Have you ever given a thought to the number of skin care products that are flooding the markets today? There is something for everyone….something for every problem…for no problem and also for any future problem. Every product promises the sun, the moon for the starts and even the entire Milky Way at times. I on the other hand, wanted to get convinced and figure out how these skin care products work their miracle.

To get an understanding of how skin care products work it becomes essential to understand the skin. While we know of the different skin types- dry, normal, oily and combination, do we really ‘know’ our skin?

To begin with the skin is the largest organ of our body and is made up of three very distinct layers. These layers are:

• The Epidermis – This is the outer layer of the skin, the skin that we feel.
• The Dermis – This is the inner thicker layer of the skin made up entirely of living cells. Collagen, elastin, blood vessels, hair follicles, lymph nodes and oil glands, all rest here.
• Subcutaneous fat layer – This layer is the closest to the organs and is last of the skin layers. As the name suggests, this layer is made up of fat and is your body’s temperature controller. You will find your sweat glands in this area.

Interestingly, the top layer of our skin, the epidermis is the most dynamic. The epidermis in itself comprises of five layers. The top layer of the epidermis is made up of flat dead cells which shed automatically about every 2 weeks.

So which is the layer of the skin, where our skin care products work? Needless to say, almost all skin care products affect your upper epidermal layer. Your soaps, moisturizers and exfoliants work on the epidermis keeping it smooth, and free of dead cell build-up. The epidermis is responsible for melanin production and maintaining your skin color. Your sunscreen hence is very important for this skin layer.

Advanced skin care products such as anti-wrinkle creams, skin serums, retinoids, copper peptides, alpha hydroxy acids that reverse skin damage have a more inside to outside approach. Skin damage, premature aging, wrinkles and fine lines are all linked to collagen and elastin production. As such, these products need to seep deeper into the skin layers and work from the dermis where collagen and elastin production takes place. The skin treatments work at rebuilding skin infrastructure by stimulating collagen deposits, reducing the size of oil glands and tightening the skin from within. This results in a happier looking epidermis and a young and youthful you.

Getting to know your skin will help you invest wisely in your skin care choices. How do you make your skin care product selection? Write in.