Picture Perfect Skin
Skin Care 101
Because I’m still “new” to the Acadiana area, most people do not know that I am a licensed Aethetician – which means I went to school to study skin and how to keep it healthy. 2005 is when I completed my licensure but I’ve been a skin care junkie for way longer than that. Because healthy skin is a common key to better self-esteem, I want to share the top 5 steps you need to use to create an environment for continual dewy, glowy skin.
Before I talk the specifics of a routine, it needs to be said that 100% of all skin care routines are 100% more effective if used consistently. Your skin regenerates from bottom to top every 28-36 days on average so this means skipping days often will leave your skin lackluster and reduce any cumulative effects. The effects of your skin care will be even more productive if you repeat the steps morning and night — even if you didn’t wear makeup that day AND especially if you did!
Cleaner Technology
I literally do not know how my skin survived anything without the Clarisonic Facial Sonic Cleansing Brush as the foundation of my skin routine. There are lots of imitation brushes on the market, but you will feel the difference in just one use of the real thing. It doesn’t spin but rather vibrates a pea size amount of your favorite cleanser gently across your skin to reveal a soft, glowing completion. The brush heads can be customized to increase or decrease exfoliation and should be completely replaced every 6 months (to avoid bacteria and keep the bristles at the top of their game). If you can splurge on just one thing, the Clarisonic Mia 2 Speed Facial Sonic Cleansing Brush is so totally worth it.
To Suds or Not To Suds
Pesky pimples, dry patches, oily t-zone? These can all be signs of improper cleansing of the skin. If the debris of day activities and night time sweat isn’t removed from the skin, our skin doesn’t breathe or absorb at its best. This is where cleansing the skin sets the environments for everything else put on the skin to be most effective. Skin is suuuuper vulnerable when wet as the pores open and skin texture softens, so choosing a gentle cleanser is safest for all skin types (even the oiliest of skin!). I prefer CeraVe as the Clarisonic will be providing all the exfoliation the skin needs on a daily basis. And it should be said that I am not a big fan of suds. Stripping the skin of it’s natural oil barrier only causes the skin to produce more oil — > if you have questions on this, shoot me an email, because oil removal is such a controversial topic 😉 And if you aren’t using the Clarisonic brush, make sure to cleanse twice. You need a 2 step cleanse to get all the yuckies off your face if cleansing by hand.
Setting the Tone
An often misunderstood step, toning is actually a necessary transition from freshly cleansed skin to serums and moisturizers. Skin has a natural pH of 4.5 – 6.4, ideally at 5.5. The water that comes out of the tap (you know the water you just washed your face in) has a pH of around 7-8 (sometimes up to 9!), which means your skin is now NOT in the naturally acid zone it thrives in. Using a pH balancing toner brings down the pH of your skin back to acidic so it can now absorb the products you put on next. I’m a pH fanatic and you can buy pH testing strips off Amazon
Hit the Target
You’ve cleansed, you’ve toned and now what? Straight to moisturizer? If you have no wrinkle, no pimple, perfectly plump skin, then sure go straight to moisturizing your genetically blessed skin. But if you’re like the majority of humans, there is always that one thing you want to correct about your skin. That’s where serums or targeted treatments come in. And my favorite thing about serums, they can be layered! The order of layering generally goes from most lightweight to heaviest. And targeted treatments are for spot treating that hormonal pimple or protecting the delicate eye area. There are SO many options for specific treatments. —-> need a skin care plan to prep for your upcoming session, email me for product recommendations.
Building the Barrier
You’ve made it through steps 1-4. I know. It seems like a lot of work already and your not even done, but this last step is the easiest because all the prep work is done. The moisturizer you put on acts as a protective barrier for the day and should include an SPF of at least 15. I personally prefer to just mix a small amount of facial sunscreen into my moisturizer as the brand I’m currently using doesn’t contain an SPF. For daytime, skip the heavy moisture and keep it lightweight. For evening, an overnight mask or heavier moisturizer can be used for extra regenerating effects – but if you are on a budget, you can definitely use the same moisturizer for day and evening.
Regularly repeating these 5 steps twice a day will create a healthy environment for beautiful skin to grow. I highly recommend starting a consistent skin care routine the minute you book your portrait session – it takes up to 6 weeks to see the full results. And for everything else, there is always professionally applied makeup and Photoshop 🙂 If you have any questions about starting a routine, choosing products or how to skin prep for your portrait session, send me an email!