Skin care and daily aggression
The skin, our protective envelope and indicator of well-being, is continually exposed to multiple aggressions. From environmental elements to lifestyle habits, our epidermis undergoes daily attacks that can alter its health and beauty. Taking care of your skin is therefore essential to preserve it and ensure its longevity. Let's take a look at the world of skincare, the challenges it presents, the threats it faces, and the solutions to adopt for a radiant complexion and healthy skin. 
The importance of skin care and its many facets
Understanding skin structure
The skin is made up of three main layers: the epidermis, the dermis and the hypodermis.
The epidermis is the top layer of the skin. It is mainly composed of cells called keratinocytes, which are constantly renewing themselves, forming a protective barrier against the environment.
The dermis, located beneath the epidermis, is the intermediate layer. It contains collagen and elastin fibers that give the skin its strength and elasticity.
Finally, the hypodermis, the deepest layer of the skin, contains mainly fat cells that play a role in thermal insulation.
Different skin types
The diversity of skin types is also important to consider. Whether dry, combination, oily, sensitive or normal, each skin type has its own specific skincare requirements.
For example, dry skin requires intense hydration, while oily skin needs sebum-regulating care to prevent clogged pores.
Skin aggression: a daily reality
Every day, our skin is subjected to a series of aggressions that can affect its balance and accelerate aging. These aggressions fall into two main categories: environmental and internal.
Environmental aggressions
Air pollution is one of the main environmental factors affecting our skin. Fine particles, present in large quantities in the polluted air of urban areas, can accumulate on the skin's surface, clogging pores and inducing an inflammatory reaction. This chronic inflammation can ultimately accelerate skin ageing, leading to the early appearance of wrinkles and pigmentation spots.
But that's not all: pollutant gases such as nitrogen oxides and ozone can also damage the skin. They are capable of reacting with certain components of our epidermis to generate free radicals, unstable molecules that damage our body's cells and tissues.
Sun exposure is another major threat to the skin. Ultraviolet (UV) rays are capable of penetrating deep into the skin and causing damage to the DNA of skin cells. UV damage is cumulative and can lead to premature aging of the skin, the appearance of age spots and, in the most serious cases, the development of skin cancers.
Internal aggressions
In addition to environmental aggressions, our skin is also confronted with a series of internal aggressions. These often reflect our lifestyle and general state of health.
Stress is an example of an internal aggression. When we're stressed, our bodies produce hormones like cortisol, which can have a negative impact on our skin. High cortisol production can stimulate sebum production, leading to oily skin and the appearance of pimples and blackheads. Stress can also weaken our immune system, making our skin more susceptible to infection and inflammation.
Our diet also plays a major role in the health of our skin. An unbalanced diet, rich in sugars and saturated fats, can promote inflammation and contribute to skin problems such as acne, psoriasis and eczema. Conversely, a diet rich in fruit and vegetables, which provide numerous antioxidants, can help protect our skin against free radicals and prevent skin aging.
In conclusion, to protect our skin and preserve its beauty, it's crucial to understand the aggressions it undergoes on a daily basis and adapt our skincare routine accordingly. 
Protecting your skin from daily aggression
Fortunately, many solutions exist to protect our skin from daily aggressions, and skincare routines are proving to be invaluable allies.
Cleansing the skin
Cleansing is the first step in an effective skin care routine. Every morning and evening, cleansingremoves the impurities that accumulate on the skin's surface throughout the day:
- sweat ;
- sebum ;
- pollution particles ;
- make-up residue.
It's important to choose a cleanser suited to your skin type: gentle and moisturizing for dry, sensitive skin, purifying for oily skin or balancing for combination skin.
For in-depth cleansing, you can also incorporate a scrub into your routine once or twice a week, to eliminate dead cells and promote cell renewal.
Moisturizing the skin
Moisturizing is a crucial step in keeping skin soft, supple and radiant. After cleansing, skin is more receptive to the treatments you apply. A good moisturizing cream, adapted to your skin type, helps restore the hydrolipidic film of the epidermis, retaining water in skin cells and preventing dehydration.
For deeper hydration, you can complete your routine with a hydrating serum, more concentrated in moisturizing active ingredients. What's more, the eye contour, a particularly fine and fragile area, requires specific moisturizing care.
Protecting your skin
Finally, skin protection is a step not to be neglected. Throughout the day, the skin is exposed to numerous factors of aggression: UV rays, pollution, temperature variations, and so on. It is therefore essential to apply a protective skin care product every morning.
Sun protection is a must: choose a broad-spectrum product that protects against both UVA and UVB rays. In the city, think about pollution too: some daytime skin care products contain antioxidants that protect the skin from the free radicals generated by pollution. Finally, at night, opt for a restorative skin care product to help the skin regenerate and renew itself while you sleep.
Ultimately, our skin is constantly exposed to a range of external and internal aggressions. To maintain its health and beauty, it's crucial to adopt a proper skincare routine that includes cleansing, moisturizing and protecting our epidermis. Armed with this information and advice, we can help our skin resist daily aggressions, prevent the signs of aging and maintain a healthy glow.
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