Skincare and cosmetics: guide

This topic area is the overview of facial skincare on this site. Luljeta Dine is Beauty Director at AQAFACIAL™, author and expert in cosmetics, wellness and well-being. The guides explain what you can look for in a product and where cosmetics reach their limits. They are not medical advice and they make no diagnoses.

Good skincare does not need a long shelf. It needs a few steps you can keep up, products you tolerate and an honest view of what a cream can do. Cosmetics care for the skin. They do not treat illnesses.

Facial skincare in five questions

How do I build a routine? A simple routine is enough to start with: cleansing, a moisturiser and, in the morning, sun protection. The guide to a routine in three steps walks through it. For sun protection, see the guide on the UV index.

How do I cleanse my face in the evening? The guide Evening cleansing: gel, oil or balm compares gel, oil and balm.

Do I need a day cream and a night cream? The guide Day cream and night cream answers this. The page What to look for in a moisturiser (in German) lists criteria instead of brands. It carries no commission and names no products.

When does eye care make sense? The guide Eye care: when does it make sense? goes into it.

Which skin type do I have? The skin type test (in German) helps you sort your skin and gives hints for a suitable routine. It runs in your browser and stores nothing. It is not an examination.

All guides in this area

• A skincare routine in three steps: cleanse, care, protect
• Evening cleansing: gel, oil or balm?
• Day cream and night cream: do you need both?
• The eight most common skincare mistakes
• Eye care: when does it make sense?
• How to read an INCI list in five steps
• Understanding the UV index: when sun protection is needed

Tools and further pages in German

• Skin type test: which care suits you? (in German)
• Skincare for beginners: routine builder (in German)
• Moisturiser: what to look for (in German)
• Kosmetik und Gesichtspflege, the full topic area (in German)

How to read a cosmetic product

The German consumer advice centre (Verbraucherzentrale) explains how to read the packaging.

• The ingredients are listed under the heading "Ingredients", in descending order by weight. The main components come first and substances used in small amounts come last.
• The names follow the international nomenclature INCI. Some manufacturers print a translation as well. It does not have to be complete, so the INCI list is the one to rely on.
• Other details on the pack include the intended use, the quantity, storage advice such as "store in a cool place after opening", and precautions such as "do not use on irritated skin".
• If a product keeps for less than 30 months, you find "best before" or an hourglass symbol. If it keeps for longer, an open jar symbol shows how long it lasts after opening: "12 M" means 12 months.
• The advice centre suggests writing the date of first opening on the label.

Limits of cosmetics: when to see a doctor

Cosmetics care for the skin. They do not treat diseases. According to the Verbraucherzentrale, you should see a doctor if a rash or another unwanted reaction appears after you use a product. A doctor can find out which ingredient caused it, and you can avoid that substance in future. Keep the product and take it to the appointment. You can also report the reaction to the manufacturer or an authority.

As a precaution: if your skin changes in a way you cannot explain or causes discomfort, ask a doctor. Cosmetic advice cannot replace an examination.

The German Dermatological Society explains that appointments with a dermatologist can take a while to get. Its page on finding a specialist points to the search of the professional association of German dermatologists and to the Doctolib portal, where you can also book appointments. Both are in German.

Questions and answers

Does my routine need many products?

The Verbraucherzentrale writes that for skin and hair, less is often more. The routine builder for beginners shows how a simple routine can be built.

How do I know if a product does not suit me?

Signs are a rash or another unwanted reaction after use. What to do then is described in the section above.

Can a cream remove visible wrinkles?

According to the Verbraucherzentrale, visible wrinkles cannot simply be "creamed away". Advertising for cosmetics often promises more than the product delivers. Read claims with care and look at the ingredient list rather than the slogan.

Does the skin type test replace a visit to the dermatologist?

No. The skin type test gives hints for care and makes no diagnosis. For skin complaints, a dermatologist is the right person to ask.

About the author

The page About Luljeta Dine explains who writes these guides. Back to the English start page.