Skin Care Regimen 101

By: Chelsey Becker

Skin Care Regimen 101

You wash your face in the shower…bar of soap…you’re good, right? Ehh…back up partner. Cleansing your face is a start, but it’s just the start (and we can do better than a bar of soap!). Our skin is our largest organ, and it is constantly exposed to endless aggressors, not to mention all the effects of Father Time as we age. We should be doing all we can to keep it young, healthy, and glowing. Skincare can be overwhelming, so let’s take a closer look step by step:

Step 1: Cleanse, Prepare, & Tone

Here at Aurora, our skincare experts recommend cleansing your skin morning and night to make sure you’re washing away the gunk (oils, dirt, makeup, all the environmental pollutants) from the day. When you don’t wash your face properly, the dust particles stay in the pores of your skin which interrupts the breathing of your skin, ultimately resulting in the potential development of skin issues such as acne, whiteheads, blackheads etc. Washing your face in the morning and at night will help keep skin clean and fresh, all while combating common skin concerns. There are two types of cleansers: everyday cleansers and exfoliating cleansers. An everyday cleanser cleans your skin, removing impurities and dust without stripping the skin’s natural barrier. On the other hand, an exfoliating cleanser is meant to be used once a day, two to four times a week to help exfoliate the surface and induce cell turnover. They also sometimes have active ingredients that help brighten and smooth (like chemical exfoliators…our Aurora favorite…SkinMedica’s AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser). Whether your normal skin texture, dry, oily, combination, acne-prone–there’s a cleanser just for you! 

Another great product to add after cleansing is a toner. Medical-grade toners are liquid moisturizers that actually enhance skin’s surface, giving it what it needs to look fresher, smoother, and hydrated. For combination or oily skin, toners can reduce enlarged pores and excess oil. For normal, dry, or sensitive skin types, toners can lessen redness and flaking. It’s important to choose a toner with your skin type and needs in mind. Don’t worry…we’re here to help!

Step 2: Treat, Correct, & Boost

Now that your skin is clean, here’s where we start targeting specific skin concerns with treatments and corrective products. What types of skin concerns fit in here? To name a few:

• Fine lines & wrinkles
• Coarse lines
• Sagging skin
• Pigmentation
• Dryness
• Brightness
• Cell turnover/collagen production

When you’re targeting a specific skin concern, it’s paramount that you use a medical-grade skin care product. Medical-grade skincare is heavily studied and uses enough active ingredients to truly treat and correct skin conditions. Over-the-counter products are not allowed to include enough of those ingredients to be effective. A full skin-care regimen would include serums, growth factor products, antioxidants, brighteners, and more targeted treatments. You’re probably wondering how to choose the best/right ones, am I right? I always, always encourage everyone to talk to a skincare professional in person for the most customized skincare recommendations. There is no substitute for seeing skin first-hand, talking about concerns, and making recommendations based on those observations and conversations. 

Step 3: Renew & Repair

We’ve cleansed, toned, and applied targeted, corrective treatments. What’s next? This is where we want to put in our eye creams and moisturizers. Eye creams are formulated to reduce puffiness and dark circles. Just like with the targeted treatments above, using eye cream on the delicate skin around the eyes will help prevent those visible signs of aging from creeping in. The eyes are very telling and often recognized as one of the first signs of aging…puffiness, sagging and wrinkles around the eyes. While moisturizers are less specialized than an eye cream, they are just as important. Moisturizers are sealing in the work we’ve just put in on the rest of your face and offering added hydration and moisture. As we’ve talked about previously, medical-grade skincare products have a higher concentration of active ingredients and their formulation makes them able to penetrate deeper than over the counter products thereby making them far more effective. 

Step 4: Protect & Prevent

The final step in any skincare regimen is *drumroll please* …SPF! You’ve heard me say it before, and you’ll hear me say it a million times in the future. Sunscreen is a must ALL YEAR LONG. Whether it’s steamy hot or freezing cold, cloudy or clear, the sun’s rays are making contact with your skin. Protect your investment folks! We can treat sun damage, but we encourage all of our clients on preventative measures… aka… DAILY SPF USE. There are a variety of medical-grade sunscreens on the market, both chemical and physical, some a combination of both. Tinted or untinted, there’s something perfect for everyone. 

If you’re new to skincare, I know it can seem a little overwhelming. Don’t let that stop you from diving in! Talking with a skincare expert is a great way to get to know your skin, what it needs, and what types of products will be best for YOU. Our providers love when clients ask them all the questions, big or small,  it gives them a coveted opportunity to share the knowledge they’re passionate about and spread their love for skincare.