BeautyTip Archives | The Beauty Saint

Skin Care

March 4, 2019

Is Your Skin Dry Or Dehydrated?

Weather fluctuations and lifestyle shifts can wreak havoc on the skin. One day your complexion may be supple and hydrated, and the next it’s dry and unresponsive to your standard regimen. While it’s common for most to quickly switch up the products being used, that’s not always the optimal solution. Rather than asking yourself if your products aren’t suited for your skin, you may actually need to question if your skin is dry or simply temporarily dehydrated.

In order to properly treat your skin concerns, you must identify the root of them. Dry skin is a skin type while dehydrated skin is a condition which can occur with any skin type. There are many ways to determine if your skin is dry or if your hydration levels overall are low, so hopefully these tips will help keep your skin in check…

If your skin feels dry and oily at the same time, it’s dehydrated. Skin will produce excess oil to supplement lack of hydration from within, which can also create breakouts and increased inflammation.
If your skin soaks up moisturizer yet still feels malnourished, you have dry skin. You’ll not only notice this on your face, your entire body will react the same to standard moisturizers.
If you have more visible fine lines/wrinkles and your skin is tight, you are dehydrated. Lacking proper hydration sucks the life right out of the skin and your face will be the first place to show it.
If you’re experiencing flaking or peeling, your skin is dry. This is caused by your skin lacking natural oils that maintain optimal moisture levels.
If your skin mildly irritated and sensitive, it’s dehydrated. This is common in the fall and winter as humidity levels and air temperatures drops.
If your complexion is consistently dull no matter the season, you have dry skin. External moisture will have no real effect on your skin as you need to replenish oils vs water levels.

Once you’ve determined if your skin is dry or dehydrated, you’ll be able to properly treat the issue. The products best suited for you will ultimately depend on the root of the problem, so pay close attention to formulations. Many of the same ingredients will treat both dry and dehydrated skin, but heavier moisturizers are ideal for dry skin while nourishing serums are best for dehydration.

* HYDRATING/MOISTURIZING INGREDIENTS *

Hyaluronic Acid
Vitamin E
Vitamin B5
Aloe Vera
Allantoin
Niacinamide
Safflower Oil

Should you determine the issue stems from dehydration, increasing your water intake will aid your efforts to restore moisture levels. This especially applies if you’re exposed to colder air (including air conditioning), excessively sweating, overindulging in alcohol, or over-exfoliating. Your Aesthetician can properly assess your skin and provide guidance on products, and you can also take a skin assessment here and use discount code “TheBeautySaint” for 10% off any online purchase at DBH.

xoxo

Skin Care

September 6, 2018

How To Properly Apply Skincare Products

Have you ever set out to purchase something as simple as a moisturizer, yet returned home with an arsenal of skincare products and no idea how to use them? Trust me, you are not alone on this – we’ve all been there! And how many times has their expiration date surpassed by the time you learned how to use them?! Before another set of products lose their efficacy while chillin in your medicine cabinet, let’s discuss how to properly apply skincare products.

The basic rule of thumb is to let the product consistency guide you. Thinnest to heaviest will allow for optimal product absorption and efficacy when layering products.

STEP #1 – Cleanser: You’ll of course always begin your regimen with a cleanser best suited for your skin type (initiate a double cleanse with oil first if you’re a makeup fanatic) prior to applying the fun stuff.

STEP #2 – Toner: Spritz with a nutrient enriched toner to balance the skins PH and prep it for serums and creams.

STEP #3 – Eye Cream: Applying your eye cream first allows absorption in the appropriate areas. With your ring-finger, tap a small amount of product under the eye and over your lids until completely absorbed. A little trick I’ve found to be delightful is to keep my eye cream in the refrigerator for a cooling and soothing effect on the sensitive eye area.

STEP #4 – Serums: When using multiple serums, apply according to their consistencies or combine them if you’re pressed for time. Thinest to heaviest is best, and you can layer them after 30 seconds or so. I gravitate towards brightening serums for nighttime use and hydrating ones to maintain moisture levels during the day.

STEP #5 Moisturizer: To further enhance the efficacy of serums, layer on a moisturizer that provides the proper nutrients to treat your skin concerns. A quality moisturizer will provide an additional health boost to the skin while locking in nutrients from the serums for a radiant complexion.

STEP #6 – SPF: All those fancy skincare products are a waste if you don’t seal them with SPF. Nothing more than a 50 is needed, but you must remember to reapply every 2 hours to prevent sun damage and decrease your odds of skin cancer.

There you have it, a little cheat sheet for properly applying skincare products. You can obviously skip any steps that are not currently in your possession, but it isn’t a bad idea to add in any of the missing products to create that perfect anti-aging regimen. Should you need guidance selecting products suited for your skin type, don’t hesitate to shoot me a message. You can also take an online skincare assessment and save 10% on quality products at Dermaesthetics Beverly Hills with discount code “TheBeautySaint”.

xoxo

Skin Care

June 20, 2018

Skincare Products I Simply Can’t Live Without

Had I known in my 20s what I know in my 30s, I’d have the skin of a newborn baby! Until my 30s, my skin care regimen only consisted of a couple nourishing products and SPF. Now, I don’t feel complete unless all 15 steps of my routine are perfectly executed. Ok, perhaps I’m slightly exaggerating, but you get the picture, haha.

I typically skip a few steps of my regimen while traveling due to FOMO, but there are some products I simply cannot live without, regardless of the situation. I’ve found nourishing my skin to be a better use of time and the key to maintaining a clear and radiant complexion, so while many will cringe at this, a fancy cleanser doesn’t make the cut. You can make up for omitting the cleanser by infusing nutrients with other products.

The first product I can’t live without are makeup wipes. Don’t get me wrong, they shouldn’t take the place of proper cleansing, they simply get the job done when I’m pressed for time or traveling. I even keep some on my nightstand in the event I’m too exhausted to make it to sink to wash my face. It’s difficult for me to sleep if I don’t remove my makeup and environmental debris, so makeup wipes generally get the job done. I always rinse my face or utilize a wet washcloth after to eliminate breakouts and clear away that last bit of debris.

The second product I’m obsessed with is toner. There are a lot of debates surrounding the effectiveness and necessity of toner, and I attribute this to the accessibility of alcohol based toners that strip the skin. My suggestion is to seek products that contain nourishing agents suited for your skin type. A quality toner will provide proper nourishment and balance your skins PH to prep it for optimal ingredient penetration with the next steps in your regimen.

The third type of product that my skin simply loves are serums. I typically layer two at night and in the morning, even when in a time crunch. A brightening and hydrating one get the job done for me. When you opt for medical grade serums, you’ll quickly notice the positive effects they have on your skin. Serums are also ideal for those who find moisturizers to be comedogenic.

The fourth and most important product that I simply can’t live without is SPF. Utilizing a moisturizer containing SPF allows you to eliminate one step while still getting that combo your skin needs. I gravitate towards and recommend SPF with a physical block vs chemical block, but I’m delighted with any use of SPF as many forget its importance.

The key to maintaining a youthful appearance is preventing it from a young age. Should you not have the time or budget for a robust skincare regimen, please utilize SPF daily, if nothing else. The sun causes 90% of premature aging and is also the main culprit behind skin cancer, so it’s really a win-win to incorporate SPF into your morning routine. Should you need guidance on products, don’t hesitate to reach out to me! You can also get a 10% discount on quality products at Dermaesthetics Beverly Hills by using code TheBeautySaint at checkout.

xoxo