How the Skin Changes
Entering 2023(!) simply doesn’t feel real. Just yesterday, I was floating through 2019 with better, younger skin and fewer stress lines. Wasn’t I? And yet, my skin is there to oh-so-gently remind me that there has been, in fact, a few changes over the past few years.
Of course, aging is natural and inevitable and not a sign of anything but a life well-lived. But skin can change for all sorts of reasons beyond just time. And to allow for skin to age in the healthiest, glowiest way possible, it’s best to understand these changes. Below are some possible reasons your skin may have changed lately (& what to do about them):
Reason 1: Hormones
The power struggle between me and my hormones is one of defiance and occasional tears. Three of the largest hormonal shifts stem from the P’s: Puberty, Pregnancy, and Periods. We’ll all inevitably hit at least one of these shifts at some point in life, so it’s helpful to know how to deal with these disruptions in hormones if/when we do. Focus on:
Hydration
Toners are an easy way to plump and hydrate your skin instantly. With hormonal imbalances affecting skin from the inside out, toners are a great way to soothe flare ups and balance from the outside in. Here are some relieving toners:
Heimish Matcha Biome Redness Relief Hydrating Toner
ma:nyo Our Vegan Heartleaf Cica Toner
Targeted Treatments
Target hormonal breakouts without stressing out your skin. Whether you need vitamin C for hyperpigmentation, an active for breakouts, or centella for soothing, treatment products provide selective ingredients that target specific skin care needs:
Toun28 Propolis Vitamin C B3 B5 B6 Serum
Reason 2: You Moved
Whether you’ve uprooted and crossed the country, or climate change is adding new environmental stressors to your daily life, your surroundings (& situational changes) can have a huge impact on your skin barrier. There’s dry climates that suck out hydration. There’s humidity that makes you sweat. There’s pollution. There’s sun. There’s wind. You name it. No matter where you are, your skin is working hard to protect you. Show it some love with these:
UV Protection
SPF is a key ingredient for longterm skin health. Not only does it prevent sun damage, but depending on the ingredients, it can also create a physical barrier to protect the skin from pollutants, dirt, and debris. Try these:
Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun Rice Probiotics
Benton Skin Fit Mineral Sun Cream
Double Cleansing
Proper cleansing can make or break a routine. Cleansing your face helps clear away debris and reset your skin to face the next day. Korean skincare recommends a double cleanse: one to gently remove makeup, spf, and the day’s debris, and the other to cleanse, calm, and prep the skin for your next steps. Here are a few of our most popular cleansers:
Heimish All Clean Balm Mandarin
iUnik Centella Mild Cleansing Foam
Moisturizing
Your skin needs hydration no matter where you live, but depending on the time of year and climate you’re in, this step is particularly important. Lock in hydration and prevent moisture loss to round out your routine. Here are some we recommend for all skin types:
Dr. Ceuracle Vegan Kombucha Tea Gel Cream
Reason 3: Lifestyle Changes
With every New Year's resolution comes new changes – to lifestyle and skin. Whether you’re mixing up your exercise routine, eating differently, or just simply deciding to take this year one carefree day at a time, changes in your routine can affect your skin. No matter what your resolutions may be, you may notice your skin responding (in both positive and negative ways) to these shifts. Here are some products to try for the resolution (and results!) - oriented among us:
Targeted Treatments
As mentioned earlier, treatments are a great way to give your skin a selective, high quality punch of effective ingredients. Try a power-punch serum for breakouts, or a barrier-boosting essence for fine lines (or you name it, we’ve got it), here:
ma:nyo Galac Niacin 2.0 Essence
Gentle Exfoliation
Every good restart needs a clean slate, which is why we recommend properly exfoliating. It’s 2023 – gone are the days of barrier-damaging, skin-drying scrubs. Here are some gentle exfoliators that clear the skin of debris while balancing the skin barrier for overall skin health:
Neogen Dermalogy Bio-Peel Gauze Peeling Wine Pads
At the end of the day, skin is just like anything else in life: it requires care and time. Be gentle with your skin. Listen to its needs. Don’t be afraid to try new things (one at a time!), and see how your skin responds. And while change can be scary, you don’t have to do it alone! Email us at hello@ohlolly.com with any questions. And HAPPY NEW YEAR!
