To start off, let me just say that there are four different types of skin. These types include normal, dry, oily, and combination skin. Now, at different points of your life, you can go from having one type of skin to another based on hormonal changes, environmental factors and stress. However, no matter what the circumstances there is always a best practice for your skin type.

Let’s start with some basics for all skin types. A few things to do to prepare your skincare routine are your basic hygiene steps. First, always wash your hands before washing your face or applying any product. When we omit this stage, we are introducing unnecessary bacteria into our pores. This can cause a number of issues including breakouts and even infection.

After washing your hands I recommend a good cleanser. This will always be the first step in your routine. Based on your skin type make sure you get the appropriate cleanser. If you do not know what skin type you have, make an appointment and I’d be happy to guide you. When cleansing make sure you put about a dime size of your cleanser on the tips of your fingers and massage gently in circular motions going up. You can also get a cleansing brush, however, you need to be careful with the one that you choose. Then, rinse your face thoroughly with lukewarm water. Do not use hot water, it will dry out your skin.

After the cleansing process, I recommend using toner. It balances the pH in your skin and removes any excess residue that the cleanser did not get. You need to use organic cotton swabs or pads. I specify organic because synthetic cotton can actually damage your skin.

After the toner, the real fun begins. This is my favorite step which is specialty products. These products will be based on your skin needs. This is where you apply your eye cream, your wrinkle reversal cream, and any other specialty product your skin needs.

Your final step will depend on what skin type you have. Everyone needs a moisturizer. The kind of moisturizer depends on your skin type. Skin that is oily needs a light moisturizer, which usually will be gel-based. This keeps the pores open. Dry skin needs a more dense moisturizer in a cream to rejuvenate your dry skin. Normal skin can go either way depending on if your skin is more on the oily or dry side. The same with combination skin.

Finally, there are a few things I recommend for every skin type which is normal facials. This should be part of your routine every 4 to 6 weeks. A treatment you should consider is microdermabrasion. It enables your products to work more effectively. When your skin is not exfoliated you are applying product to dead skin cells. Other treatments include deep pore cleansers and acne treatments for those with breakout-prone skin. The great part about getting facials is I can then do an assessment to see where your problem areas are. Then I can make a recommendation from there. Give me a call or text to set up your next appointment!