Skincare

You have probably heard of a million different products that get advertised for skincare lately, and hundreds of influencers sharing their daily GRWMs (get ready with me) that go from basic to extreme. But what does skincare really mean?

Any products that aid in protecting and nurturing your skin can fall under the category. So think sunscreen, probably the most widely accepted product on the market. It shields from UV light, preventing skin cancer, and accelerated aging in the skin.

Moisturizers are also skincare, providing extra oils that nurture the dermis, giving you a healthy glow. And it’s not something that started out of nowhere, people have been using creams to take care of skin for ages. A 2,000 year old pot for facial moisturizer was found with fingermarks in ancient Rome, telling us just how much history this practice has.

Nowadays there are many other products that rely on what science has discovered and can help reduce aging signs in the skin, treat different types of acne and diminish marks such as scars or pigmentation issues. Talking to a dermatologist can greatly guide you in what products are right for your skin type and concerns.

The secret to glowing healthy skin lies somewhere between professional help and personal effort. But where it all starts is in our own daily routines. You might get a facial every once in a while, or something more in depth like a chemical peel, but in isolation, your skin will gradually take the burden of environmental stressors and lose the radiance you experienced.

So laying the foundation for healthy skin requires you to define what you need to protect and nurture it, most likely a sunscreen above 30 SPF, a moisturizer that is compatible with how oily your skin is, and some sort of cleansing to remove dirt.

Your skin has a very hard job to do everyday, protecting you from pollution, UV light, bacteria etc. So think of skincare as the necessary TLC we all want after a gruelling day of work. Treating yourself to this type of self-care will reduce the amount of issues that your skin can develop with time, helping maintain the results after any kind of facial treatment, and prepping you for any future procedures.

🌼 Read More: IPL Photofacial

The basic components of any skincare routine are protect, moisturize, and cleanse. This should be done in accordance with what your day will look like, so for example, if you shower in the morning and wash your face, make sure to moisturize first to return the natural oils, and put the sunscreen afterwards, so that it doesn’t mix with anything else and can act like the barrier it should be.

Cleansing is better for the evenings, to relieve any salt, dirt and excess oil from your pores. Before going to bed you can wear a light moisturizer again to soften the skin. 

However, every skin type is different, and oily skin should not be treated the same as dry or mixed skin. That’s without even starting to talk about scenarios like acne, eczema, or hypersensitivity. 

Your best option if you want to see specific results and fight back against conditions is to talk to a dermatologist. At Magnolia Dermatology, Hannah Teelucksingh, LE, can help you find the right products, either medicated or not, that can get you to that glowing healthy skin you dream of.

Be careful when looking at trending products on social media that are “skincare hacks”. Lately, products like retinol and even tretinoin get advertised like this magical cream that will do away with any and all skin related problems. 

But skincare is far too nuanced to have a one-and-done solution. Retinoids, and any other stronger chemicals are only recommended for specific patients, and may not be very helpful for others. Using too much of it can even make your skin look worse than at the beginning. 

So before you buy a serum that someone online had amazing results with, it’s worth putting some additional research into it to see if it really works for you.

Stellar M22 is an innovative FDA-approved platform used to address a wide range of skin concerns, including acne, scars, hyperpigmentation, and even tattoo removal. Unlike other devices, this system combines technologies like IPL, ResurFX fractional non-ablative laser and Nd:YAG laser, enhancing the safety and efficacy of the procedure. Other key features of Stellar M22 include:

Getting your skin to look the way you want to is more of a journey than a sprint, and like any trip, the view only gets more beautiful with good company.

Having an expert eye can help you come up with both an at home routine and an in office treatment that, paced correctly, can bring you to your goal without playing guessing games at a pharmacy that can set you back.