Clear Skin in Five Steps
By Laurel House
Over the past few years, the slew of new skincare products to hit supermarket shelves, combined with high-end dermatologist/spa-lines and celebrity endorsements, makes shopping for a face wash almost as stressful as buying a new car. How do you know what to use on your skin?
Don't spend a bundle on a bottle of empty promises. Instead, establish a daily skincare regimen using the basics, then expand your routine with treatment-specific extras such as serums, toners, and spritzers based on your particular needs. Kathryn Frew, M.D., diplomate of the American Board of Dermatology, member of the Medical Spa Society, and Juva MediSpa's practicing dermatologist, advises that you learn how to “read†your skin. Pay attention to how dry or oily it is based on the season, your travel schedule, and stress levels and alter your products accordingly.
Mary Lupo, M.D., who is a board certified dermatologist and sits on the board of directors of the Women's Dermatological Society suggests a simple daily 5-step ritual to maintain your skin's radiance:
1. Cleanse twice daily with a gentle cleanser that will not strip your skin of essential moisture. Try: Jason's Red Elements Gentle Hydrating Lotion Cleanser, made with red tea and peptides, to gently wash away makeup and residue. www.jason-natural.com.
2. Slather on a good SPF 15-20 with UVA blockers and UVB protection during the day. Let the lotion soak into your skin for a few minutes before applying makeup in order to avoid a caked-on look. Try: Jurlique's SPF 30+ Sun Lotion, a UV-A, UV-B, and UV-C non-greasy moisturizer. www.jurlique.com
3. Protect your skin during the day by adding important antioxidants to your sunscreen. Try: Philosophy's Hope and a Prayer; the potent vitamin C formula was created for the medical market, but is available over the counter to help slow and possibly reverse the signs of aging. Mix the topical powder into your selected SPF moisturizer and chase away free-radical damage! www.philosophy.com
4. Nighttime is when you should take advantage of the absence of sun, air pollution, and dirt and really put your skincare products to work. Promote repair with peptides or growth factors to boost collagen in the skin. Try: Juice Beauty's Green Apple Antioxidant Serum, a blend of anti-aging peptides and a hydroxy-acid complex to rejuvenate, firm, and smooth skin. www.juicebeauty.com
5. Two to three times per week, treat your face to a deep cleaning that excavates pores of grime and helps shed dead skin cells. Use exfoliating scrubs or cleansers that are strong enough to get the job done, but gentle enough to avoid causing damage. Try: Murad's AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser made with salicylic, lactic and glycolic acids to dissolve skin cell buildup, as well as jojoba beads to gently exfoliate and licorice extract to reduce irritation and inflammation. www.murad.com
Frew also suggests an afternoon spritzer to refresh your skin when it feels particularly dry, tired, or when in-flight. Try: Juva's AnOx-C Body Spray with vitamin C, vitamin E, and green tea. www.juvaskin.com or Kerstin Florian's Aroma Äkta Neroli Water made from bitter orange blossoms to soothe, hydrate, and refresh the skin. www.kerstinflorianusa.com
March/April 2007
