A consistent skin care routine is essential to optimize your skin’s health, fortify its defenses and maximize your results.
To select a skin care routine, we highly recommend booking a facial with a knowledgeable, certified professional. Estheticians have the experience and training to recommend professional treatments that boost your results, as well as educated guidance for your home skin care routine.
To enhance your knowledge, we’ve compiled the essential steps for a skin care routine, plus additional recommendations tailored to your unique skin type and concerns.
Perform your skin care routine in the following order for optimal results:
Twice per day, morning and night
A thorough cleanse clears your skin of oil and debris that can lead to clogged pores and dullness. It also prepares your complexion for further treatment, making it easier for your skin to absorb the beneficial ingredients in the rest of your routine. Whether you choose an oil, gel or cream cleanser will depend on your skin type and the concerns you hope to address.
Toning completes the cleansing process by conditioning your skin and adding beneficial vitamins and minerals to your complexion. Unlike alcohol-based toners of the past, today’s toners, essences and facial mists support the effectiveness of your cleanser by adding replenishing ingredients that support your skin’s health. Cleansing and toning work together like shampoo and conditioner: Both steps help keep the skin as healthy as possible.
Once or twice per week
Exfoliating is essential to encourage healthy skin cell turnover, eliminate buildup and relieve pore congestion. Exfoliants comprise gentle chemical, enzymatic and physical varieties for home care, as well as more potent peels and treatments which must be administered by a professional. We recommend consulting with your esthetician to determine the best approach for your skin type and concerns.
Watch the video below to learn how to exfoliate properly.
An additional treatment to indulge in is a face mask. Face masks contain high amounts of concentrated vitamins and nutrient-rich ingredients which absorb efficiently into the skin, making it appear healthy and resilient. In addition to their hydrating and firming benefits, masks can be used to control more persistent skin concerns like acne, large pores and dark spots.
Your daily routine should include a serum, concentrate or facial oil. These potent formulas contain concentrated amounts of active ingredients to target concerns and neutralize the effects of environmental stressors. The serum, concentrate or oil you choose will depend on the particular concerns and conditions you hope to prevent or correct.
Used daily, moisturizers keep skin soft, supple and protected. Moisturizing not only targets and treats specific issues in the top layers of the skin, it also provides necessary support for the skin’s natural lipid barrier. A strong and healthy barrier enables the skin to better retain moisture and repel external irritants. Remember, even oily skin needs moisture and hydration!
Some areas require a lighter touch. The skin around your eye area is seven times thinner than the rest of your face and needs to be treated with special care. Regular eye cream application not only maintains the health, thickness and elasticity of this delicate area, it also reduces the look of fine lines, wrinkles, dark circles and puffiness.
Watch the video below to learn how to apply an eye cream correctly.
Daily, or as required
The final and most crucial step in every skin care routine is sun protection. Daily and consistent sunscreen use helps protect skin against the damaging rays that contribute to skin irritation, premature aging and the formation of certain skin cancers. Year-round, apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen or SPF moisturizer to shield your skin from exposure.
Skin care doesn’t end at your décolleté. The rest of your body can also display areas of discomfort depending on your skin type and skin concerns. Extend your skin care routine by applying nutrient-rich body products that keep your skin looking strong and youthful from head-to-toe.
Once you have mastered the basics, you and your esthetician can customize a routine for your particular skin type and concerns. This will determine the type of product you choose for each step of your skin care routine.
Skin types are determined by genetics. Your genes determine the amount of oil your sebaceous glands produce, the size of your pores and the texture of your skin. Each of these factors contributes to the overall dryness or oiliness of your complexion. While your skin type cannot be changed, it can be easily managed with proper skin care.
Skin types generally fall into one of five variations:
Are you unsure of your skin type? This skin type test is an easy way to determine whether you have normal, dry, oily, combination or sensitive skin.