What comes to mind when you think of the word skin? For me, I think of skincare - bottles and tubes and jars of products with colorful packaging and good features. But in reality, the skin is the body's largest organ and part of the integumentary system alongside our hair, nails, oil, and sweat glands.
Skin is made up of water, protein, fats, and minerals and has three layers of tissues.
Epidermis, the top layer:
- Acts as a protective barrier: Keeps bacteria and germs from entering our body and bloodstreams. The epidermis also protects against any mechanical, thermal, and physical injuries.
- Protects your body: Langerhans cells found in the epidermis are part of our body's immune system that help fight off germs and infections.
- Regenerates: Did you know that we get new skin every 30 days? Our body is constantly renewing itself, so much so that we shed approximately 40,000 old skin cells, and it is the epidermis that produces new skin cells.
- Gives pigment: Melanin, the determinator of our skin color, is found in the epidermis. The more melanins one has, the darker his skin and the faster he would tan.
The dermis, the middle layer that makes up 90% of skin's thickness:
- Collagen & elastin: The two proteins keep skin cells strong, resilient, and flexible. Often associated with wrinkles and fine lines as these naturally produced proteins slow down as we age.
- Hair follicles: The dermis has the roots of hair follicles attached, making it also responsible for hair growth
- Nerves: Nerves and nerve receptors in the dermis tell us when something is hot or cold to the touch, itchy, rough, or painful.
- Maintaining moisture: Sebaceous glands produce an oily lubricant to keep skin and hair hydrated and healthy.
- Produces sweat: Sweat glands in the dermis release sweat through skin pores to help regulate body temperature.
- Supplies blood: Blood vessels in the dermis provide nutrients to the epidermis to keep skin healthy.
The hypodermis, the bottom layer, aka the fatty layer:
- Protects your body: Fat in the hypodermis acts as a protective cushion to enable smooth movements and acts as a shock absorber to save organs, muscles, and bones.
- Regulates body temperature: Fat in the hypodermis keeps us from getting too hot or cold.
After learning more about our skin, not only am I amazed and recognize that there is so much more to our skin than meets the eye (pun intended), but I have a renewed sense of appreciation for it. Skin is not just our face; healthy skin, like all aspects of beauty, starts from within - a healthy and balanced diet, a positive mindset, an active lifestyle.
At Oil Divine, we recognize that your skin deserves special care and treatment. From customizable skin solutions such as the Personal AM & PM Face Oil to our skincare product for your body, the Revitalizing Body Oil. Because why shouldn't your body deserve the same quality lovin' your skin does? Formulated with potent botanical oils rich in essential vitamins, minerals, organic acids, amino acids, and antioxidants - this body oil invigorates the senses with its natural jasmine and neroli aromas while deeply hydrating and nourishing the skin, boosts cell regeneration to leave you with ageless, glowing skin all over.