Skincare 101 Part: 1
It's been one year since I began properly taking care of my skin. After years of drug store product purchases and one time facials from different estheticians, I had virtually given up on trying to take care of my skin. That was until I stumbled upon Soulé Skin Spa and began to chat with the spa's owner and lead esthetician, Cheryl Cotton. I told her about my skincare troubles and that I was ready to give up altogether. She recommended that I consider getting a facial. I booked an appointment with her the next week and I have been a loyal customer ever since. Cheryl is extremely knowledgeable and passionate about skincare. She specializes in adult and teen acne, non-traumatic chemical peels, and microdermabrasion. She also has her own line of products that are effective and affordable. I get questions all of the time about what I do to keep my skin clear and I always tell people to "GO SEE CHERYL!". Although, everyone's skin is different and will require different treatment, I asked Cheryl a few general skincare questions to help get you all get headed in the right direction. Enjoy
Q: Should everyone get facials, if so, how often?
A: Everyone should get a facial at least once a month or twice a year. Facials are essential for everyone. The skin is a living organ, which means every 28 days it sheds and a new layer comes to the surface. Facials are a catalyst in producing new skin cells, therefore, slowing down the aging process. For people with skin conditions like acne, dry skin, etc., more frequent facials will be beneficial.
Q: What ingredients should you look for in a cleanser if you have oily, dry, or acneic skin?
A: If you have oily skin, you need a cleanser that removes dirt from your pores while gently exfoliating the skin. These cleansers tend to be gel based to prevent clogging the pore. Ingredients to look for are salicylic acid, glycolic acid, mandelic acid, and a natural alternative is tea tree oil. If you have dry skin, you need a creamy or milk based cleanser with a high concentration of emollients, which provide moisture to the skin. Your focus should be on nourishing your skin while cleansing without causing dryness or irritation. Ingredients to look for are shea butter, jojoba oil, vitamin e, and hyaluronic acid. Ingredients to avoid are alcohol and witch hazel. If you have acneic skin, you should treat your skin similarly to oily skin. Your focus should be on unclogging your pores using an antibacterial cleanser. The main ingredient to look for is benzoyl peroxide, which is great for killing acne bacteria. Salicylic acid and glycolic acid are also great for treating acneic skin. Acneic skin is sensitive skin, so a gentle progressive treatment is best when treating your skin.
Q: Who are facials oils designed for ?
A: People with dry, dehydrated, and maturing skin greatly benefit from facial oils. All oils have different chemical breakdowns, therefore providing different benefits to your skin. Oils provide essential fatty acids, omega fatty acids, vitamin E & C, and antioxidants for the skin. Oils are lighter in texture so they are absorbed more quickly into your skin.
Q: How do I prevent dark spots? What are dark spots? How do I get rid of dark spots?
A: Dark spots can be prevented by keeping skin balanced with a cleanser, moisturizer, and sunscreen in addition to getting regular facials. Keeping skin balanced will help to prevent breakouts, which cause dark spots. Darker skinned woman are more prone to dark spots because we have more melanin in our skin. When your body gets an injury, even a small pimple, your body sends melanocytes to the location and the melanocytes carry color causing a dark spot. Dark spots are the result of your body trying to heal and protect itself. To treat dark spots, use of a lightner and a melanin suppressant are essential. A 2% hydracornine cream, kojic acid, and licorice root extract are great skin lighters. Arbutin and kojic acid are great melanin suppressants. It's is important to lighten the skin while also suppressing the melanin to remove a dark spot.
Q: How often should I exfoliate?
A: Exfoliating is NOT for everyone. If you have rocesea, redness, or thinning skin, manual exfoliation may cause damage to your skin. Chemical exfoliation is best if you have any of these conditions. For normal, oily, and combination skin, exfoliation twice a week is recommended to sluff of dead skin cells. Use your best judgement when exfoliating. If your skin feels dry, then focus on nourishing your skin, instead of exfoliating. Treat your skin for the condition it's in that day.
Q: How important is sunscreen for your face and body?
A: Sunscreen is ESSENTIAL for protecting your skin from the UVA & UVB rays emitted from the sun. UVA rays are responsible for breaking down skin cells which cause aging, while UVB rays are responsible for sunburn. The sun causes pigment production, so using a sunscreen can help prevent darkening of dark spots. Use a broad spectrum sunscreen which will protect you from both UVA & UVB rays.
Q: Is Biotin beneficial for your skin?
A: It's best to take an additional supplement if you are deficient in it. Too much biotin can cause acne to get worse.
Part 2 will be up shortly. If you have ANY skincare questions, comment below and I will be sure to ask Cherly and put the answer in the next skincare post.
Book your next facial at Soulé Skin Spa Here!