Stunning Answers to Three Skincare Questions

Q1: Don't I need to moisturize?

Short answer: Probably not.

Moisturization is born out of the skin needing an artificial protectant to recover its basic working order. That happens when the skin is damaged continuously and doesn't have good enough conditions to restore itself. And what usually causes that damage? Skincare. The mindless cleansing and scrubbing that everyone uses by default — anything that comes in a bottle or a bar — dries out and damages the skin. Do that enough times and you may need a moisturizer. But if you don't cleanse, exfoliate, and otherwise disrupt your skin barrier — you'll likely not need to moisturize at all.

Q2: Don't I need to cleanse my skin?

Short answer: No.

The head-to-toe cleansing routine that seems universal today is actually a very recent phenomenon. It has zero proven benefits and clear default downsides. Cleansing strips your skin barrier and gives you nothing in return — nothing. All those things you hear about that must be cleaned away — dirt, bacteria, gunk, pus, dead skin cells — are either invented buzzwords designed to drive you to action, or they are legitimate parts of your skin that you actually need. The industry has simply manipulated the language to make you want to get rid of them — which damages your skin — so that you'll then need a moisturizer to fix the damage. And by the way — if you're worried about skincare products staying on your skin, like lotions, creams, or sunblock — perhaps the better answer is to stop applying them in the first place.

Q3: Doesn't everyone need to use sunblock?

Short answer: Absolutely not.

Sunblock is another very recent product category marketed as protection from harmful sun exposure — so pervasive that people who have never burned or even tanned are using it daily. Sunblock should be used if you run the risk of actual sunburn. Here is a simple rule of thumb:

Find out how long it takes for you to get slightly pink the next day after spending time in the sun. That amount of sun is your Minimal Erythemal Dose (MED). You can safely get 30–50% of that without fear of sunburn. If you think you'll exceed that — try to get out of the sun, cover up with solid fabric and a wide-brim hat, or find shade. Only if none of those options are available — then yes, apply sunblock on the exposed areas to prevent burning.