the environment, UV rays, free radicals in pollution.

2. Absorption: Great absorptive capacity (e.g.: transdermal patches with HRT).

3. Excretion: Think the day after eating a garlic clove and body odor!

4. Respiration: We breathe through our skin.

5. Temperature Control: Goosebumps, perspiration

The skin consists of three main layers: the epidermis, the dermis, and the subcutaneous tissue. It is important to know which cells you are targeting with your products and in which layer they are situated.

1. The Epidermis: 

The epidermis is the topmost layer of the skin and the first barrier between your body and the outside world. It is as thin as a piece of paper!
It consists of three types of cells :

• Keratinocytes – these key cells are held together by fatty (lipid) bonds and are 5 layers deep.
• Melanocytes – these are pigment cells, which produce melanin and are responsible for our skin color. When we tan, we produce more melanin in response to the sun and get a darker color.
• Langerhans cells – these are responsible for our skin’s immunity

The condition of the epidermis determines how “fresh” your appearance is.

2. The Dermis: 

This is the middle and thickest layer of the skin. It comprises a tight, sturdy mesh of collagen and elastin fibres. The important cells are called fibroblasts and they produce collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid or GAGS. These are responsible for making our skin plump and smooth–think, a baby’s skin. The blood capillaries are situated here, as are the sebaceous glands, which determine how dry or oily the skin feels.

3. Subcutaneous tissue: 

This is the innermost layer of the skin consisting mainly of fat. Loss of fatty tissue often occurring with age, leads to facial sagging and accentuation of wrinkles.

New ingredients and technologies have led to a flurry of new product claims for the anti-aging industry. With all the advertising and marketing dollars being spent on convincing you to use a specific skin care product, what are you doing to make sure that your purchase is the right one for your skin?