Our skin is our protection against all the world throws at us. This powerhouse deserves as much love from us as it gives to us.
Our skin hugs us tightly as it takes a beating from the sun and wind. It filters away the tiny threats around us, like toxins, bacteria, and viruses. Let’s not forget that the skin also helps regulate our body temperature and is responsible for our ability to feel physical sensations, along with our nervous system.
And, of course, your face is the first thing people see when they look at you. It’s a great confidence booster when you feel comfortable with your skin’s appearance on any given day. Ensuring consistency in your skincare routine helps keep your skin looking its best all year round and for years to come.
While we’d recommend treating your skin to one of our fabulous facials, peels, or personalized treatments, there’s truly nothing better than a good daily skincare routine.
The Basics of a Skincare Routine
“Starting a good skincare routine can be overwhelming,” says Amber Blakeley, Elite Artistic Esthetician. “But, it really comes down to the two most important things: what you start with and what you finish with.”
Amber explains that starting with a cleanser that is appropriate for your specific skin is skin care 101. The bar of soap you keep in the shower won’t cut it. Cleansers for the body tend to be too harsh for the delicate skin on your face. You need a cleanser intended specifically for the face.
“We all need a cleanser that will properly clean and balance the skin,” she notes. How you clean your face will affect how the skin responds to what you put on after you’ve cleaned it, such as serums, face oils, or even makeup. Plus, our skin comes in contact with environmental pollutants, dirt, and other factors that should be gently and regularly removed. It’s essential to wash your face twice daily, morning and night, to avoid clogged pores, dullness, and acne.
There are lots of great products on the market, but Amber, a self-proclaimed “ingredients nerd,” recommends these skin-specific products:
- Dry, dehydrated, or sensitive skin: PCA Creamy Cleanser because it’s both gentle and hydrating
- Normal or combination skin: PCA Facial Wash because it hydrates and exfoliates the skin while cleansing
- Oily or acne-prone skin: PCA Facial Wash Oily/Problem because it purifies the skin and minimizes breakouts or PCA BPO 5% Cleanser for its host of botanical extracts that calm and soothe the skin
Once you’ve cleaned your skin, it’s essential to protect it.
Signs of skin damage may not be readily visible to the naked eye. In fact, you might think that your skin is healthy and looks great, but you’re only able to see the actual condition of your skin with a microscope (and the results can be scary!). Ten, twenty, and even thirty years from now, you’ll thank yourself for protecting your skin today.
Whether it’s a cold and cloudy day in February or a blisteringly hot day in July, everyone needs good daily sunscreen to protect the skin. Amber recommends finding one with both UVA and UVB protection. UVB (a.k.a, Ultraviolet B) has a shorter wavelength and is associated with skin burning. That’s the one most people think about when applying sunscreen at the pool or beach. But, UVA (a.k.a, Ultraviolet A) has a longer wavelength and is associated with skin aging. Bottomline, sunscreen is a must for all skin types every day, not only to protect our skin from burning but also to help slow down and prevent premature aging.
As with cleansers, there are lots of sunscreens on the market. But Amber recommends these based on your kind type:
- Dry, dehydrated, or sensitive skin: PCA Hydrator Plus Broad Spectrum SPF 30 for its hydrating properties and antioxidants that protect against free radical damage
- Normal, oily, acne-prone or combination skin: Weightless Protection Broad Spectrum SPF 45, which is lightweight and fast-absorbing
- All skin types: Sheer Tint Broad Spectrum SPF 45 is Amber’s personal fav because its universally tinted, water-resistant, and provides an antioxidant boost
Amber also notes that many people think it’s okay to rely solely on the bit of sunscreen added to their daily moisturizer. “That’s not always the case,” she cautions. “If you want that moisturizer/sunscreen combo for simplicity, just be sure the sun-protecting ingredient is high on the list and at least an SPF of 30.”
Once the right cleanser and sunscreen are squared away, you can expand your skincare routine to include other powerful skin allies such as serums, exfoliants, or masks to tackle a number of skin issues from dark spots to wrinkles.
And while we may lump skin into a couple of broad categories (like dry, normal, oily), no two skins are identical. Amber highly recommends talking to any of Mitchell’s estheticians to help find the right products to tailor your specific skin needs.
By properly caring for your skin daily, you’ll give your skin what it needs to keep working hard for you. All that love and attention will have you glowing inside and out.
