What do you want to know about beauty and skin care?

Beauty ideals, fashions and regimes vary from region to region. For example, while white women in the US and UK tend to prefer a sun kissed look and are the largest global consumers of self-tanning products, women in China and Japan have a preference for pale skin, and are willing to pay premium prices for whitening creams and treatments. Euromonitor International’s Beauty Survey of 2016 found that women devote a considerable amount of time to their looks. Globally, 31% of women spend at least 15 minutes of the day styling their hair, while 26% spend at least 15 minutes a day removing body hair, and 24% applying make-up. The increased emphasis on image,  combined with rising incomes in emerging markets, indicates significant potential for targeting women of all ages with appearance-enhancing products and services, such as skin and hair care, cosmetics, fashion, slimming aids and fitness products. The global market for beauty and personal care grew steadily over the review period, to reach USD586 billion in 2019, up 10% in real terms compared with 2023

Understanding skin care products

There are many products out there that are presented as a surefire way to turn back the clock, permanently melt away cellulite, reduce wrinkles, and more. Pay attention and do your research to decide whether a product is really necessary for the health of your skin or if it’s potentially harmful. Ask your doctor for advice, too.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDATrusted Source) regulates many products. It must regulate products that change a person’s physical structure or biochemical processes within the body.

Products that are classified as cosmetics or dietary supplements are not regulated. Examples of these include:

moisturizers

hair coloring

toothpaste

deodorant

vitamins

herbals

enzymes

Many women are starting to challenge existing beauty norms. The Dove Global Beauty and Confidence Report found that while 60% of women feel the need to meet certain beauty standards, 77% agreed that it is important to be their own person and not imitate anyone else. 83% of women said they want to look their personal best, rather than follow another person’s definition of “beautiful”, while 83% agreed that each woman has something about them that is beautiful. Furthermore, 71% of women want the media to make more effort to portray women of diverse physical appearance, age, race, shape and size.

Despite the surging popularity of online make-up tutorials, Euromonitor International’s Beauty Survey of 2016 found that among all age groups, many women (45%) prefer a natural look with “barely” there make-up. Younger women were far more likely than older age groups to wear heavy or moderate make-up (21% of both 15-29 and 30-44 year-olds). Among all women, heavy or moderate make-up was worn most commonly in China (24%), followed by Germany and Mexico (both 23%). Australian women were most likely to go make-up free (23%). Colour cosmetics experienced robust growth over the review period, driven by new product innovation and rising demand from digitally savvy younger women, who are actively interacting with brands and other users via social media.

Smooth skin routine

Your lifestyle doesn’t just affect your overall health. It affects your skin’s health, too. Here are some healthy living tips that can help you enjoy smoother skin longer:

Staying hydrated. Though it’s not entirely clear exactly how drinking water is able to improve your skin, there’s evidenceTrusted Source that it does. Drinking water improves your skin’s elasticity and reduces signs of dryness and roughness, resulting in smoother skin.

Eating foods high in antioxidants. Antioxidant-rich foods have a protective effect on the skin. These foods include leafy greens, yellow and orange fruits and vegetables, and fatty fish, such as salmon. There’s also evidenceTrusted Source that adding probiotics to your diet may help treat and prevent skin conditions, such as eczema and acne, as well as skin damage caused by ultraviolet (UV) light.

Exercising. Animal and human studiesTrusted Source have shown that regular aerobic exercise can improve the skin’s composition. It makes the skin’s outer layer thinner and thickens the inner layers — the opposite of what happens as we age. This results in smoother, younger-looking skin.

Getting enough sleep. Beauty sleep really is a thing! Your skin, like the rest of your body, repairs itself during sleep. Increased blood flow and collagen production are just a couple things that occur during sleep and help repair UV damage and reduce sun spots and wrinkles.

Protecting against the effects of the sun. UV rays damage your skin cells’ DNA, leading to premature aging, dryness, and a higher risk of skin cancer. Use sunscreen, limit your time in the sun, and wear protective clothing. Steer clear of tanning beds, which do more damage than the sun, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)Trusted Source.

Not smoking. Internal and external exposure to tobacco smoke causes premature skin aging and wrinkles, and a higher risk of skin disorders, including acne and psoriasis. It also impairs your skin’s ability to heal itself. Quitting smoking can be difficult, but a doctor can help craft a cessation plan that’s right for you.

Drinking less alcohol. Alcohol consumption has been linked to skin photodamage, which is damage caused by sunlight. Drinking too much can also cause dehydration, which causes dry skin and premature aging. To reduce the effects of alcohol on your body and skin, limit your drinks to one or two per day.