Your Beauty Routine is More Than Skin Deep By: Kari Solyntjes It’s never too late to take care of your skin and the best time to start is now. I’m sure you’ve heard that phrase before in many contexts of life; exercise, eating right etc. So one would think that washing your face and applying a moisturizer were easy enough, but with the latest science in skincare it can be downright daunting at times. Take for example the first step with cleansing. You don’t want to use a cleanser that is too harsh and strips your face of its natural oils. Yet, you want something that cleans off your makeup, dirt and oils that accumulate throughout the day. If you have oily skin, you should use a clarifying cleanser, which helps to bring the pH level of your skin to normal. But if you have mature or dry skin, never use a clarifying cleanser as they are just too drying and harsh on your skin. For you, look to a lotion type cleanser or the word "gentle" on the cleanser. Personally, I feel that if you want to save money on your skincare there are many drugstore brands that can fit this bill, such as the highly dermatologist recommended Cetaphil and Aveeno which would be a good place to start. If you aren’t a twice-a-day face washer, at least cleanse your face at night. Never go to bed with makeup on your face, besides not being good for your skin, well, it can be downright disgusting to think of all that on your face while you sleep! It can also clog your pores and not allow your other products to work. Some people recommend serums and swear by them (me for example) and others feel they aren’t so important. Serums are highly concentrated formulas that penetrate the skin to give your skin that needed boost. A serum is not as general as say a cleanser. Serums can be targeted to work on your specific needs. Having a serum with vitamin C is highly recommended, especially for living in Texas. It works to prevent future damage to your skin and ladies, we do not want to look like we’re 80 if we’re only 40! The problem with vitamin C and its effectiveness is that it’s difficult to keep it stabilized, therefore it can lose its potency if not properly stored. Look for a dark bottle with a tight seal to preserve its potency, otherwise they can be a waste of money. One of my favorites is by iS Clinical called C&E Serum Advance+. Most dermatologists, such as NYC Dermatologist Dr. Doris Day, will recommend using a retinol product, also know as Vitamin A. You can get an over the counter retinol product such as RoC Deep Wrinkle Night Cream or a prescription strength version from your dermatologist. Retinol is really the only product that has been proven to reverse the aging damage to your face. Do not use this at the same time as another serum because they can counter-act each other. Try using your vitamin C serum in the morning and the retinol product at night. Some retinols can be drying and harsh, so you may have to ease into them, only using once or twice a week before building up to daily. There are also a variety of brands such as Tazorac, so again it’s best to discuss with your dermatologist if you want something stronger than what an OTC has to offer. Your daytime moisturizer can depend on the type of skin you have. Some people are oily and prefer a lightweight moisturizer, and others are dry and want something more in a cream form. One thing you should be looking for in your daytime moisturizer is definitely an SPF of at least 15. That way if you forget to apply your sunscreen, you at least have some minimal coverage during the day. There are some great OTC dermatologist recommended moisturizers such as the Olay Regenerist line L’Oreal Skin Genesis or RevitaLift, depending on your skin type and age of your skin. At night time, a face cream without SPF is best, and most night creams are a bit heavier. It’s a great time to really moisturize your face without having to worry about applying makeup over it. Some great moisturizers like Kate Somerville’s Deep Tissue Repair also have peptides in them. Peptides are great in helping your skin to build collagen, which gives your skin its thickness and firmness so you definitely want that! Do you really need a separate eye cream? I have always used a separate eye cream as I’ve had reactions to moisturizers that I use on my face. The skin around your eye is typically thinner; therefore some of the products used on your face are just too strong around the eyes. Look for eye creams that suit your needs. Do you have just fine lines starting to appear, or are you puffy? Do you have dark circles or mature wrinkling around your eyes. Take a good look at your eyes and find a suitable eye cream for your needs. But ladies, lets be honest. None of this is going to help your skin if you don’t apply a sunscreen every day. In the hot Texas sun, you should have at least an SPF 30 and look for one that has UVA/UVB protection. Check out the Skin Cancer Foundation’s site at www.skincancer.org for a list of recommended sunscreens. Sunscreen is your first and best defense against aging. And don’t forget to visit your dermatologist yearly for an annual skin cancer exam, prevention is the best medicine. |