Sunday, January 29, 2012

I'm no doctor, but maybe I can help.

It's amazing to me how many people confuse my job title, esthetician, with one of an anesthesiologist.  Right away, I am typically asked how long it took me to get my degree.  You should see the look on their faces when I tell them I finished up in about 6 months.  I let them worry for a split second, then explain that I'm an esthetician, which is a skin care specialist, and not a physician.



I have learned a great deal about the skin care industry. I've worked for many years in the spa atmosphere, and now most recently I've moved to the medical side of esthetics, working for a dermatologist.  I have been getting several requests to post good, age defying skin care tips in my blog, so here is some of my best advice. The most important thing I have learned is that your skin care regimen does not have to be complicated, or contain 16 different steps. You will get much better results by being very consistent with a simple, basic regimen like the one I've posted below.

1. Wash your face every night, no exceptions. Use a gentle cleanser, and luke warm water.  Dirt, bacteria, and makeup left on overnight can irritate skin, clog pores, and trigger breakouts. If you are in your 30s or younger, wash your face in the morning as well.  Once in your 40s, oil production dips with hormonal changes, so it may dry out your skin to wash both morning and night.

Eau Thermale Avene : Extremely Gentle Cleanser for Intolerant Skin
Avene extremely gentle cleanser for intolerant skin.  Excellent for all skin types.

2. Use a moisturizer with SPF (that block both UVA and UVB rays) every morning, and a good hydrating cream at night. Even 10 minutes of daily exposure to UVA "aging" rays can cause changes that lead to wrinkles and sunspots in as few as 12 weeks.

Perfect for daily moisture and SPF protection.
Pevonia Botanica Age-Defying Marine Collagen Cream
Pevonia Marine Collagen Cream makes an excellent night cream.
















3. Exfoliate twice weekly. There are 2 different kinds to choose from.  You can use a manual exfoliant (like a cleanser with gentle exfoliating beads) or you could choose a chemical exfoliant (like an enzyme that is applied like a mask, and left on for about 10 minutes).


Gentle Cream Exfoliant
Dermalogica Gentle Cream Exfoliant. Affordable and hydrating.


You don't have to buy the most expensive products, or go under the knife of a plastic surgeon to improve the look and health of your skin.  If you do opt for plastic surgery, please be sure that there is an anesthesiologist, and not an esthetician, on hand to put you under.

10 comments:

  1. Does avene work on waterproof eye makeup?

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  2. Yes, it does Liz! Any good cleanser should be able to remove waterproof makeup, and I like the Avene because it is so gentle that I can massage my eyes with it. No stinging or irritation.

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  3. Trish, where can I get Avene?? Love these tips... SO much! i needed them!

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  4. Good question Tracy. You can purchase Avene from Dermstore.com, and they even offer free shipping.
    http://www.dermstore.com/product_Extremely+Gentle+Cleanser+For+Intolerant+Skin_12386.htm

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  5. OK I think I know the answer, but here goes: Short of surgery, does anything help with facial sagging?

    Thank you for the tips!

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    1. Wish I had a bottled formula that tightened skin elasticity Steph. I would be rich! The best thing you can do is protect the elasticity that you have now. SPF, SPF, SPF. And don't pull on your face when you wash, just gently massage, and pat on moisturizer. Surgery works... but I have seen good and bad results. I think it's a gamble.

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    2. Thanks, Trish! I figured as much.

      :)

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  6. I can't believe I missed this post! Where is the best place to find the exfoliator? Great tips.

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