If you’re new to skincare, it can be SO overwhelming today. Pretty packaging, the perfect wording to grab your attention and every product promises a miracle. What steps do you need? What products are actually worth it? Let’s break down the basic essentials and why you need them.

CLEANSING

Cleansing is the foundation of your skincare routine and is so important to do twice a day. How you cleanse, and the cleanser you use. If your cleanser is too harsh it can leave your skin feeling tight and dry. If your cleanser (or cleansing method) isn’t effective, you can be leaving behind dirt, oil, SPF, makeup etc. If you are more dry skin a creme or gel cleanser is best. These are more hydrating and nourishing. If you have more oily or breakout prone skin a cleanser a few times a week with AHA’s or BHA’s, or a daily foaming cleanser is best to remove oil and help keep pores clean. VIDEO how-to cleanse. If you have trouble staying consistent, I recommend using a reminders app or your phone calendar to remind you at a time that works for you. It doesn’t have to be bedtime, it can be right after dinner before you get too tired to do it.

SERUM

Serums are more fluid than a moisturizer and therefore are able to penetrate the skin better and often contain more results oriented ingredients. I personally often used 2-3 serums for different reasons. A calming or brightening serum, vitamin C (AM) and hydrating serum. But back to the basics… Your skin needs water AND oil/emollient hydration. A hydrating serum applied on lightly DAMP skin provides that water hydration. Then you seal it in with your moisturizer. You should be using a serum and moisturizer twice a day. Our dry skin clients LOVE Hydrolane for 20% hyaluronic acid and peptides which firm the skin. For oily or acne prone skin or those looking for lightweight hydration, Hydrotant Gel. For in-between where you’re more normal or slighty dry, maybe you still get a few breakouts and you want some anti-aging benefits, Repair Serum.

MOISTURIZER

Moisturizer is your creme/lotion that seals in your serums and provides oil and emollients to hydrate your skin. Moisturizers often have calming and soothing ingredients, can have brightening ingredients and much more. They range from lightweight to rich and nourishing.

Sensitive skin – Sensiderma or Rosaderm Creme (richer)

Calming and reparative – EGF Creme

Normal skin – Sensiderma or Glucana Creme (men love both of these too!)

Acne prone – Sensiderma, Glucana Creme, Clarifying Euro Creme (PM)

Acne prone, hormonal breakouts and anti-aging – Harmony Creme

Brightening – Brightening Lotion

Richer, maturing skin – Zesty Orange Moisturizer, EGF Creme

Sunscreen – SPF

If you’re looking to maintain your skin or prevent/reduce pigmentation, melasma, acne scars etc., you must be wearing at least SPF 30 everyday, 365. Above 50 provides very minimal additional coverage.

SPF 15: Blocks approximately 93% of UVB rays.

SPF 30: Blocks approximately 97% of UVB rays.

SPF 50: Blocks approximately 98% of UVB rays.

SPF protects your skin cells from sun damage, allows the skin to lighten and brighten with proper skincare and so much more. We prefer mineral SPF which physically blocks the suns rays. Note that SPF only lasts for 2 hours, so if you’re in the sun in the afternoon, driving etc., you will need to reapply. I like powder for reapplication, especially if it’s over makeup. Be sure to apply ENOUGH SPF to get the full coverage. About 3 pumps of the ones we carry for just the face. We recommend also applying to the neck daily, and the decolette if your shirt exposes it.

Dewey finish – Satin Dewey SPF 40

Tinted – Light SPF 35

Tinted – Medium SPF 35

Matte – Matte SPF 40

EXFOLIATION

Exfoliation removes dead skin cells, increases cell turnover, improves skin tone and texture, unclogs pores, brightens the skin and allows your products to penetrate better.

Exfoliation has 2 forms, physical and chemical.

A physical exfoliant would be a scrub or anything with a grittiness to it. Be careful with scrubs as many are too rough on the skin. Avoid things like St. Ives Apricot Scrub, crushed nuts etc. These are not round spheres and can create micro-tears in the skin which is damaging and creates skin water loss. Our Cranberry Scrub uses zeolites and is effective yet gentle on the skin. I have never found a scrub I like better, and I’ve tried a lot!

Chemical exfoliation is in the form of acids. The most common are AHA’s (alpha hydroxy acids) or BHA’s (beta hydroxy acids) which eat away and dead skin cells and can be a more gentle way to exfoliate the skin. Our Peel Pads combine physical and chemical exfoliation which we love. Our 5% Glycolic Solution is a chemical exfoliant that is great for acne, acne scars, blackheads and texture a few nights a week. Clarifying Euro Creme and Harmony Creme both contain different acids to clear pores, fight acne and improve texture.

How often should you exfoliate? This depends on the person and the health of your skin. A general rule would be twice a week. Those with oily and acne prone skin may need 3 times a week. Very dry or dehydrated skin may need only 1-2 times a week and support for their skin barrier/health first.

These 5 steps are the essential basics to a skincare routine and a great place to get started with caring for your skin. Then, you can add products for the eyes, neck, lips and more.

For the best recommendations for YOUR unique skin needs we recommend coming to see us for a facial treatment. We will asses your skin, ask you about your skincare routine, lifestyle, skin goals and more. We’ll create a custom, professional, results oriented skincare routine curated for YOU.

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