Written by: Kelsie Matthews, L.E
I know keeping up with a good skin care regimen can sometimes be tedious and lengthy, so many people ask me where they can cut corners to save a little bit of time and money. Of course everyone knows about the basics; cleanser, moisturizer, sunscreen…but what about everything that goes in between that? “Do I really need vitamin C and a retinoid?” and “Isn’t there just one product I can put on with everything I need in it?” Those are some of the questions I get asked pretty frequently as an Esthetician. In all reality, the best skin care regimen is the one you will actually use.
Consistency is key when it comes to skin care. Ideally, yes, it would be great if we could all have every single product that targets every single one of our skin concerns. But that isn’t realistic. Oftentimes, when people add too many things to their routines at once, not only does our skin tend to freak out, but so do we. Cleanser #1, cleanser #2, toner, physical exfoliator, chemical exfoliator, moisturizer, morning serum, night serum, eye cream, retinol, sunscreen, mask, vitamin c, hydrator, pigment corrector…the list goes on and on.
So what do you need, and what do you not need? The short answer is, everyone is different. Your skin type and what your concerns are determine what products need to be included in your regimen. That is why it’s important to go see a Licensed Esthetician or medical provider at a MedSpa, so they can analyze your skin, and tell you exactly what you should be investing your money in. One of the best ways to look at the skin is by getting a VISIA analysis done. This is a machine that looks at the surface of the skin, below the surface, and any damage done. This is a great tool to use because we can look at more than what the naked eye can see, making our recommendations more accurate and effective for meeting your needs.
Since everyone has different needs and concerns, we don’t all have to use every single type of product out on the market today. It is important for everyone to cleanse daily, exfoliate on a regular basis, hydrate the skin, and protect it with sunscreen, but corrective products should be implemented in your routine based off of your skin care specialist’s recommendations. Staying consistent with your regimen will ensure that the products are giving you accurate results, and keeping your skin turnover rate up. Sometimes the skin can take several weeks to acclimate to changes in the products you are using, so it is important to continue using them (unless there is an allergic reaction of course) until it is gone so it has time to start working. It takes years for damage in the skin to show, so correcting that damage cannot happen overnight. Stick with your regimen, take the extra ten minutes to complete all the steps, invest your money in quality products. Your skin will thank you later.
