Skincare 101

What you should know before starting a new skincare routine.

Maybe you’ve skirted through with a minimalist skincare regiment but as you get older you’re thinking that your skin is something that you should invest in. With all the products on the market, it can be overwhelming and hard to know where to start.

Shopping for cosmetic products can sometimes feel like spinning a roulette wheel and hoping for a positive outcome. Gambling on your skincare can be costly! You could find yourself spending hundreds of dollars on products that aren’t right for your skin type before you hit the jackpot and land on the right ones.

Start with a facial!

With every facial, your esthetician will do a skin analysis that will determine what your skin needs most. Your facial treatment and at home recommendations will be tailored for your specific skincare needs. Having a facial prior to starting a new skincare regime will also optimize results of the products you’ll be using at home. This is because the facial preps the skin to allow for better product absorption.

When your esthetician is advising you on what type of products will work best for your skin concerns, they will also take in consideration other factors such as lifestyle and budget. For example, a busy mom who gets to the end of her day may not want to get into a regiment that takes valuable minutes away from her sleep time. She wants something that’s quick and easy. The scenario is different for everyone. Your esthetician will ask you some lifestyle questions and advise you on what type of products will meet your individual needs, routine and budget. You likely won’t get these in depth considerations when shopping at a beauty counter.

Products you can incorporate into your at home skincare routine.

We will look at the several steps you can implement into your skincare routine. Don’t be overwhelmed…maybe at first, you’ll only start out with one or two options since that is what will work for you. Other’s may decide that they want to jump into a full routine. Whether you do one thing or all of them, what’s important is that you are making a positive change in your skin!

Cleansers

Your skin needs to be cleansed of the impurities you’ve encountered during your day such as environmental pollutants, natural oils, and makeup. A proper cleansing will help keep your skin looking radiant and help you to avoid issues such as acne, premature aging and a dull complexion. Your esthetician will advise you on what cleanser is right for your skin type.

Toners

After cleansing the skin, it is important to use a toner. A toner will remove any last traces of impurities and helps to tighten pores.

Serums

Serums are usually applied to thoroughly cleansed skin prior to applying your moisturizer. The serum that you choose will be tailored to your skincare needs. Serums can be used to help fight acne, premature aging, dull complexion, age spots, etc. You can think of a serum as the powerhouse that specifically targets your skincare concerns.

Moisturizers

Using a facial moisturizer helps to create a protective barrier and restore nutrients that your skin may be lacking. The type of moisturizer that you choose will depend on what your skin needs most. You may also choose to use a different moisturizer for day and night. Your esthetician will consider your skin needs and budget in to find the perfect product that will work for you.

Exfoliants

By exfoliating you are sloughing off dead skin cells to reveal a brighter more radiant complexion. Exfoliation is also key to helping with product absorption. Exfoliants are not recommended for all skin types or conditions such as acne or rosacea which is why it’s important to consult a professional prior to purchasing.

Target Specific Products

In addition to the above steps, you may also choose to incorporate more target specific products. These might include facial masks, eye products, spot brightening treatments and more focused premature aging solutions.

A Good Starting Point

Of course we would love to see everyone have access to all of the above steps but we realize that it isn’t always realistic. We often advise to at least start with a good cleanser and moisturizer. These would be your fundamental products. As you see the positive results you get with these simple changes, you may be encouraged to explore further and incorporate other steps into your routine.

You can book a facial appointment or consultation with one of our experienced estheticians to see what will work best for you!

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