The importance of Skincare
Developing a skin care routine is important for several reasons, regardless of age, skin condition, or skin type. A good regimen can start at any age but without a doubt, prevention is easier than correction. Taking good care of your skin today means the less you’ll have to spend on expensive treatments as you age.
Step 1 – Cleanse
The first step to a good skincare is a cleanser that is right for your skin. This is an important step because you want to make sure it’s taking off any dirt, oil, or makeup that may be on your skin. Choosing the right cleanser is also important because you don’t want anything that’s too harsh on your skin or exacerbates your problem. If your skin is sensitive or dry use a cream or gentle gel cleanser, if your skin is oily, acne prone or combination, use a salicylic acid or glycolic acid cleanser. Doing this can add the right amount of hydration or remove any excess oils and prevent build up in the pores.
Step 2 – Exfoliate
As we age our cell turnover rate slows, so it is our job to make sure we select products and treatments that help speed up that process. It’s important to make sure you exfoliate your skin with a good granular scrub at least 3-4 times per week, and a deep exfoliation (chemical peel, microdermabrasion) at least once a month, this helps to slough off the top dead layer of skin and make your skin appear brighter, smoother, and younger. It also helps your products to penetrate better and clear out any impurities that may be clogged in your pores. Using exfoliating toners with a mixture of AHA and BHA’s can also help absorb and control oil, take off any extra makeup or dirt left on the skin.
Step 3 – Correct & Prevent
Another important step is choosing the right corrective and/or preventative products for your skin issues. When dealing with dark spots, ageing, or acne, or all the above its imperative to use products with the correct ingredients to avoid worsening the problem you’re trying to treat or creating another problem. When dealing with ageing or dullness, products that have growth factors, or peptide technologies are best for stimulating collagen and giving the skin an overall plumpness. In addition, vitamin C serums or other antioxidants can prevent free radical damage caused by environmental and sun exposure, it can also prevent new pigment formation to keep the skin tone even. Acne is another issue that requires preventative and correction, topical products that include salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide can help prevent build up in the pores by exfoliating the skin and keeping the pores clear. It’s important to be aware of the ingredients used in products that frequently break your skin out and to be sure to avoid them. Some silicones, typically dimethicone, and trimethicone are silicones added to products to give them a soft feeling but it can also sometimes be comedogenic, another ingredient to avoid is Vitamin C, or L- Ascorbic acid as it can be comedogenic to someone who has acne prone skin. It’s best to try products for at least 2 weeks to give your skin enough time to get used to the new products.
The best way to find out what products are right for is by talking to your Aesthetician so you can get a fully customized regimen based on your skin’s needs. Follow your prescribed regimen and if it doesn’t work at first, don’t panic, finding a regimen can take time but in the end it’s all worth it.
