The Skincare Bible — The Best Guide to Great Skin
Book Review: The Skincare Bible: Your No-Nonsense Guide to Great Skin by Anjali Mahto
“There is a common misconception that expensive products work better than their cheaper counterparts. More often than not, this is not the case and the extra pennies are going into pretty packaging and clever marketing.”
Nowadays, not just women, but men, too, are willing to spend big money on products to have flawless, youthful skin. But to know which beauty products are best suited for you, you must first understand a bit about your skin and how it works.
When you buy a skincare product, you need to be familiar with its ingredients and what they do, not with the brand logo. But the focus should always be on preventative healthcare where possible.
In The Skincare Bible, Dr. Anjali Mahto provides quality advice on skin and skincare. She says that “good skin can be achieved by all of us — not just the lucky few with good genes, plenty of time or big money on their hands. Quality skincare does not have to be complicated or expensive and it is never too late to start or mix up your skincare routine.”
The Skincare Bible contains valuable information on oily skin, dry skin, sensitive skin, and normal/combination skin, and also provides an am and pm routine for each of them. It also contains tips for post-menopausal skin.
In it, Dr. Anjali Mahto discusses premature skin aging and anti-aging treatments. This book teaches you everything you need to know about acne, moles, blackheads, pores, rosacea, wrinkles, eczema, stretch marks, pigmentation, telogen effluvium, etc., and how to properly treat them, this book is for you.
“Skin issues are recognized causes of low self-esteem, anxiety, depression and social isolation. This can trigger a vicious cycle in which the psychological issues that develop only further exacerbate the skin problem.”
Sometimes the anxiety is amplified by not being able to buy the products you see on social media. Thus, Dr. Anjali Mahto does a great job of breaking all the myths about the skincare industry that uses a very clever marketing strategy to make you buy their very expensive ones. She explains what all the skincare jargon means, including clinically proven, dermatologically tested, fragrance-free, free from chemicals, etc. You must learn what these mean, never to fall for them again
What causes skin aging?
Dr. Anjali Mahto says that skin aging occurs for reasons that are under our control (sun exposure, pollution, unhealthy lifestyle, like drinking a lot of alcohol, smoking, and consuming sugar) and also reasons that are inevitable as they are largely genetically determined. We all age, but it depends on us how.
But the main factor that is under our control is sun exposure.
“UVA and UVB rays in sunlight are the biggest culprits implicated in the skin’s extrinsic ageing process. …. So, if you want to keep your youthful good looks, sun protection is an absolute must…
…the effects of sunlight are thought to contribute a whopping 80 to 90 per cent of the visible signs associated with ageing. These include wrinkles, pigmentation, sunspots and reduced skin elasticity.”
Thus, you can prevent aging by applying sunscreens. It is way cheaper than treatments that try to reverse the visible signs of aging. You won’t have to spend thousands of pounds undergoing invasive procedures to correct skin damage if you buy sunscreen under £20 to prevent the damage in the first place.
A regular skincare routine must contain:
- A facial cleanser
You can’t have the same routine over the years, not considering seasonal or major life changes. There are certain periods like puberty, pregnancy, menopause, and hormonal changes that need other kinds of attention.
Every routine should include products that depend very much on the skin concern you are trying to address.
The best first step to keeping your skin healthy and preventing disease is a good cleaning routine. Failing to cleanse your face both in the morning and evening can result in break-outs, blemishes, and potentially even premature skin aging.
Facial cleansers like bar soaps, foaming and non-foaming cleansers, cleansing milks, toners, scrubs, micellar waters, and oils can remove make-up, sunscreen, and the particles of pollution we have come into contact with during the day. Any facial cleanser is destined to eliminate all the micro-organisms and potentially improve the barrier function of the skin, giving it the chance to really shine.
- Serums
The second step in your routine must be serums. Serums should be used after cleansing and before moisturizing.
Don’t be afraid of using serums. They’re good for all skin types and can be used to treat a multitude of sins including dryness, fine lines, wrinkles, dark spots, uneven skin tone, and premature skin aging.
- Moisturizer
The third step is applying a moisturizer. If you want to keep your skin healthy, maintain the elasticity and flexibility of the skin’s upper layers, or improve the texture or treat dryness, a moisturizer is a must-have.
- Eye cream
As the skin around the eyes is thin and delicate compared to the rest of our facial skin, you need to know that “No amount of eye cream will improve age-related sagging or puffy eyes regardless of what the product promises you. The skin around the eyes is vulnerable to damage from the sun’s radiation and whilst an eye cream will moisturize, plump the skin and temporarily improve fine lines, wearing SPF around the eyes is absolutely vital, if premature ageing is a concern.”
- Exfoliation
But don’t forget about exfoliation as it should be a regular part of your skincare routine (twice a week). However, don’t over-exfoliate, not even if you have acne or oily skin if you want to avoid sore, inflamed, and irritated skin.
Exfoliation makes the texture of the skin look better, improves age spots and uneven skin tone, and allows better penetration of your serum or moisturizer.
- Masks
As exfoliation, masks should be used a few times a week. But you should know that “there is actually very little scientific evidence to prove that using face masks is of any real benefit to the skin’s health in the long term.”
However, if you like masks, you can use a sheet mask with hyaluronic acid which is generally good for dry or dehydrated skin that needs a boost.
- Sunscreen
Even though this is the last step in the routine before makeup, this is the most important one. It is strongly advised to regularly wear sunscreen throughout the year, no matter the tone of your skin.
“Sunscreen has two main benefits, both of which are important. Firstly, sunscreen use will reduce your risk of skin cancer. Secondly, the sun’s rays are responsible for about 80 to 90 per cent of the features we associate with ageing — fine lines, wrinkles, loss of skin elasticity and pigmentation. Sunscreen is your best protection against premature skin ageing in a bottle. Nothing else even comes close.”
Sunscreens are safe to use and do not increase the risk of cancer.
The sunscreen should be a minimum of SPF 15–30. And never use just products that have SPF added to them as it’s not enough. You should wear a separate sunscreen rather than opt for cosmetic products that already contain SPF.
In conclusion, if you’re one of those struggling with their skin and who want to understand exactly how beauty products work, and why common skin problems occur, then The Skincare Bible: Your No-Nonsense Guide to Great Skin by Anjali Mahto is for you. It is also for those who want to know how to take good care of their skin to prevent aging and other skin care problems.
After you read this book, your skin routine will be the correct one, and your skin will thank you. Remember, a high price doesn’t necessarily mean high quality.
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