My obsession with skin care started when I developed acne around age 12, which later grew into full on cystic acne around 22. My teenage dream was to be a dermatologist- mostly to come up with a cure that would take away my unconcealable acne that haunted all my school pics from the 5th grade onward, but also help other young people afflicted by bad skin.
After trying countless acne medications prescribed by dermatologists through the years and not getting very far- other than ultra dry, patchy, sensitive skin (and now hyper-pigmentation), I wanted to learn more about skin and how I could care for mine in general. After deciding a career in Dermatology wasn’t the road I wanted to take, I vowed to learn more about skincare and earned my Esthetician license by night while attending UC Berkeley by day (GO BEARS)!
Through my own experimentation with different products, personal experience with acne medications and education in skin care, I’ve learned that great skin starts with a consistent skincare regimen. This is my everyday (and night) skincare routine.
Morning Routine
Step 1 | Cleanse – Massage pea-sized amount of Peter Thomas Roth Anti-Aging Cleansing Gel into dampened face for 30 seconds; rinse with warm water, pat dry.
Step 2 | Tone – Saturate cotton ball with Neutrogena Alcohol-Free Toner and swipe cotton ball across entire face, excluding eyelids and lips.
Step 3 | Moisturize – Gently apply Ren Anti-Ageing Eye Cream to under eye area. Apply Boscia Oil-Free Daily Hydration to entire face, neck and décolletage.
Step 4 | Protect with SPF – Apply EltaMD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46 to entire face, neck and décolletage.
Step 5 | Lip Care – Apply Smith’s Minted Rose Lip Balm to lips.
Night Routine
Step 1 | Remove Makeup – Swipe away makeup using MAC Wipes.
Step 2 | Cleanse – Massage quarter-size amount of Dermalogica Dermal Clay Cleanser into dampened face for 30 seconds; rinse with warm water, pat dry. (This cleanser is recommended for oily, congested and acne-prone skin. I recommend Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel for dry and sensitive skin).
Step 3 | Tone – Saturate cotton ball with Neutrogena Alcohol-Free Toner and swipe cotton ball across entire face, excluding eyelids and lips.
Step 4 | Moisturize – Apply Ren Anti-Ageing Eye Cream to under eye area. Apply Olay Hydra Firming Cream to entire face, neck and décolletage.
Step 5 | Lip Care – Apply Smith’s Minted Rose Lip Balm to lips.
Tips
Protect Your Skin Throughout the Day – Using an SPF throughout the day, even when the sun isn’t out, is important because most SPF’s only provide a couple hours of protection on average. I love Peter Thomas Roth Instant Mineral SPF, it’s a light, colorless powder that can be applied over your makeup.
Drink (enough) water – To determine your hydration needs, do the following calculation: your weight in pounds divided by 2. (ie: a 150 lb. woman should drink 75 ounces of water each day).
Get enough sleep – The phrase, “make sure to get your beauty rest” is true! Even our skin- the body’s largest organ, requires rest and rejuvenation.
Always take your makeup off – Leaving makeup, impurities and debris on your skin clogs pores, which cause breakouts.
Pay attention to what affects your skin – Certain foods, stress and hormonal changes are major contributors to skin changes and breakouts.
Do your research – Before taking prescription drugs of any kind, always ask what the side-effects are, and if a medication could possibly affect your skin.
TAGS: beauty tips, skin care tips