Are You Making These 4 Skincare Mistakes?
The internet is overwhelmed by people looking to give you advice. Advice about how to clean your house, how to be more productive, how to raise your kids, how to exercise to get skinny faster, how to bake the perfect sourdough, how to eat better, how to make yourself look 10 years younger...it’s exhausting to think about all the ways that we could improve. So let’s cut through the clutter. You’re reading this because you want to know if you’re making mistakes in your skincare routine. And honestly, we could go deep into the most ideal, most perfect, wrinkle/blemish/tired-eye busting skincare routine possible, but let’s start with some basics. Here are some things that we see and hear from our clients that are easy changes to make.
“I get treatments, so I don’t need skincare.”
However nice this might be, to skip taking care of our skin because we get regular Botox, resurfacing treatments or HydraFacials, it just isn’t true. In fact, using good products and feeding your skin so that it can stay hydrated, keep up collagen and elastin production, and regenerate in between treatments is going to help you maintain good results for longer periods of time. It’s sort of like an insurance policy. Do you skip out on car insurance just because you get your oil changed regularly? I wouldn’t think so.
“I’m too tired to wash my face tonight.” or maybe “I don’t have time to wash my face this morning!”
I get it. Really. When my son was first born (really, my entire pregnancy and Finn’s first 6 months of life 😴) my skincare routine basically consisted of my husband bringing me face wipes while I fell into bed. And my skin seriously suffered. My acne flared and my skin looked dull and dry. Building in the time to thoroughly wash your face and apply your treatment products twice a day will help slow down the skin’s aging process, keep away blemishes, and bring a radiance to your skin that you won’t have otherwise. Now that I’m back on the skincare wagon, my skin is brighter, tighter, and clearer. As an added bonus, I have grown to really love my skincare routine. In the morning, I use cold water to wake me up and it helps me start my day already feeling accomplished. In the evening it triggers my mind and body to prepare for sleep, and on the nights when I do skimp out on my routine, I notice I don’t sleep as well.
“It isn’t sunny and I’m not spending much time outside, so I don’t need SPF today.”
As Ohioans we may struggle with the idea of daily SPF more than others, we do live under what seems to be a giant gray cloud. But I’m going to stop you right there. You have to wear SPF daily. Sunrays come through the clouds whether you realize it or not. And they don’t just reach people standing outside. They come through your car windows, your house windows, your office windows and there is new research going around about how we should be protecting our skin from light rays coming from our phones, tablets, and computers! Are you overwhelmed by the thought of that? I am.
So let’s step back and look at some basic facts. Over 5 million people are diagnosed with skin cancer every year. 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer by the time they are 70. It is the most common form of cancer you can get. It is also, without a doubt, one of the most preventable forms of cancer. About 90% of nonmelanoma skin cancers and 85% of melanoma cases are associated with exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun. All of this info is coming straight from the Skin Cancer Foundation.
The answer is very simple. Wear your SPF every day and reapply every 90-120 minutes. Find what works best for you and keeps your skin protected throughout the day. At New Image, our favorite products to help protect from the sun are Alastin HydraTint in the morning (this tinted SPF is an SPF 36 and covers like a BB cream) and reapplication with the Colorescience Sunforgettable Brush as needed through the day.
“What I eat (and drink) doesn’t impact my skin.”
What you put in your body matters so much! We know that eating healthy and drinking at least 8 glasses of water a day is good for our insides but it really impacts how our skin looks as well. Staying hydrated by drinking water keeps our skin looking and feeling hydrated. Keeping a low sugar diet and eating lots of veggies and fruits can help clear up acne and introduces nutrients and antioxidants that help fight premature aging of the skin.
So, now what?
All of this begs the questions, what should my skincare routine include?! No worries, we’ve got you. We always recommend at least a cleanser, a moisturizer (even those who struggle with acne, because your acne may be a result of overly dry skin), and a mineral SPF for everyone. An ideal regimen would include a cleanser, vitamin c or other strong antioxidants, retinol, moisturizer, and SPF. The specifics of exactly what products you use may vary based on skin sensitivities and age, so you might be more selective about the heaviness and intensity of your treatment products, and you could start sprinkling in eye and neck creams when appropriate.
And now you might be asking, what brand should I be using?! So here is our general rule of thumb when it comes to product brand recommendations: if what you’re using is making you happy, keep it up, but if not, let’s talk about it. We carry Alastin and SkinMedica skincare lines because we believe in the results and we use the products ourselves. The thing about physician-grade skincare is that there are real clinical studies and years of research backing up the science behind the product. This isn’t typically the case with over-the-counter products. This isn’t to say that there aren’t other good brands out there, but these are some of the best and our favorites. If you are using over-the-counter products and you’re happy with your skin, that’s great! But if you’re looking in the mirror and finding that you wish your regimen were better for one reason or another, it may be time to consider introducing higher quality skincare.
Curious about our routines? If you have aging, normal skin you can take a look at Roxy’s regimen here. If you have younger, slightly more sensitive skin, Nicole shares her regimen here.
I hope this was helpful. I know how overwhelming it can be to find a good skincare routine that fits your needs and your budget. We are here to help and we would be more than happy to talk to you about your skincare goals and help you assemble a regimen that is perfect for your skin. Call us to set up a time to come in and chat! 740-774-7444
Cheers and happy washing,
Nicole