The Ultimate Guide to Facial Skin Care for Lasting Beauty

Do you want glowing, youthful looking skin? Start making the transformation today with this guide to facial skin care for lasting beauty in Orange County.

We live in the era of the "glow." So many of us are chasing this ideal through facial skin care products. To meet the demands of consumers, companies have created more anti-aging and anti-wrinkle treatments than ever before. 

On the one hand, it's great to have so many choices. But on the other hand, the deluge of skin care products can feel utterly overwhelming. Whether you're in your teens and struggling with acne or in your 40s, 50s, or 60s and dealing with aging, lines, and hyperpigmentation. 

Where to start when it comes to a beauty regimen that doesn't cost an arm and a leg? Keep reading as I demystify the best facial skin care regimen for lasting beauty. 

Anti-Aging Skin Care Tips

Eye serums, wrinkle creams, anti-aging products that diminish the signs of fine lines. Where do you start when it comes to creating an effective anti-aging skin care strategy?

There are many benefits associated with an effective skin care regime. They include:

• Retaining skin's youthful firmness longer

• Preventing a blotchy complexion

• Reducing wrinkles and fine lines

• Avoiding leathery-looking skin

• Decreasing your risks for skin cancer 

We're going to delve into the best products to help you improve the youthfulness of your skin. But first, let's discuss scientifically-proven tips that benefit any complexion. 

The American Academy of Dermatology recommends protecting your skin from the sun. There are many ways to do this, including wearing a wide-brimmed hat, opting for shade when sitting outdoors (especially between 10 am and 2 pm), and slathering on sunscreen regularly.

You should also avoid activities that can speed up the aging process. These include smoking and indoor tanning.

In terms of to-dos, experts recommend a daily regimen of washing away dirt and grime and applying a moisturizer. They also emphasize the importance of eating healthy foods (e.g., vegetables, "good" fats, lean proteins) and getting enough sleep.

The Ultimate Facial Skin Care Routine 

How do the practical tips above translate into an effective skin care routine that won't gobble up your time and money? It starts with deciding on a simple, daily routine and then sticking to it. 

You want this routine to be as streamlined and straightforward as possible. It should include the following steps:

• Cleansing

• Moisturizing

• Protecting

• Exfoliating (e.g., acne treatment)

Let's take a closer look at each of these steps and how to find the right products and approaches for your lifestyle and budget.

Cleansing

As the American Academy of Dermatology recommends, cleanse your complexion twice per day, once in the morning and again in the evening. Your morning cleanse will remove oil and sweat from your pillow and hair.

Your evening cleanse should involve a hydrating product to remove all of the makeup and skin care products you applied in the morning. Look for a product that's fragrance-free and contains glycerin and ceramides to help heal and maintain the skin barrier.

For those with the driest skin, consider using plain water during your morning cleanse. But you should never compromise or skimp on your evening cleanse. 

Moisturizing

When it comes to choosing a moisturizing skin cream, many consumers get buried under the deluge of beauty products. After all, there are an infinite array of options. Where should you start when choosing a suitable product?

Remember that just about every skin type does well with a fragrance-free, oil-free moisturizer. Beyond that, you'll want to look for a moisturizer that addresses your biggest skin care concerns. 

Of course, this is often easier said than done. After all, the list of skin care ingredients is continually changing. Nevertheless, here are some standout ingredients that you'll want to look for depending on your most pressing complexion concerns:

• Vitamin C

• Ceramides

• Hyaluronic acid

Vitamin C provides overall skin brightening and antioxidant protection. Ceramides prove vital to your skin's overall health and your skin barrier strength, and they help with eczema and dry skin.

Hyaluronic acid helps restore lost hydration, and it plumps the skin. 

Is skipping a moisturizer okay for those dealing with acne-prone and oily skin? No. Nixing the moisturizer will backfire.

Over-washing skin can trigger the production of too much oil, especially when you neglect a moisturizer. What's more, even the oiliest skin will become dry and irritated with enough cleansing and no hydration. 

However, if your complexion is acne-prone, make sure you go with non-comedogenic moisturizers. The non-comedogenic label ensures that the ingredients in the moisturizer won't clog pores, causing breakouts.

Protecting 

Besides establishing a daily cleansing and moisturizing regimen, always apply sunscreen. It's your first line of defense against early aging and skin cancer.

Go with a sunscreen containing SPF 30 or higher, and remember to apply it daily regardless of the weather outside. 

What to look for in a good sunscreen? Most are either chemical-based, mineral-based, or a combination of the two. Mineral sunscreens shield your skin from the sun. Chemical sunscreens protect against UV rays with ingredients that are absorbed into your skin.

Exfoliating

An essential aspect of raising children is modeling good behavior, and this modeling starts with self-care. The skin care regimen outlined above will help you educate your kids about proper complexion care. 

For teens suffering from acne, however, they may need to add a step to their beauty routine. 

Start with a gentle exfoliation routine two to three times per week. Exfoliation removes dead skin cells, gives the complexion a healthy glow, and leaves it feeling smooth. Anything more often will dry out their skin as well as irritate and inflame it. 

What should you look for in a fantastic exfoliator? Like sunscreens, these products come in two types, physical and chemical. I recommend chemical exfoliators because physical ones can irritate the skin and even cause broken blood vessels. 

What should you look for in chemical exfoliants? Find a product containing beta hydroxy acids (BHAs) or alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs). These help slough off an excess buildup of oil and dead skin cells on the skin's surface. 

Does this beauty regimen sound like it could work for you and your teens? Or, do you have unique concerns that you'd like to explore further?  Sign up now for a consultation. 

Skin Care Aesthetics

Besides the foundational facial skin care routine outlined above, work with a professional aesthetician to address specific complexion concerns. These include:

• Anti-aging

• Fine lines and wrinkles 

• Hyperpigmentation

• Acne

From mild natural fruit enzyme and hydration masks to green herbal peels and chemical peels, there are a variety of techniques available to give you (and your teens) radiant skin. 

Ready to learn more? Contact Revive Aesthetics now to schedule a consultation.