The Importance of Skin Care at Home

By Mikala Ewald

Yes, going to see your esthetician on a regular basis is vital for radiant, healthy skin, but did you know that a good home care regimen can amount to up to 90% of skin health? If you don’t focus on your skincare at home, your trips to your esthetician will become a costly waste of time. Spa treatments such as facials, chemical peels, and microdermabrasion are great additions to your skin care regimen, and are a necessary maintenance for skin health and upkeep, but without proper care in between services these treatments will never offer long term results. These treatments are meant to be done on a regular basis as an add-on to your daily routine.

With the array of products on the market, how do you determine what products and steps should be included in your home care routine? Here are the essentials that should be included in everyone’s skin care routine to help you achieve beautiful skin.

Cleansers

Cleansers are designed to remove dirt, oil, debris, and makeup from the skin. Everyone should begin and end every single day with cleansed skin. Take your time cleansing your skin, do not rush through it, and make sure you rinse all residue from the skin. If debris, oil, and makeup are left on the skin, the chance of clogged pores and breakouts increases greatly. It is important to choose a cleanser formulated for your skin type.

• Individuals who have normal or combination should look for a cleansing milk or a formula that gently moisturizes the skin and contains nothing abrasive.
• Those who have oily or acneic skin should use a cleanser containing glycolic acid or salicylic acid. These typically appear in the form of gel or foaming cleansers.
• Mature, dry, and sensitive skin types need an emollient cleanser that will add additional moisture to the skin. Ingredients like rose or any oil based cleansers work best for these skin types.

Toners

Toners are used to remove any residue left on the skin (a second cleanse), normalize the pH level of the skin, and help to close and contract the pores preventing oil or bacteria from clogging them. Toners are to be used directly after cleansing and may be left on the skin.

• For normal or combination skin, choose toners that contain low amounts of alchohol: 4-15%
• Oily and acne skin types can handle higher percentages of alcohol, and salicylic acid toners are very beneficial.
• Individuals with mature, dry, and sensitive skin need very little to no alcohol in their toners. Ingredients like aloe and coenzyme Q10 work very well for these skin types.

Moisturizers

Moisturizers are designed to even out the oil and water balance of the skin, so even if you have plenty of oil on your skin you still need a hydrating moisturizer to balance your oil/water content. Depending on your skin type, you may choose to use a lighter moisturizer during the day and a heavier one at night. Many moisturizers also contain sunscreen, vitamins, and antioxidants to improve skin health.

• Those with normal or combination skin should look for a moisturizer that contains both humectants (water content) like glycerin, sorbitol, or hyaluronic acid and moisturizers (oil content) like silicones.
• Oily and acne skin types need hydrators that will attract water e.g. hyaluronic acid. Look for light lotions rather than heavy creams for this skin type. Those with oily and acne skin have a tendency to strip all oil and moisture from their skin as they believe they have too much, but repeatedly stripping the skin causes your body to overproduce oil making the skin even oilier.
• Mature, dry, and sensitive skin types need oil content. Emollient ingredients, like silicone and squalene, are great.

Sunscreens

Sunscreens are essential for everyone, everyday. They help to prevent UVB (burning) rays from damaging the skin. Did you know that 85% of all aging is due to sun damage? According to one study, the use of a sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher during the first 18 years of life would cut lifetime risk of melanoma by 78%…can you imagine the difference you would make by wearing sunscreen every single day of your life?

Treatment Products

Schedule an appointment with your esthetician to determine which treatment products are best for you and your skin conditions. Your esthetician will also help you determine the frequency of use for these products. Treatment products are designed to correct or prevent specific skin conditions that one is prone to. Some examples are exfoliants, hydrating serums, antioxidants, lightening creams, acne spot treatments, etc.

For a detailed skin analysis and product recommendations, give Clary Sage College a call at 918.298.8200!