With so many advertisements for facial products on TV, you may feel overwhelmed when choosing which products are right for you. You may even notice celebrities endorsing certain products on Instagram and social media and wonder if they actually work.
There is a lot of information out there today about cleansers, exfoliators, toners, serums (what are those?!) and essence (do you need this?!). The Dermatology Center for Skin Health, PLLC, wants to help make your skincare routine as simple, but as effective, as possible.
Keep reading to learn about the products we recommend adding to your skincare routine to achieve flawless, beautiful skin.
Cleanser
Regularly cleaning your face (at least twice a day) is the best way to remove dirt, oil and other unwanted debris. Throughout the day, bacteria, pollutants, dirt and old dead skin cells pile up on your face, which leads to clogged pores. To remove these impurities, we recommend cleaning your face with oil-free and gentle cleansers to give your skin the fresh look you want.
Keep in mind, if you are working out or breaking a sweat, you will want to clean your face more often.
Depending on what product you are using, you can clean your face with your hands (if you’re using a foaming cleanser), or you can use a washcloth.
We recommend choosing one of these cleansers to add to your routine:
- Starting Up Face: This gently foaming gel wash is loaded with antioxidants. Two exfoliating acids, AHA and Salicylic Acid, help eliminate excess oil and shed away rough, dead skin cells. Soothing botanicals help calm skin, and Lutein helps neutralize free radicals. Ideal for normal-to-oily skin types.
- The Dermatology Center’s Gentle Cleanser: Gentle Antioxidant Soothing Cleanser gently cleanses while providing hydration for the skin. This is a soap-free formula specially developed with soothing antioxidants and botanicals to protect highly sensitive skin. It thoroughly removes environmental pollutants, excess oil and makeup, as well as refreshes and nourishes the skin.
- Benzaderm Wash: Benzoyl Peroxide Wash is a therapeutic, soap-free wash that effectively cleanses and treats acne-prone skin without drying or irritating the skin.
The Dermatology Center for Skin Health, PLLC, would be happy to meet with you to determine your face concerns and what product would work best for you.
Exfoliator
What is exfoliation? Exfoliation is the removal of dead skin cells from the upper skin layer. Exfoliation brightens skin as well as leaves you with a smoother texture.
During the aging process, cell regeneration slows down. Our body becomes slower at shedding dead skin cells and generating new ones. When old skin cells start to pile up, we are left with dull, rough and dry skin. The buildup of dead skin cells can also lead to clogged pores and acne.
Properly exfoliating your face will remove these dead skin cells and uncover fresh new cells. Exfoliating also allows other facial products, like toners and moisturizers, to penetrate the face more effectively.
There are two types of exfoliators: physical and chemical. Physical exfoliators are made up of tiny scrubbing particles that you can feel with your hands (face scrubs). Chemical exfoliators are made up of AHAs and BHAs.
We recommend these exfoliators:
- Surface Improvement (physical exfoliator): This gentle exfoliator, packed with micro-exfoliants and soothing botanical extracts, helps rid the skin of oils, grime, environmental pollutants and accumulated dead skin cells to polish it to a silky texture revealing brighter, fresher skin hidden below. It is suitable for all skin types and gentle enough to be used daily on the face.
- Line Subtractor (chemical exfoliator): The combination of Vitamin C with AHA helps to repair and protect against UV radiation. AHA sheds off the rough outer skin to reveal younger looking skin below while Vitamin C helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and protects against free-radical damage. Especially effective on acne-prone skin. Apply in the AM to help protect skin throughout the day.
- Glycolic/Salicylic Acid Pads (chemical exfoliator): Ultra pure glycolic acid available in five percent or 10 percent coupled with the proven acne fighting ingredient salicylic acid USP, two percent. Specially formulated to unclog pores and accelerate the removal of dead skin cells that can interfere with the proper oil drainage of the skin.
Exfoliating can cause irritation if performed too frequently. We recommend exfoliating your face only once or twice a week.
Face Masks
Face masks are easy, quick and can be fun to use. Not to mention, after a single use, your face is left feeling tight and looking brighter!
Applying a face mask regularly helps with relaxation, deep cleansing, unclogging pores and uncovering glowing skin. They also help your overall regimen.
Like exfoliating, using face masks help all of your other skin care products absorb more efficiently. By wearing masks on a regular basis, you can ensure that your toning, hydrating and protecting products will all perform better, leaving you with the results you desire.
Different types of face masks include, clay, peel-off, thermal, cream and sheet. Each have their own cleansing benefits. We would be happy to provide you with recommendations.
Serum
After you have utilized a cleanser and exfoliator, it’s time to apply serum. Serum has a thick consistency, which is also why it is last in order of layering. Serums deliver a high concentration of a few active ingredients that target specific skin concerns. Serums should be gently massaged into skin for a deep delivery of ingredients.
- We recommend using Hyaluronic Acid Serum. This pure, nourishing serum quenches dehydrated skin to impart a supple, smooth complexion and instant correction. This universal booster provides all day moisture retention and visibly reduces the signs of aging with a nourishing blend of antioxidants and humectants. With each drop, skin appears brighter, firmer and rejuvenated.
Moisturizer
Moisturizing your skin everyday can reduce the chance of developing dry or oily skin — both which can cause acne. The massaging effect when applying moisturizer helps stimulate blood circulation and new cell generation.
Moisturizers should be oil free. Look for the word noncomedogenic. Products that contain retinol and vitamin C will help the skin increase collagen and elastin, which will keep skin looking toned and firm. Moisturize your skin twice a day, once in the morning and once at night for optimal results.
We recommend these moisturizers:
- Stop the Clock: This all-in-one product provides sun protection and helps rejuvenate skin. It also contains reparative anti-oxidants and firming peptides to help revitalize the look and feel of skin while protecting it from sun damage. Apply in the AM after applying your favorite serum.
- Cream No Sugar: This cream moisturizes the skin while helping to repair and protect against glycation damage. Glycation damage comes from sugars within our diet that can attack healthy skin cells causing skin to look sallow and yellowed. This night cream helps repair and replenish skin for a youthful appearance.
- Ultra Lite Cream: Elite Facial Cream Ultra Lite delivers sheer, oil-free hydration with soothing aloe vera and nourishing antioxidants to deliver smoother, softer skin.
Eye Cream
Do you have dark circles, puffiness or fine lines?
The skin around your eyes is thinner and more prone to puffiness, discoloration, fine lines and wrinkles. There are also minimal oil glands around your eyes to help keep the skin naturally hydrated, so finding the right eye cream can help with many complexion concerns.
In addition, using eye cream under your makeup can help concealer apply more smoothly and prevent it from building up and caking.
To apply eye cream, lightly dab it on the area and wait until the product is absorbed.
We recommend using:
- All-trans-Retinol Eye Repair Cream: This innovative eye treatment is clinically proven to increase moisture, reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, dark circles and puffiness, increase firmness and elasticity, improve tone and texture, and calm the skin.
- Elite Eye Serum: This provides ultimate moisturization benefits to the delicate and often dry eye area with its hyaluronic acid enriched formula. This nourishing serum delivers superior hydrating benefits to soothe, smooth and plump the eye area.
Sunscreen
Sunscreen should never be overlooked as part of your skincare routine.
When you wear sunscreen, you’re blocking harmful sun rays from reaching the skin. In turn, your skin remains tight, healthy, and more youthful. Wearing sunscreen every day can also make your skin smoother.
For everyday sunscreen use, we recommend:
- Up the Anti: This formula physically blocks UVA/UVB and visible rays to help prevent sunburn, photodamage, freckling and uneven coloration. Up the Anti is a light, but effective formula that leaves a warm, slight bronze sunkissed tint on the skin.
- Lasting Results: Rich in moisturizers to provide superior hydration, this sunscreen delivers SPF 50 protection against both UVA and UVB rays. Lasting Results helps to replace the skin’s moisture loss due to sun or environmental pollution and helps visibly reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
- Sheer Physical Sunscreen Cream SPF 50+: Sheer Physical Sunscreen SPF 50+ provides broad-spectrum protection against UVA and UVB rays, and is water resistant (40 minutes). This sunscreen blocks most UVA and UVB radiation from reaching the skin, minimizes the effect of UV damage, and provides up to 50 times your skin’s natural protection from sunburn.
- UltiMATTE Perfection SPF 50+: This luxurious, skin enhancing make-up base combines superior broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection with all day oil control, gentle hydration and age defying antioxidant benefits. Featuring universal pigment technology, one shade blends with all skin tones to provide a sheer, healthy touch of color, conceal imperfections and minimize the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and pore size.
- Antioxidant Sunscreen Moisturizer SPF 50+: Antioxidant Sunscreen Moisturizer has been specially formulated with Micronized Zinc Oxide and other sunscreen ingredients to provide the highest level of broad-spectrum UVA and UVB protection. This product blocks most UV radiation from interacting with the skin and is designed to minimize the effect of the UV that does interact by neutralizing and quenching damaging UV induced free radicals.
- Antioxidant Sunscreen SPF 40: Vitamin C Antioxidant Sunscreen is a water resistant (80 minutes), lightweight and fast absorbing cream that delivers broad spectrum protection as well as antioxidants for a complete sunscreen solution.
- Elite Sunscreen SPF 30: Elite Sunscreen is formulated with purest pharmaceutical grade 17% Micronized Zinc Oxide to provide the highest level of broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection.
- Any of the EltaMD Sunscreen formulas
Correct Order of Skincare Products
In case you need a quick reference, this is how you should be applying your products:
- Cleanser
- Exfoliator
- Face Mask
- Serum
- Moisturizer
- Eye Cream
- Sunscreen
- Any topical acne medication you use
For the most optimal skin care results, it is also important to drink plenty of water, eat right, exercise regularly, clean your makeup brushes and NEVER sleep in makeup.
Dermatology Center for Skin Health, PLLC | Skin Care Routine for Adults
At the Dermatology Center for Skin Health, PLLC, our goal is to help our patients develop lifelong habits during their skin care journey that help keep their skin feeling and looking healthy and fresh.
If you would like to schedule an appointment to discuss your skincare needs, click below. We will meet with you and go over in detail your facial concerns and what products will work best for you.
If you want to learn about more measures you can be taking to prevent wrinkles, fine lines, dark spots, skin cancer and more, download our Guide to Preventive Care:
