Today is St. Patrick’s Day so the phrase “the luck of the Irish” is top-of-mind! But like everyone else, the Irish aren’t so lucky when it comes to their skin. Before questioning why some people have good skin and wishing you had their smooth, even-toned complexion, resist chalking up their clear, radiant skin to luck. Rather than joining the jealousy club, understand that not everyone is born with great skin. For most people, having healthy, blemish- and spot-free skin takes effort, as each ethnicity and demographic has unique skin challenges. Read on to discover why some people have glowing skin, most of us struggle, and what you need to have good skin, too!
The Grass Isn’t Always Greener
It is human nature to want traits we see in others. Fair-skinned people may wish their skin had the healthy-looking bronzed look of those with darker skin, while those with pink and reddish skin wish they had the ivory-hued complexion of their Asian friends. But let's examine the pros and cons of each skin condition and type to learn how to appreciate and care for the skin we have!
What Is Considered Good Skin?
Good skin looks and feels healthy and smooth, exhibiting a firm, luminous radiance. It is free of blemishes, flakes, discoloration, spots, redness, wrinkles, bumps, clogged and enlarged pores. Notice that “poreless” was not mentioned, as although many dream of having a pore-free, flawless look, pores are a normal part of healthy skin! And is good skin attractive? Absolutely! But it doesn’t mean that those who struggle with skin issues are unattractive! Skin positivity goes a long way towards confidence in your appearance, which is universally attractive!
Is Good Skin Genetic? Why do some people have better skin than others? Genetics are part of the "good skin" equation! So, how much of good skin is genetics? Interestingly, DNA plays a significant role in the state of your skin, with each of us belonging to a genetic cluster that dictates skin types and how skin behaves. There are genes tied to rosacea, acne, and ageing, and if you won the “good skin lottery,” neatly avoiding acquiring those genes, you have a higher chance of skirting these conditions. You never know what someone has gone through to get the skin you see today. Here are the top issues related to each demographic:
Genes and rosacea: Is rosacea hereditary? Yes, people of Celtic descent grapple with the “Celtic curse,” also known as rosacea. Rosacea is a vascular disorder that typically affects people with lighter skin, hair, and eyes who originate from northern Europe.
Their fair skin’s inherent lack of melanin predisposes them to sunburn, sun damage, and skin cancer, which involve the breakdown of vital proteins and dilated capillaries. This group is also inclined to be sensitive to products.
Genes and acne: Acne is a chronic disease caused by inflammation of the pores due to excess oil production, accumulation of dead skin cells, bacteria, inflammation, hormones, and genetics. Multiple genes are now known to predispose certain people to develop acne.
Children of parents who had acne are likely to have acne prone skin, too.
Darker-skinned ethnicities tend to have thicker, oilier skin, which makes this group acne-prone. Those of Spanish descent have an additional gene that makes them prone to cystic acne. Due to this “proneness” to acne and hyperpigmentation, these demographics need to exercise even more caution when choosing what to use on their skin.
Women and teens are most predisposed to acne; however, newborns can also have acne, which is believed to be transferred by the hormones of the mother.
While you can’t change your genes, you can change what you use on your skin! The best products for acne prone skin control excess oil, exfoliate dead skin cell build-up, and control bacteria naturally. Skin clearing products that work to calm irritation are ideal as they help prevent scarring and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, common amongst darker skin tones. Pair with a Clover-infused Green Apple face mask to control oil and enjoy a touch of that Irish luck!
Genes and ageing: Genetics are an intrinsic source of ageing, meaning it comes from within. Ethnicity determines our skin, hair, and eye colour, providing a clear link between genes and how soon we show symptoms of skin ageing.
For example, fair complexions have less pigment in their skin, which makes them more vulnerable to sun damage – the prime cause of ageing skin. This explains why wrinkling occurred later and had less severity in Asians and darker-pigmented study participants than Caucasians. Nearly 60% of the variation in skin ageing may be credited to gene coding for specific proteins (single nucleotide polymorphisms, aka SNPs) linked with ageing skin. That means 40% of ageing is due to non-genetic factors – a beacon of hope that your age-prevention skincare and advanced ageing products can impact your perceived skin age! Interestingly, some studies show that men’s skin is more sensitive to UV rays than women’s. However, more research needs to be done to determine the full extent of how our DNA dictates the state of our skin. Darker-skinned people have an advantage when it comes to ageing as they tend to have oilier, thicker skin, which, combined with melanin, better withstands the passage of time and UV exposure.
Genes and hyperpigmentation: Darker-skinned ethnicities originating from Central America, South America, and Africa have more melanin to protect them from the sun’s rays, which are stronger closer to the equator. That naturally bronzed appearance often envied by fair-skinned friends also makes this group more inclined to develop uneven skin tone when melanin production goes awry.
Using a Vitamin C serum, innovative products that even skin tone during the day, and Retinol-based formulas at night that work together to control tyrosinase (the enzyme responsible for melanin production) is an excellent proactive approach for keeping skin luminous and glowing! Despite protective melanin, this group is not impervious to sun damage and skin cancer and should still use sun protection and after-care daily!
Embrace Your Genes
Is good skin hereditary? Yes, despite the skin issues of each ethnicity, there are positive skin traits, like the texture and colour of our skin, that we must embrace. And we mustn’t fault our genes for the skin problems we face today, either. No matter how much you cleanse, scrub, or treat, you can’t change your genetics. Rather than develop resentment towards your folks for passing down your skin condition, get into acceptance and explore solutions to help you feel better about the skin you're in.
How To Achieve Great Skin
For many of us, great skin doesn’t happen by chance. It takes dedicated action in the form of consistent, thoughtful effort! This entails daily, morning, and evening cleansing, toning, treating, and moisturising with carefully selected formulas, weekly at-home facials, and trips to your local Pevonia spa! Is good skincare worth it? Absolutely! But let’s define “good skincare” first. Clean skincare epitomises good skincare as it is free of harmful ingredients. It utilises non-toxic, safe ingredients and refrains from parabens, phthalates, mineral oil, animal testing, fragrances, dyes, etc. Next, it should employ encapsulation and delivery systems for science backed, results driven skincare results.
An ideal skincare routine will include a Sulfate-free cleanser, Alcohol-free toner, and intensive yet skin-loving natural skin care serum. Following these three steps with a moisturising sunscreen in the morning and a moisturising cream at night is vital for skin success! Next, good skincare for you may not be good skincare for your mom, friend, or partner. We must each use effective skin care geared to our skin type and concerns.
And remember, more is not always better. If you’d like to know the best quantities for each skincare product type, our esthetician has the answers here. Want to maximise results for your healthiest skin ever? Boost skin health with an in-depth consultation for your ideal products and professional treatments. Visit Find A Spa for a Pevonia stockist near you and ask for one of the following Pevonia treatments to address your skin concerns: Lumafirm® Lift & Glow Freeze-Dried Facial Treatment, Micro-Retinol® Essential Peel Treatment, RS2 Rosacea Mask Treatment, or ProCorrective® Clear-Control Blemished Skin Treatment!
Pevonia Bright Skin Green Apple Mask
Pevonia C Complexe with Oxyzomes
Pevonia Micro-Retinol Essential Foaming Cleanser
Pevonia ProCorrective Clear-Control Exfoliator
