Why you need a skincare routine
Your habits regarding the care of your skin will have lasting effects, much like brushing and flossing your teeth. Creating a regular, healthy skincare routine will help to keep your body’s largest organ humming along, looking and feeling great for many years to come. On the other hand, neglected skin can be dull, dry, overly sensitized, broken out and susceptible to long term damage that is often difficult to reverse. When the skin is broken, dry, or cracked it makes you vulnerable to myriad bacterial infections and causes premature aging.
Maintaining a balanced pH is critical to skin health. PH stands for “potential hydrogen” and is a scale used to rank the acidity and alkaline levels of surfaces and substances. Anything that’s applied to the skin can alter your pH including household water, which contains fluoride, chlorine, and other potential irritants. Many skincare products contain alcohol and detergents that irritate your skin, altering your pH and creating a critically dry condition that then takes at least 24 hours to naturally rebalance.
Our skin is alive, and we need to understand its needs before applying any products to its delicate surface. A customized, consistent skincare routine will help keep your pH in balance so it can continue to repair and protect itself throughout the day.
I recommend coming in to see us for a 60-minute skin treatment so we can help you find appropriate products to use according to your specific needs. We are trained to design a routine that will address your needs, goals, and lifestyle.
Ready to dive in and get started? The following are my recommended routines from the most simple to the most advanced.
Type 1 - Simple
If your current routine is just soap and water, or if you have extremely sensitive skin (rosacea, eczema, or dermatographia) your best bet is to start with the basics. A visit to a skin therapist will help you determine your skin type and condition and which skincare formulas will work best for you. Consistency is the key to creating a routine, so it’s critical that you start with products that feel and work best for you so you’ll enjoy the finest results possible.
And don’t forget to apply an SPF during the day! EVERY. SINGLE. DAY.
Your routine looks like this:
AM
Cleanser
Toner
Moisturizer w/SPF 30-60
PM
Cleanser (cleanse twice if you wear makeup)
Toner
Moisturizer
After a month, add a gentle exfoliant between cleansing and toning 1-2 times per week to help slough off dead skin cells, and brighten the complexion.
Twice-yearly professional skin treatments will help improve your skin health as it evolves and help you make adjustments to your routine.
Type 2 - Intermediate
Ready to up your skincare game? You know your skin type, and you’ve got the cleansing and moisturizing thing down—you’re ready to try a serum or a mask to elevate your results. These products are more concentrated and may require an initial skin consultation or treatment to make sure the one you use is appropriate for your skin type, condition, and goals.
Your routine looks like this-
AM
Cleanser
Toner or Essence
Serum
Moisturizer w/SPF 30-60
PM
Micellar water (if you wear makeup)
Cleanser
Toner or Essence
Serum
Moisturizer
Once per week
Add an exfoliant after your cleanser either in the AM or PM.
Use a mask bi-weekly to address any current skin issues.
Skin treatments should be done monthly or bi-monthly, maximizing the absorption of your daily products, helping your skin adapt to seasonal climate changes and rebalancing stress-related conditions.
Type 3 - Advanced
For those of you that have been following an effective routine and are looking to level up to really amplify your results, customizing your serums will have a profound effect.
Using different serums in the AM and PM will help you achieve multiple goals at once. Your skin therapist can recommend when to use each one depending on their purpose and active ingredients. I recommend applying each product in order of its molecular size.
Your routine looks like this-
AM
Cleanser
Exfoliant
Essence
Toner
Serum
Eye Cream
Moisturizer w/SPF
PM
Makeup remover (oil or micellar water)
Cleanser
Essence
Toner
Serum
Eye Cream
Moisturizer OR overnight mask
Once or twice per week
Exfoliate after your cleanser either in the A.M. or P.M. to get rid of dull skin cells and promote denser collagen, and to help the absorption of your serum and moisturizer.
A weekly PM mask after cleansing is ideal for addressing skin concerns such as dehydration, excess oil and blackheads, or loss of firmness.
Monthly professional skin treatments will keep your skin fresh, hydrated and detoxified, amplifying the results of your targeted serums.
Each year, advanced professional treatments preformed in a series or 3 or 6 (such as peels and brightening treatments) will optimize skin health, minimize visible signs of aging and address any concerns that may pop up from time to time.
Staying on track
The ideal skincare routine will result in continual improvements of your skin, but knowing when to alter your routine to maximize your results can be tricky on your own. Consulting your trusted skin therapist can help you determine when and how to make adjustments. Just like a personal trainer, a visit to a skin therapist for a professional treatment will answer your questions and refine your routine to keep you on track. Professional skin treatments, (containing more potent ingredients and penetrating more deeply than over-the-counter products) will also remove excess build-up, and allow for better absorption of your at-home products.
Obviously, the results will vary depending on which routine you’re comfortable with. But if you see your skin beginning to dry, dull, or prematurely age there is a routine that can help you reach your goals. The trick is to start now and be consistent.