Rule 1: Always Double Cleanse
Why? Double cleansing means washing your face twice because one wash just isn’t enough. Whether you wear a ton of makeup or not, double cleansing at the end of the day is essential to remove all of the makeup, dirt, grime, and pollution that builds up on your skin. Washing your face once will only remove the surface dirt, but a second cleanse will actually be able to penetrate your pores, sweeping away any sebum and leftover dirt or makeup. It also means your following skincare steps will be able to penetrate your skin better.
Rule 2: Layer Your Products the Right Way
Why? Layering your skincare in the wrong order means that some of your products won’t be able to absorb into your skin properly. For example, if you apply a moisturizer before your eye cream, because moisturizers have occlusives in (ingredients that create a barrier on your skin), the potent ingredients in your eye cream wouldn’t get a chance to penetrate your skin properly and work their magic.
Rule 3: Know Your Skin Type
Why? Understanding what your skin needs, means you can find the best products that will work for your skin. Everyone’s skin is unique, and even though it changes over time, there are certain ‘skin type’ categories you can use as guidelines to help you find skincare that works for you. Depending on whether your skin is, dry, normal, oily, acne-prone, sensitive or aging, you should be using very different products. You might even be a couple of these; you could be both oily and acne-prone, aging and dry, or even sensitive and acne-prone. You may also be dry during the winter and oily during summer, which is why you should switch up your skincare when summer hits.
Rule 4: Exfoliate
Why? Regular exfoliation – at least once a week – will slough away dead skin cells that block your pores and help with skin cell renewal. So not only will it clear out dead skin, and dirt and grime that can lead to pimples and blackheads, but it will also instantly brighten your complexion, and allow for your other products to penetrate deeper. Some exfoliators, like AHAs (glycolic acid), can even improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Rule 5: Never Forget SPF
Why? You might think the only damage that the sun can do to your skin is burn it, but the truth is, it’s literally destroying your skin. Are we being dramatic? No! 90% of how your skin ages is down to sun exposure and this portrait of a 69-year-old truck driver published in the New England Journal of Medicine proves it! Due to the nature of his job, only half of his face was consistently exposed to the sun. The UVA rays that penetrated through the window damaged collagen, which has led to deep wrinkles and sagging skin to the side of his face exposed – if this isn’t the best reason to wear sunscreen, we don’t know what is!
Luxe Hair Lounge + Day Spa2015 J St SAC 95811
916-443-1400
www.luxe-midtown.com