During these unprecedented times many of us have a lot more time to reflect on our health and our own personal care, especially at home as the majority of us are sheltering in place…at home. Even though I can’t be at my spa to see you and treat each of your beautiful faces, I wanted to make sure that you have some tools to ensure you are taking care of your precious skin.
My Favorites:
Cleanser - Dermadality - Beta Hydroxy Foaming Cleanser
Vita C Serum - HaraCell -Original C Solution
Retinol Serum - Lancer - Younger
Moisturiser - Darphin - HydraSkin Rich Creme’
Sunscreen - Rodan & Field - Reverse Broad Spectrum SPF 50
The Basics:
1. Cleansing: Choose a cleanser that doesn’t leave your skin feeling dry and tight. In addition, avoid washing so long that you experience squeaky-clean feeling because that means your skin’s natural oils are gone. Wash your face no more than twice a day.
2. Serums: Just a side note, I LOVE SERUMS! A serum with vitamin C or peptides would be better in the morning, under your sunscreen. A Retinol or prescription retinoids work better in the evenings (you want to ensure you do not use these products in the daytime hours as they react to sunlight and make your skin extremely sensitive.
3. Moisturizer: Did you know that even oily skin* needs moisturizer? That is right, but use one that is lightweight, gel-based, and non-pore clogging. If you have dry skin you may benefit from more of a cream-based moisturizers. Note, that most brands will label their products as gel or cream on their packaging to help you determine what to purchase.
4. Sunscreen: 15 minutes before heading outdoors, apply sunscreen with at least 30 SPF (it takes a while for the active ingredients in sunscreen to activate). Darker skin tones actually need more sun protection because hyperpigmentation is harder to correct.
How to test your skin type at home
You can do a physical test to check your skin type at home. A home test measures sebum production. Sebum is a waxy, oily liquid that comes from your pores. The amount of sebum your skin produces can determine if your skin is:
Dry
Oily
Normal
Combination
Testing sebum production on a clean face is the most accurate way to determine what kind of skin you have. Follow these steps:
Wash your face and pat it dry. Wait 30 minutes.
Gently press oil blotting paper or tissue on your face. Press the paper on different areas of your skin, such as your forehead and nose, cheeks, and chin.
Hold the sheet to the light to see how transparent the paper is.
Along with the above skin types, you can also have sensitive skin, which doesn’t follow the sebum criteria. Sensitive skin depends on:
how fast your skin reacts to product application
how well your skin protects itself
how easily your skin turns red
likelihood of skin allergy