Rethinking the Science of Skin
Please shower, and please shampoo...I don’t think this article or the low soap&#x2F;shower movements are helpful for most people. Here’s why:<p>1. Showering every day with shampoo makes you cleaner and more approachable (<i>at least</i> shower every other day). Even if it’s theoretically healthier to shower&#x2F;shampoo less, you will appear less cleanly and people won’t trust your hygiene as much. They just won’t say anything... This is problematic. The same goes for deodorant. It is a must. If you are worried about chemicals, avoid anti-perspirants. They usually last longer than traditional deodorants but may contain aluminum shavings. Even then, many physicians and researchers agree that aluminum shavings aren’t bad for your health.<p>2. Moisturizing is often helpful. This is because there are a number of things that dry your skin, including: showering, AC, dry climates, and retinol. People who wear makeup or have oily skin might use cleansers, which dry the skin even further. Moisturizer is the remedy. It doesn’t have to be the fancy stuff. There’s almost no correlation between price and quality. At the very least, moisturizing increases comfort and aesthetic appeal. It can also improve skin health when your skin is excessively dry.<p>3. Sunscreen is critical. It prevents UV damage, reduces cancer risk, and slows aging. I understand that the article didn’t target sunscreen, but it vaguely casts doubt over “all those chemicals” used in skincare and downplays the benefits of pretty much any additive. I recommend daily use of a facial sunscreen that is SPF 30+, UVA&#x2F;UVB, and zinc-based. Reapply after every 2 hours of continuous sun exposure. Even if you never use moisturizer but you regularly use a cheap SPF30 sunscreen, you will look better in old age than someone who uses expensive skincare products but never uses sunscreen. Both moisturizer and sunscreen may require experimenting with different brands to find one that suits your skin type (some are oilier than others). Note: Don’t use combination moisturizer&#x2F;sunscreens, they have enough moisturizer but not enough sunscreen. The proper amount of sunscreen varies by face size, Google it.<p>4. Retinol has empirically proven anti-aging benefits. There are many pricey BS products that contain an ineffectual amount of retinol. Just ask your doctor for prescription retinol. Apply every night (not in the morning because it makes you sensitive to the sun) along with moisturizer. Your skin will visibly improve over the next 3-6 months, though it might look worse for the first month as your skin adjusts and you find the right routine. Retinol will also make your skin look better into old age. Lastly, it can be extremely effective against acne if that is an issue with you.<p>Sure, collagen creams are a scam. Sure, most skincare products over $10-$20 have no marginal benefits and exist to make you feel luxurious. I just don’t want people reading the article and then some of the minimalist Thoreau-esque comments here before coming to the conclusion that they should shower less and use almost no skincare products. Some skincare products are great, most suck. Keep it simple and stick to the recommendations embedded in points 1-4 above. If you use resources like Reddit to research specific skincare products, just be wary of their obsession with exfoliating acids (AHA, BHA, lactic acid...). They add complexity and cost for little marginal benefit unless you have acne.