Skin Care 102

Once a solid basic skin routine has been established, many choose to add extra specialty treatments for specific skin needs.  Eye creams, serums,  ampoules, exfoliation products, even supplements are all excellent advanced choices to add to one’s routine.

• Eye creams work to lift, firm, hydrate and smooth the eye area.  There are also specific creams available to help reduce puffiness and dark circles, however elimination of food and environmental allergies in addition to lymphatic drainage will likely be a more effective treatment.  The skin around the eye area is the thinnest and most delicate skin of the body, therefore most facial creams are too rich and irritating for such sensitive skin.  The ideal eye cream is one that is non-irritating and hydrating with specific ingredients to target your needs- prevention, lifting, smoothing or firming.  Many creams, such as the Dr. Belter Eye lift Complex target all of these concerns.  Some may wish to have separate day and night eye creams; a lighter one to wear during the day that will not smear make up and a heavier night eye cream with plenty of anti aging ingredients.

• Serums essentially provide concentrated skin nutrition.  They are liquid or semi liquid solutions that are used nightly in small amounts under moisturizer to provide a deep dose of vitamins, hydration, botanical extracts and other anti aging ingredients.  Serums deeply penetrate below the surface of the skin to help rebuild from within.  Ampoules go one stop further than serums to provide a single dose of ultra-concentrated anti-aging blends.  Ampoules can be used either once or twice a week or even daily to aggressively prevent or treat aging.

• Exfoliation is key to having smooth, clear and flawless skin.  Exfoliation removes the dead skin cells from the surface of the skin which helps reduce the signs of aging, sun damage, acne and a dull lifeless complexion.  This can be achieved either mechanically- using medical microdermabrasion treatments available here at the clinic or chemically- using things such as Vitamins A or C or glycolic peels.  The frequency and intensity of treatments vary according to skin type and goals.  Call or drop in anytime for a free skin analysis and consultation to determine the best treatment options and schedule for you!

• Nutrition and supplementation play a large role in the appearance of the skin.  A whole foods diet centered around fresh organic vegetables and fruit, whole grains, lean proteins and quality fats while avoiding any food allergies is key.  Supplementation for the skin often includes antioxidants, essential fatty acids, probiotics and other specific nutrients.  Supplements are very individual, so it is best to come in to see one of our naturopathic doctors to design a program for you.

There are many additional skin products one can add to their basic skin regimen once they feel ready.  I suggest to start with the basics and gradually add one or two products that will give you the most benefit and you will be consistent with.  Beautiful skin is possible for everyone, we just all have a slightly different path to achieve it.

Skin Care 101

Cleansers, lotions, day creams, night creams, serums…  There are so many skin care products available that it can become very difficult to know which products are right for you.  Considering all the conflicting information, finding the perfect skin regimen for your skin type can be very confusing; but it doesn’t have to be that way.  Start with the basics: cleanse, tone and moisturize and work up from there if necessary.

Cleansers should be gentle and non-irritating, but still strong enough to remove makeup.  Many people make the mistake of using very harsh cleansers or even soap on their face which only leads to worsening dryness, redness, breakouts and flaky skin.  Skin typically gets drier as we age, and a cleansing oil may be more suitable for mature or very dry skin instead of a cream or gel based cleanser.  Cleanse twice a day, morning and night, with the exception of those who work out in the afternoon, then cleanse a third time after going to the gym.

Toners work to restore the pH of the skin after cleansing.  Most cleansers are alkaline and in the process of cleansing away makeup, dirt and oils, they also raise the pH of the skin.  Toners work to bring down the skin’s surface pH back to a slightly acidic level.  Use a toner that is botanical based, non-irritating and does not contain alcohol.  Alcohol only dries out the skin, leading to dry flaky patches and rebound oil production.  Tone the face and neck every time after cleansing.

Every skin type needs a moisturizer.  Moisturizers come in every strength from a light oil free hydrating gel to rich heavy balms, so there is something for all skin types and ages.  Typically younger people will need lighter products and will need progressively richer products as they age.  Most people will also need a heavier moisturizer in the winter than in the summer.  Many moisturizers will also contain anti-aging ingredients such as vitamins A and C, Co-enzyme Q10, hyaluronic acid, antioxidants, plant extracts and copper-peptides, making quality lotions and creams an ideal and cost-effective  first step in preventing aging.  Separate day creams and night creams are also good for those looking to prevent or treat aging.  Day creams are lighter, usually contain sun protection and are ideal to wear during the daytime under makeup.  Night creams tend to be richer and contain higher doses of anti aging ingredients that work to repair the skin while you sleep.  Moisturizer should be applied twice a day to the face and neck after cleansing and toning and those looking for simplicity should always use a product containing an SPF of 30 or higher.

A basic skin care routine is something that will benefit everyone and is easy to implement.  Using well chosen, quality products will improve the look and feel of your skin now, as well as in the future.