Is your medicine cabinet filled with 20 half-used bottles of lotions, cleansers, and serums? That’s a sign to rethink your skincare regimen.
Not only can trying out a bunch of different products be damaging to your skin (especially if you’re experimenting with different fragrances and chemicals), but did you know that it can take up to six weeks to see visible skin benefits from a product?
Too often, people switch products before they really give them a chance to start working. We suggest sticking to a few good products, and letting them do their thing.
The keys to healthy, youthful skin are to establish a good skincare regimen and eliminate bad habits. So, skip the “skincare party” that your neighbor invited you to on Facebook and follow these seven habits for younger, healthier skin.
1. Cleanse
We shed about 50 million skin cells each day, so it’s important to slough them away by exfoliating. Use a mild exfoliating cleanser. The keyword here is mild. Abrasive scrubs with large, rough granules can lead to rashes and discoloration.
Product Recommendation:
- SkinMedica AHA/BHA Daily Cleanser
2. Hydrate
It’s a myth that people who have greasy skin don’t need to moisturize. If you have an oily T-zone, avoid a heavy, cream-based product and choose something lighter. If you have normal or dry skin, go with a cream. For all skin types, try using a moisturizer with hyaluronic acid to incorporate this important anti-aging ingredient into your routine.
Product Recommendation:
- SkinMedica Ultra Sheer (oily T-zone)
- SkinMedica HA5 (all skin types)
- Skin Medica Replenish Hydrating Cream (normal/dry skin)
3. Repair
The single most important ingredient to repair aging skin is retinol. A mild prescription of tretinoin, or a retinol cream (start with 0.25) will shrink pores, tighten skin, and even help lighten brown spots. This is applied at night, after cleansing and hydrating. In the morning, avoid retinols and use a serum rich in growth factors and antioxidants to keep boosting collagen.
Product Recommendation:
- SkinMedica Retinol Cream
- SkinMedica TNS Essential Serum
4. Protect
Protecting your skin from the sun should be your number one concern. The most common forms of skin cancer (basal and squamous cell) usually show up on sun-exposed areas. And most of the signs of facial aging come from chronic, unprotected sun exposure.
Choose a daily moisturizer with SPF 30 or greater. Sunscreen isn’t only necessary when you’re on the lake or on a hike. Wear it while driving around town, going to work, or running in the park. PRO Tip: try to incorporate it into your daily routine. If a cream-based sunscreen feels too oily, try a powder.
And if you tend to be in the sun for extended periods of time during the summer, such as golfing or boating all day, then SkinMedica Total Defense and Repair is your must-have.
Product Recommendation:
- Elta UV Clear SPF 46 Sunscreen
- Colorscience SPF 50
- SkinMedica Total Defense and Repair
5. Don’t pick
Once you pop, it’s hard to stop. Popping pimples is a bad habit which can result in red marks, dark marks, and even permanent divots. And it’s not just scars you need to worry about – popping pimples can cause epidermal inclusion cysts, which are raised, round lumps on the skin that may have to be removed surgically.
6. Don’t leave large cysts untreated
If you can’t pick, then what should you do when a large painful cyst arises the day before an important meeting? For these skin “emergencies,” come into the Medical Spa as soon as possible for a low-strength steroid injection into the lesion. This makes the pimple disappear within a day and lessens the risk of leaving a blemish.
7. Know the difference between facial and photo-facial
A spa facial is important for optimizing skin hydration, extracting persistent clogged pores, and improving texture. A photo-facial is an innovative technology, designed for those with active lifestyles, that delivers light therapy targeting brown spots and broken capillaries to provide a more rejuvenated appearance. These are both treatments that will help your skin stay healthy. Try and incorporate both treatments into your skincare journey.
Forever Young BBL is the only light therapy that has been shown to change the expression of genes associated with aging, longevity, and increased lifespan. For best results, have a photo-facial and spa facial quarterly, starting with the photo-facial and then a spa facial two weeks after.
Treatment Recommendation:
- Forever Young BBL
By The Medical Spa at PRO Medical
Interested in learning more about healthy skin habits? Come in for a consultation at the Medical Spa at PRO Medical, where we can tailor a personalized treatment plan just for you.
