Know the Differences Between These Popular Beauty Products
Soap or shampoo in a bar? Make-up with SPF or sunscreen with color? Discover all the differences between self-care products.
The daily beauty routine, whether with the face, body, hair, or even teeth, is a very important moment of self-care for the maintenance of your health. However, sometimes, performing this care can be a little complicated, especially for beginners, who can easily get confused by the large number of products available on the market—mainly because they look similar at first sight. However, be aware that using the wrong products can be really catastrophic and with consequences ranging from loss of effectiveness to aggression in the area.
To help you carry out a hassle-free beauty routine, we've put together a team of experts to point out the main points between self-care products that, despite being similar, have important differences. Check it out!
Conventional Soap Vs. Facial Soap
Many people believe that facial soap is just a marketing ploy, but not quite. Conventional soap and facial soap have important differences, it is recommended that you have both. “The pH of conventional soap is incompatible with the skin on the face. Therefore, if used in this region, it can cause dehydration and then the rebound effect. And the same is true in the opposite case, since, being milder, facial soap may not be effective in removing dirt and oil from the body,” says dermatologist Dr. Paola Pomerantzeff.
Even among facial soaps, it is important to pay attention to choosing a product that suits your skin. Oily skins, for example, can bet on products that control sebum production, such as Be Belle's Poros Soap with Glycolic Acid, while drier skins should invest in more hydrating products, such as Be Belle's Poros Moisturizing Soap.
Facial Scrub Vs. Body Scrub
Again, having an exfoliant for each body part is not just a marketing ploy. “The skin on the body is different from the skin on the face and, therefore, it must be treated with specific products. An exfoliant suitable for use on the body usually contains larger particles to be able to effectively treat the skin in the region, which is thicker. Consequently, these body scrubs are more abrasive and can cause lesions when used on the face, which has more sensitive skin,” says dermatologist Dr. Abdo Salomão Jr. The hope is that the facial exfoliant contains smaller particles, as is the case with the Exfoliante Tribeca, by BURB, which has apricot seeds in its composition.
Micellar Water Vs. Astringent Tonic
According to Dr. Pomerantzeff, both the facial tonic and the thermal water work as a complement to skin cleansing, removing impurities that didn't just come off with the soap, in addition to normalizing the skin's pH, which also contributes to better absorption of the cosmetic actives that will be applied. The difference between these products is in the indication. “Micellar water has micelles that attract dirt, pollution, and oil particles without the need for friction, making it ideal for use by drier and more sensitive skin. The astringent tonic, on the other hand, has an action to control oiliness and is, therefore, recommended for oily and mixed skin," advises the dermatologist, who also states that micellar water can still be used as a make-up remover.
Creams Vs. Serums
Both products function to hydrate the skin, and may also bring in the composition a series of ingredients chosen according to the characteristics of each skin. “These products used can be formulated with a series of actives to meet the needs of each skin, such as calming, anti-inflammatory, lightening, rejuvenating and, mainly, antioxidant substances," explains Dr. Roberta Padovan. The big difference between these two products is in the vehicle, that is, the texture of the cosmetic, and, consequently, in its indication. “Serums, as well as gels, are lighter vehicles mainly indicated for the treatment of oily and mixed skins, while creams, and also lotions, are thicker vehicles, ideal for dry skin," completes the doctor.
Makeup with FPS Vs. Photo Protector with Color
Despite looking the same, makeup with SPF does not have the same effectiveness in photoprotection as sunscreens with color. “Generally, the SPF of makeup is very low, being insufficient to protect the skin. So, for those who wear makeup, the ideal is to opt for a sunscreen with a high coverage color, which, in addition to being effective in protection, also acts as a base," warns dermatologist Dr. Daniel Cassiano.
The good news is that colored sunscreen protects the skin more than the traditional version. “That's because the shade of the sunscreen is provided by the presence of iron oxide in the composition, a substance capable of absorbing the sun's visible radiation. Today, we know that visible light plays an important role in the skin's pigmentation process, favoring the triggering of pigmentary dermatoses, such as melasma and post-inflammatory hyperchromia," says the doctor.
Soap Vs. Shampoo Bar
Once again, the bar shampoo is not just a strategy for you to buy a soap for a more expensive value. These are very different products. “Using a solid or bar shampoo has nothing to do with washing your hair with soap. Soaps or soaps undergo a saponification process, have more chemical additives and a more alkaline pH, thus being aggressive to the threads. The bar shampoos were specifically developed to be used on the scalp. The base of vegetable oils can even be the same as the soap, but the components are in a more adequate quantity for the treatment of this region, in addition to the formula is more nutritious and the pH being more balanced,” adds dermatologist Dr. Patrícia Mafra.
Floss Vs. Interdental Brush
Although both act in cleaning the region between the teeth, dental floss, and interdental brushes, such as CPS Prime by Curaprox, have different actions that complement each other. “While flossing helps to remove food debris and very tight contact points, the interdental brush disorganizes the bacterial plaque in the interdental irregularities and depressions that floss cannot clean,” concludes Dr. Hugo Lewgoy, a surgical dentist and doctor from USP.
