By Zoya Gervis // SWNS
NEWS COPY w/ VIDEO + INFOGRAPHIC
Two in three Americans say their imperfect skin is holding them back from feeling confident, according to new research.
In an attempt to gain confidence through clearer skin, respondents are using their time at home to care for their skin.
With people spending significantly more time at home, 46% say they’ve found they’ve used the extra time to care for their skin and 91% feel their skin is healthier after spending more time at home.
The study of 2,000 Americans conducted by OnePoll in conjunction with CeraVe aimed to discover how much Americans actually know about their skin and habits often overlooked that may be keeping them from healthy skin.
But, 58% are worried they’ve already done too much damage to their skin.
And 64% feel guilty about not taking skincare seriously enough.
Although, this is understandable because learning about skincare happens overtime. In fact, nearly 80% somewhat or strongly agree with using trial and error to determine what products work best for their skin, over half (53%) have changed their skincare products over time — and 38% say they have tried 6-10 different cleansers the average person studied trying out seven different cleansers before finally landing on one that worked for their skin.
Still, even with learning more overtime, if time travel was an option, 58% would go back and take their skin seriously way before they actually did.
However cleansing did start early for some, with 47% of people who said they started to use a facial cleanser before they were 17. By the time the average American has hit the age of 26, they’ve just begun worrying about the health and appearance of their skin.
Admittedly, 43% reveal they feel guilty about popping pimples when they were younger while 30% wish they would have educated themselves about the proper skincare products for their skin type when they were younger.
Another 22% of respondents say they feel guilty about using harsh skincare products and 21% regret scrubbing their face with a washcloth.
Over a quarter of those studied started taking care of their skin routinely because of a desire to prevent signs of aging.
And two in five were prompted to finally take their skin seriously and ultimately begin a skincare routine due to a skin concern.
When it comes to choosing what they use, the same number of respondents reported using dish soap and micellar water on their faces.
Unfortunately, many are unaware of the proper ways to take care of their skin. Forty-two percent wrongly think they can properly wash their face with just water.
Nearly a quarter (23%) of those surveyed have no idea what type of cleanser is right for their face — with 27% completely unaware of what their skin type even is.
“When I am helping my patients select a cleanser, I make sure they are looking for key ingredients like ceramides and hyaluronic acid, which will help restore the skin barrier without taking away moisture,” said board-certified dermatologist Dr. Sejal Shah. “I recommend CeraVe® because they offer a full range of gentle cleansers for different skin types that are formulated with these ingredients, so skin can reap all the benefits a cleanser should offer, including removing oil and grime while leaving skin with the optimal amount of moisture.”
TOP 5 SKINCARE REGRETS
- Picking at pimples/acne 43%
- Not educating themselves about the proper skincare products for their skin type 30%
- Not starting a skincare routine earlier 28%
- Not routinely seeing a dermatologist 23%
- Not cleansing their skin properly 23%
TOP 5 REASONS FOR HEALTHY SKIN DURING QUARANTINE
- More time to care for skin 46%
- Drinking more water 45%
- Less exposure to outdoor elements 44%
- Less exposure to pollution 37%
- Getting more sleep 35%
