I know you care about yourself and want to do your best. Right now we are living during the Coronavirus pandemic. No one really knows how long it will last or when our lives will return to some resemblance of normalcy. In the meantime, make sure caring for your skin is a top priority in your new day to day routine. The following tips offer some helpful & insightful hints.

#1. Be committed to your homecare program. Be consistent with your regimen and follow the directions given by your licensed professional to see progress. That means not skipping a step or eliminating any part of your protocol. IGNORE well-intentioned family members and friends opinions that contradict what you have been taught or have been instructed to do by your esthy. As well as the plethora of ads on social media, television commercials/infomercials, self-proclaimed skincare gurus and influencers about the latest and greatest "trending" advice.

#2. Do not pick at your skin. This practice is unhygienic and has the potential to injure your skin. Do you really want to risk the spread of an infection, post-inflammatory hyper-pigmentation or scarring on your face?

#3. Wash your face before retiring to bed. Do this simple step at the time that is most convenient for you. Be sure to remove the make-up, dirt, sweat, excess oils and anything that your skin has come into contact with during your day. By neglecting this step your clogged pores rarely improve, your foundation has taken up permanent residence in your skin as it settles in for the long haul, chronic acne lesions remain firmly in place, and the puffiness around your eyes become a constant companion. 

#4. Keep to your scheduled appointments for a professional treatment especially when working on a challenge such as acne for the greatest benefit and most successful outcome. It is vital to stay engaged with your licensed Pro and be monitored throughout the process. Even though we are unable to see anyone face to face on our "clear acne treatment plan" for the present time, we can certainly arrange for you to conduct an at-home treatment done in conjunction with a phone call.

#5. Avoid product abuse and misuse. It's extremely important to not add unknown or new products you found on the internet into your routine. Constantly trying and buying new products to fit into your routine is risky. Experimenting on the the health of your skin is not worth the "convenience" that on-line shopping affords. Visit the 9/9/2018 blog for an interesting and factual real about product diversion for more insight.

#6. Your hands. Considering the frequency of hand washing you are doing to help minimize the spread of Covid-19. Here's an easy recipe to take care of your dehydrated hands that you can do at home in between all your hand washing. Have in place:  2/3 cup sugar, 1/3 cup warmed coconut oil or olive oil, and a couple of drops of your favorite essential oil.  Stir to combine. Apply to hands in a circular motion. After 1-2 minutes of buffing, rinse with tepid water and immediately apply hand cream.  Repeat as often as needed. Sleeping in cotton gloves is an optional, bonus step immediately before retiring to bed. 

Whenever you have a question about your skin, its care, products, treatments, skin gadgets and gizmos or anything that interests you. Contact your licensed esthetician for knowledgeable advice.

​When your home care products start to run low, shoot me an email to arrange for a set of fresh supplies. 

How often do you think about what you are applying to your skin?  What's Its purpose?  How is it helping?  Perhaps you recently splurged and picked-up the newest miracle cream.  You're home, ready to give it a try and you think, how will this fit into my routine?

Let's take a step back and consider the use of multiple products in your routine.  Be aware that more isn't always better.  How you prioritize the products you use should be based on your skin type, its current health and condition.  The biggest mistake you can make in using skincare is piling on product after product.  Let's take a look and consider how to prioritize your skin's needs and the steps to address each need.

Step 1 - CLEANSE & TONE:  Your first priority every morning and night is cleansing.  How does your skin feel after it's been freshly washed?  Clean, smooth, comfortable?  Great!  Too oily or it feels tight and desperately needs a moisturizer then it feels, okay?  Neither of those results is good and is actually impacting all the subsequent steps.  Do yourself a favor and change your cleanser if it's not working.  A toner is designed to remove any remaining residue on the skin.  Specialty toners are available and are formulated to address a specific skin condition, such as acne or dehydration.  These specialty toners actually add a beneficial boost to your home routine.

Step 2 - EYES:  To help you age gracefully, do not neglect your eyes.  Keep the skin around your eyes well hydrated with a serum or a cream specially formulated for the eyes.  Be gentle as the skin there is thin and lacks oil glands.  Definitely wear your sunglasses year-round for extra protection too!

Step 3 - SPECIALTY TREATMENTS:  This is the step that creates the greatest confusion.  Just remember, whenever you are using a product to treat a specific skin condition like acne, rosacea, eczema, redness - well, you get the idea.  It's vital to apply the product(s) that address these concerns to clean skin.  After applying the product(s) as directed, allow them to dry and absorb into the skin for a few minutes before moving forward to the next step.  A little side-note here, this is also the step where you would use a retinaldehyde serum, but only at night.

Step 4 - SERUMS:  Serums are lightweight in texture and this is to enable their penetration deeper into the skin.  Serums are packed with concentrated active ingredients.  They do cost more but help deliver that one-two punch to address and target your specific concerns.  Play around with your serums and pay attention to how your skin responds to determine how frequently you need to use the serums in your routine.  For instance, maybe once a day instead of twice daily?  Maybe using them on alternating days?  What about using one in the morning and a different one at night?  Not everyone needs a serum, but when your skin needs a little more support.  A serum is a great tool to have in your beauty chest.

Step 5 - MOISTURIZE & PROTECT:  Does your skin need a moisturizer?  Maybe, maybe not. But your skin does need and you should use sunscreen every day.  In this final step, if your skin needs a moisturizer just be aware that your skin's needs will change with the seasons.  It's not unusual to have more than one sitting on your vanity at any point in time.  Dietary changes, medications, and hormones will alter the demand your skin may need when using a moisturizer. You may have noticed that in winter your skin needs a thicker, heavier moisturizer.  When spring arrives, you may notice that your skin needs a lighter moisturizer.

By following these suggestions you are sure to up your skincare routine.  Whenever you have any questions just remember that I am here to support you and I will welcome your query. 

Do you know how to see a positive change in your skin's appearance in less than a fortnight?

Stay on top of your home care routine or better yet, substitute the word self-care for home care.  That's right, think of it as self-care and make your routine a daily priority.

Think of this as a commitment to your overall well-being.  You will feel amazing, your skin will look amazing, and you will end your day on a positive note.

I have never heard anyone express regret about taking good care of their skin throughout their lifetime.  

When the seasons change, hustle on in for a skin tune-up to enable your skin to be at its best.  A facial is essential to your health.  A facial will afford you with a much needed stress buster, you will feel better, and it's a fabulous health booster too.