As a licensed esthetician and someone who’s spent way too much time experimenting with different techniques and products, I’ve learned a thing or two about what actually works when it comes to skincare. Spoiler alert: it’s not what your favorite influencer swears by. Whether you’re still rubbing your moisturizer into your skin like it owes you money or DIY-ing it when it comes to your own extractions (please stop). I’m here to share some real tips from a real skin care expert and help you get your skin glowing and healthy.
WHY DOES SKIN CARE MATTER
Other than having that glowy appearance and looking good for the socials — skin care is about keeping your skin healthy for the long haul. Think of it like this, your skin is out here working overtime, fighting pollution, sun damage, and weather conditions, year round. So showing your skin some love and attention goes a long way. Trust, future you will be thanking yourself for putting in the care now. Having a consistent skincare routine is like going to the gym, but for your skin. You don’t see results after one workout, it’s that daily commitment that keeps your skin balanced, healthy and glowing.
YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT
As an esthetician, there’s no doubt in my mind that skin care routines go a long way, but what goes hand in hand with routine is your diet. This is probably going to be the one thing you should take from this article if you don’t take anything else. What you eat plays a huge role in how your skin looks and feels. Have you ever been doing a rigorous skin care routine, using everything right for your skin and it’s doing nothing for your breakouts?
Well that may be for two different reasons. You could suffer from a medical condition where your concerns would be better met with a dermatologist. Or… Your eating habits don’t match your pursuit of clear skin. Consuming too much sugar and too much dairy can lead to breakouts — I know this all too well from experience. Also not drinking enough water can lead to dehydrated skin and breakouts, the one thing that stays consistent in your skin health is hydration. Your skin can never be too hydrated, it’s always going to be seeking water.
Don’t worry though, I’ve been through it all when it comes to having or treating skin problems. So I changed up my diet, my water intake doubled, and I don’t consume as much dairy and sugar. That allowed me to start seeing major improvement on the way my skin was reacting, and my products were actually able to do their job. Diet changes don’t have to be super drastic, it’s hard breaking eating habits especially when you’re like me and love food. It’s all about eating things in moderation, and most times when you sacrifice and build that habit you will be stop craving it. You’re likely to not even miss eating the things holding back your body and skin from greatness. Sometimes we have to stop letting our taste buds sacrifice our health for their own indulgence.
THE TRENDY SPOT TREATMENT
Let’s talk about everyone’s new favorite spot treatment, Pimple Patches. These patches are having their moment right now, and for good reason. They’re these little hydrocolloid stickers that pull out all that gunk from your pimples without you even touching it.These patches create a barrier between your hands and face. And when it comes to pimples, the less you mess with them the better.
At home extractions can seem tempting but they can be disastrous to your skin health, if you don’t know what you’re doing. Using tools without proper training can lead to damaged skin barriers, inflammation, scarring and even infections. It’s very easy to go too deep or use too much pressure, which will do more harm than good. So it’s best to leave the extractions to the professionals, and try out pimple patches instead, to safely absorb the buildup without damaging your skin.
Although pimple patches are great for those surface level pimples, when it comes to deep, cystic ones, I would highly recommend going to a skin care professional to treat anything bigger than a whitehead. Other than them being effective — they’re just small enough to wear out during the day without drawing too much attention. They come in different colors and shapes, I see people out all the time with cute little star patches on their face. It makes something that can be embarrassing turn into something cute and confident while being fun, and you can just go on with your day as your patch is healing your skin.
RETINOLS IN YOUR 20’s & 30’s
Retinol has gotten into the hands of millennials and gen-z and I can say for certain has a lot of us in a chokehold. Retinols were originally something to be used only by older women, treating their wrinkles and fine lines, but now women in their 20’s and 30’s are hopping on the product to prevent aging before it even starts.
Retinol speeds up cellular turnover and boosts collagen production, making it one of the most effective anti-aging ingredients out. It’s like an extreme exfoliant — retinol helps even out skin tone, improves texture, and fights acne by thinning the outer layer of your skin, leaving it looking smooth and youthful. But with great skin comes great responsibility — your skin will become a lot more sensitive, because it has been thinned, so you need to be heavy on sunscreen to protect it from the sun.
It’s important to understand that by some it’s seen as a Eurocentric practice. This is because most of its research has been done on Fitzpatrick types I-IV (very fair to light brown skin). When it comes to Fitzpatrick types V & VI (moderately brown to dark skin) what we know for fact is limited. But with that being said, there are new studies coming out, and what they’re finding is similar anti-aging benefits in dark skin tones. However, like many skin care methods that penetrate the skin deeper, the strength of active ingredients matter. Darker skin shouldn’t be using the same levels of retinol as someone with fairer skin, and vice versa. It’s about knowing what works best for your skin type and adjusting accordingly to avoid irritation and damage.
Skin care is personal, and it’s all about tuning into your skin’s needs, and being purposeful while you’re doing it. Whether it’s using pimple patches to avoid damage, patting in your products for better absorption, or incorporating retinol early, consistency and knowledge are key. Remember to first start with slowly changing your diet, because that plays a major role in what your skin reflects on the outside from within. And while trendy ingredients and products seem like all the hype it’s always important to know how they will interact with your unique skin before jumping right in! Your skin is precious, it’s the only one you’ve got, so treat it accordingly, and you can build a routine that keeps your skin healthy, smooth, and protected for years to come.