Hello! Things are pretty busy at school these days. I'm studying for an anatomy and physiology test, plus working on clients. Last weekend I went to an International Skin Conference in Dallas and this weekend I'm going to a PCA chemical peel class in San Antonio. It's all fascinating, but can actually be a bit overwhelming. It seems that every company, esthetician and doctor have their own philosophy about what works and what doesn't. I'm trying to wade through it all and decide for myself.
I really need to study for this upcoming test, but wanted to post a skin fact I learned at the conference last weekend:
When you blush, the lining of your stomach also turns red. Your cheeks and stomach lining have the same type of blood vessels - cutaneous resistance vessels - that get rosy in reaction to increased blood pressure.
This tidbit really echoed what I took away from the conference. The physical things we can see on our skin can be a reflection of something going on in our bodies. Take this into consideration as you examine your face in the morning. Could it be related if you're constipated AND you're breaking out? It's something to consider. The more I learn about our skin, the more I realize we need to treat our entire bodies because it's all obviously connected.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Picking Products
I often get asked, "Which products are the most important to use?" I don't really have a standard answer because each person is different and everyone's skin has its own unique need. Plus, we all have different budgets and time allowances - and this affects which products we use.
When I give a facial, here's what's usually involved:
When I give a facial, here's what's usually involved:
- Two cleanses
- Exfoliation
- Massage with aromatherapy and massage oil
- Mask
- Toner
- Moisturizer
- Sunscreen
Most people aren't going to go through all these steps everyday - nor is it necessary. At the very minimum, I recommend a good cleanser, a gentle exfoliant, a moisturizer and a sunscreen to use on a daily basis. Whatever products you decide to use, make sure they're right for your skin type (which I think is half the battle). For example, if you have oily skin with lots of breakouts or blackheads, you may want to find a cleanser with salicylic acid. You wouldn't use anything with salicylic acid if you're a dry skin type.
Splish Splash
I recommend washing your face two times, twice a day. Yes, I said TWO times, twice a day. Washing your face the first time gets off all the dirt and debris we've accumulated overnight and throughout the day. The second cleanse actually reaches your real skin. It's like washing your hair. Think about the instructions on your shampoo bottle. It probably says something like, "Wash. Rinse. Repeat." The first wash removes the dirt and oil from your hair and the second wash actually cleans your hair. It's the same for your skin. Also, remember to wash your face with upward strokes. Don't help gravity by pulling down or you'll be sorry later on when you have saggy skin.
Scrub-a-dub-dub
Our skin produces over 1 million dead skin cells every 40 minutes. Think about that. It's disgusting. That's why exfoliation is so important. You may not need to exfoliate daily, but you should definitely exfoliate at least twice a week. Use something gentle like Dermalogica's Daily Microfoliant (which you CAN use everyday if you'd like). People often think of St. Ives Apricot Scrub when they think of exfoliating, but I think it's too abrasive for your face so please don't use it. Plus, it uses ingredients that are comedogenic which mean they're likely to clog your pores.
Exfoliation deserves its very own blog post because it's so important, but one more interesting reason to exfoliate is because it helps loosen up dirt and oil (sebum) that gets trapped in the pores. That dirt and oil is what causes blackheads. Exfoliation will oxygenate the pores and keep your skin clear and healthy. That being said, don't over exfoliate. If you experience redness or agitation, decrease the amount of times you're exfoliating and see if that helps.
Lotion Potion
Moisturizing is important no matter your skin type. You just have to find the right kind of moisturizer. I have a client who wasn't moisturizing because she had oily skin and thought it would make her even more oily. As a result, she became an oily AND acneic skin type. Her body started producing more oil because her skin needed extra hydration. Once I got her using the right kind of moisturizer, her skin cleared up because it wasn't over producing oil. In her case, she used Dermalogica's Active Moist. You should use your moisturizer once a day at the least (nighttime) but you can apply it under your sunscreen if you feel you need extra hydration during the day.
Out Came the Sun
My final product recommendation is sunscreen. Preferably SPF 30. I went into the nitty gritty details on my blog post from Tuesday, April 27, 2010, Fun in the Sun? Wear Sunscreen. It outlines what type of sunscreen to use, why it's so important and how often you should reapply.
There are other types of products you can add to your regimen such as serums, masks and toners. I personally use Vitamin C and Retexturizing Activator serums from SkinCeuticals for extra hydration. You just have to find the products that work best for your skin and be patient. I can help you identify products that are right for your skin type and get you on a regimen. Feel free to message me on this blog or call me at 402-699-3481 to schedule a consultation.
Splish Splash
I recommend washing your face two times, twice a day. Yes, I said TWO times, twice a day. Washing your face the first time gets off all the dirt and debris we've accumulated overnight and throughout the day. The second cleanse actually reaches your real skin. It's like washing your hair. Think about the instructions on your shampoo bottle. It probably says something like, "Wash. Rinse. Repeat." The first wash removes the dirt and oil from your hair and the second wash actually cleans your hair. It's the same for your skin. Also, remember to wash your face with upward strokes. Don't help gravity by pulling down or you'll be sorry later on when you have saggy skin.
Scrub-a-dub-dub
Our skin produces over 1 million dead skin cells every 40 minutes. Think about that. It's disgusting. That's why exfoliation is so important. You may not need to exfoliate daily, but you should definitely exfoliate at least twice a week. Use something gentle like Dermalogica's Daily Microfoliant (which you CAN use everyday if you'd like). People often think of St. Ives Apricot Scrub when they think of exfoliating, but I think it's too abrasive for your face so please don't use it. Plus, it uses ingredients that are comedogenic which mean they're likely to clog your pores.
Exfoliation deserves its very own blog post because it's so important, but one more interesting reason to exfoliate is because it helps loosen up dirt and oil (sebum) that gets trapped in the pores. That dirt and oil is what causes blackheads. Exfoliation will oxygenate the pores and keep your skin clear and healthy. That being said, don't over exfoliate. If you experience redness or agitation, decrease the amount of times you're exfoliating and see if that helps.
Lotion Potion
Moisturizing is important no matter your skin type. You just have to find the right kind of moisturizer. I have a client who wasn't moisturizing because she had oily skin and thought it would make her even more oily. As a result, she became an oily AND acneic skin type. Her body started producing more oil because her skin needed extra hydration. Once I got her using the right kind of moisturizer, her skin cleared up because it wasn't over producing oil. In her case, she used Dermalogica's Active Moist. You should use your moisturizer once a day at the least (nighttime) but you can apply it under your sunscreen if you feel you need extra hydration during the day.
Out Came the Sun
My final product recommendation is sunscreen. Preferably SPF 30. I went into the nitty gritty details on my blog post from Tuesday, April 27, 2010, Fun in the Sun? Wear Sunscreen. It outlines what type of sunscreen to use, why it's so important and how often you should reapply.
There are other types of products you can add to your regimen such as serums, masks and toners. I personally use Vitamin C and Retexturizing Activator serums from SkinCeuticals for extra hydration. You just have to find the products that work best for your skin and be patient. I can help you identify products that are right for your skin type and get you on a regimen. Feel free to message me on this blog or call me at 402-699-3481 to schedule a consultation.
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