Skin Series
How old are you? Teens? 20s? 30s? 40s? Older??? No matter what age, NOW is the perfect time to care for your skin. You wouldn't believe how many people over the age of 40 I see that tell me they have never used any "real" skin care items on their face. I've literally seen and heard it all! Bar soap that they also use on the rest of their body. Alcohol on a cotton pad. Cocoa butter and baby oil. You name, I've heard it. My job as an esthetician is not only to lead you in the right direction when it comes to caring for your skin, but also to educate you on how to maintain your skin in between your skin sessions. Lets break down skin care by age group so that you can better understand how to choose skin care products for you.
(Pre)Teens
If you're twelve or older, you should be caring for your skin. Our teenage years are about finding ourselves and skin care is no different. The first thing you should do is determine your skin type. Do you notice shine first thing in the morning? Are you more prone to break outs all over? You more than likely have oily skin. Balancing your skin is the objective for regulating break outs and reducing oil and
shine. Oily/combination skin types should aim towards a gel or foam cleanser. They penetrate skin easier to get deep into pores to clean out acne causing bacteria.
What about the other end of the spectrum? Is your skin tight and uncomfortable? Are you constantly applying lotion and creams to your hands and body? Do you notice some light to moderate flaking in the center of your face? Sounds like you have dry skin. Again, balancing your skin is still the objective, but you want to make sure that your skin has enough hydration. Determining your skin type is important. It also makes purchasing products a lot easier Normal to dry skin types should aim for cream or gel cleansers. Creams for drier skin will help to keep your skin from drying out.
Whether your skin is oily or dry, your skin care regimen should go as followed: (1) Cleanse (2) Tone (3) Moisturize (Masking is optional)
I know that's a lot of information to take in with school, extra-curricular activities and dating but you owe it to yourself to know your skin. The earlier you start, the better chance your skin has of balancing itself. Will you still have breakouts every now and then? Yes, nothing can stop that, but learning how to balance it is key.
