So, I get asked a lot about whether I use the products we offer at our practice, and the answer is YES!!!
To be honest, I never paid that much attention to my skin over the years. I knew I had dry skin and all I focused on was using a moisturizer and so I would make sure I used a bit of my lotion on my face to combat that. Mercifully, I didn’t struggle with too much acne during my teenage years, but when adulthood came around, acne definitely made itself known to me. Shortly after I got married, my husband bought me my very first facial moisturizer and that was when I started using a different moisturizer for the skin on my face!
Fast forward through the years of trying different facial products for various reasons including the occasional acne and dryness, to now venturing into the aesthetics world and trying our products and services out, and I must say, that I have definitely noticed a difference. So here are some basics that I do:
- Cleanse – your choice of cleanser depends on your skin type. If you have oily skin, you want to go with a cleaner that does not add more oil on your skin such as a gel cleanser; if you have dry skin, like I do, you want to go with a cleanser that does not strip you of the much-needed oil such as a gentle cleanser, or use one that adds more moisture to your skin such as a cream cleanser.
- Tone – toners are not absolutely necessary anymore since most of the cleansers being produced now are usually pH-balanced and toners are used to balance the pH of the skin. I like to use a toner to remove any residue of cleansers, make-up and grime on my face as well as freshen my skin.
- Serums – Serums usually contain more concentrated and potent ingredients and are nourishing to the skin. They may contain specific ingredients for specific skin concerns. I like the peptide serums for improving elasticity of the skin; and vitamin C serums for addressing hyperpigmentation and skin damage due to photoaging.
- Moisturizer – this has obviously always been very important to me! Your choice of moisturizers also depends on your skin type: you want to go with a thin moisturizer if you have oily skin or just skip the moisturizer and use a richer serum alone; and for dry skin, use a more hydrating lotion. At night time, I pamper myself with a cream for dry and mature skin as I don’t have to worry about looking to oily overnight!
- Sunscreen – YES, sunscreen is important, no matter your skin type or color. It is important to protect your skin from photodamage which leads to premature aging (resulting in loss of elasticity, sagging, and wrinkles) and skin cancers.
- RETINOIDS – Topical retinoids are vitamin A derivatives and are the gold standard in the treatment of photoaging. They also help with acne. They are typically applied at night due to their photo-lability as they get degraded upon exposure to light.
These usually make up my routine for either daytime or nighttime and I am happy to report that I have noticed an improvement in how my skin looks and feels! This coming from a person who initially wondered, “Why do I need this? What’s wrong with my skin?”
Feel free to leave a comment and share your own skincare experience or ask any question about the basics listed above.
Remember to look after yourself, because YOU are important.
Happily,
Dr. Hope