NEW YEAR. NEW SKIN.
Thursday January 1st I posted my first Skin Studio By Megan blog post. The purpose of this blog is to share with all of my beautiful clients & friends skin care tips & tricks. I honestly didn't think anyone would ever read this. I am so thankful every time you all text or comment on how a post has really helped your skin or helped you learn more about products/ingredients. AND can I get an AMEN to those of you who have thrown away products that are terrible for your skin.
My first post was 5 Skin Care Resolutions of 2015. You can read it HERE!!!!!!
For those of you who have read it, some of these might be on repeat. However I have learned so much more this past year from my wonderful skincare line Skin Scripts training & webinars. This line is amazing and their online training has really helped me grow as an esthetician.
Here are 7 quick Skin Care Resolutions to make for 2016:
1) SPF: I know its in every post I make, but I cannot stress enough the importance of wearing SPF everyday. Apply your sunscreen not only to your face but your entire body including the back of your hands. Doing this everyday will prevent pigmentation (save money on treatments, lasers, etc.) and premature aging. My favorite as many of you know is Elta MD sunscreen. I love their UV physical tinted sunscreen. This one is safe for all skin types including sensitive and post procedure.
2) Retinol: Everyone should be on some form of topical Vitamin A. This year try adding it into your skincare regimen. You can get prescription strength Retin-A from your dermatologist. Retinol is a lighter form of Vitamin A that you can purchase from your esthetician. I use Skin Scripts Glycolic/Retinol Pads a few times a week. This is the perfect amount of retinol to make a huge impact on my skin without the harsh side effects of prescription retin A. I also use twice a week a prescription Retin-A. Topical Vitamin A products promote fast cell turnover. This is great for anti-aging and also great for keeping acne-prone skin under control. When first starting ANY form of Vitamin A, start slow and progress as skin becomes tolerable. Side effects are dryness, redness and flaking/peeling. After the first few weeks, your skin will tolerate it just fine.
3) In 2016 I will NOT drink from a straw: Drinking from a straw can cause wrinkles around the mouth. Tons of clients who are non-smokers have what we refer to as "smoker lines" above the top lip from drinking from a straw. This year lets try to cut back on the straws.
4) Workout Your Skin: No ladies, we do not have to go to the gym to work out our skin. Schedule a facial, chemical peel, or microdermabrasion to train your skin and whip it into shape. Skin cells can be trained and like routine. Our dead skin cells shed every 28 days (slowing as we age). Professional treatments get rid of the top dead layers of skin. If you are oily or acne prone I recommend every 3-4 weeks. If you have normal to dry skin I recommend every 4-6 weeks. Treatments need to be kept up for maintenance of your skin.
5) I promise to stop using crappy products on my skin:
Using good skin care products will make THE biggest difference in the appearance of your skin. Professional treatments every 4 weeks won't make a huge difference if you are going home each night and using St. Ives scrub and wash. "Invest in your skin. It is going to represent you for a long time". Skin is the largest organ of our bodies, why would you not treat it like royalty. Remember, more expensive is NOT always more quality. Skin Scripts is the line I carry and currently use. It is an all natural, professional grade skin care line that is SO affordable. I have tons of clients who spend more money on crappy products at walgreens, target, ulta etc. when they could be spending less on Skin Scripts and get much better quality products. The biggest difference in over the counter products vs. professional products is the amount of active ingredients. I love to do skin care consults and switch over your skin care routine. I will recommend products I do not even sell. I am not a huge pushy sales woman, I just want you to invest in good skincare.
Thanks to Skin Scripts here is an amazing look at the differences:
6) I promise to drink more water: This may or may not be on my resolutions list every year. Having kidney stones & problematic skin, it is so important to drink a ton of water each day to flush out those toxins and hydrate. This year I downloaded an app to help me track my daily water intake. I also have started adding one tablespoon of liquid chlorophyll to my water twice a day. Reece Witherspoon swears by this to keep her skin clear. I have only been doing this a few days but I am loving the results. Do this daily or a week before your cycle to keep hormonal acne away.
7) I will use a Vitamin C Serum every morning: EVERYONE should be using a Vitamin C serum. Vitamin C and Retin-A are the two most anti-aging must have products. Vitamin C lightens, tightens and brightens the skin. It is a great dose of antioxidants to combat free radicals. It is good for UV protection (also apply your SPF) and it gets rid of previous damage from UV rays. Apply in the morning for a dose of "coffee for your skin" it will brighten you up & you will look more awake. My favorite brands of Vitamin C are Skin Ceuticals and Skin Scripts.
I hope you all will challenge your self to better your skin this new year. Remember it is your largest organ, take care of it.
