What is MY daily skincare routine!? As the founder of RFA Skincare, this is for sure one of the most common questions I get asked, and while I love sharing it I also love to remind you everyone’s skin is different and has different needs. At RFA, we want to help you choose the right products for YOU and teach you how to use them properly so you can get the best possible results.  If you are wanting a consultation on what to do for your skin specifically make sure you fill in the form here!

Why medical grade skincare?

As a board certified Aesthetic Nurse Practitioner and the founder of RFA medical grade skincare, I have a deep passion for blending beauty and aesthetic medicine to help others achieve their most confident self. My passion for skincare developed right after my pregnancy with Enzo. I developed terrible melasma and I felt so insecure leaving my house without loads of foundation to cover it. It looked like I had dirt on my forehead. I felt especially terrible because I was supposed to be in the industry of helping people have flawless skin and here I was looking like I was walking around with a huge chunk of dirt on my forehead! I decided to take it upon myself to meticulously study skincare and the different ingredients as well as to personally trial the best practices to overcome pigmentation. I was able to clear my melasma 100% through topical medical grade skincare. It changed the way I was feeling about myself. It helped me gain confidence. It changed my life. I realized the power of medical grade skincare and the ability to completely transform my skin and I wanted to share that secret with the world! From that point on I have made it my mission to help thousands of men and women all over the world achieve their best skin. There really is no better feeling than waking up, looking in the mirror, and loving to see what’s looking back at you. Confidence is everything! 

WHY RFA?

Our RFA line has been formulated with the most high quality, active ingredients and is designed to give you the best possible results. Having specialized in skincare and injectables for over 13 years, I have made it my mission to meticulously study the relationship between different skin concerns, skin products, and ingredients needed in order to achieve the best possible results. I have personally helped thousands of patients achieve their dream skin through my customized medical grade skincare plans and products. At RFA we understand that all skin types are different. We do not believe in cookie cutter or one size fits all programs. Our plans are tailor-made with one goal in mind…to help you achieve the best possible skin for YOU.  I firmly believe that when you are feeling your very best and you are confident in your own skin, you carry that mentality into all aspects of your life. 

MY CURRENT REGIMEN

I always practice what I preach….I don’t just talk the talk…I walk the walk!

Morning

I keep it nice and simple. 

1. If I workout I cleanse with Gentle Foamy Cleanser after. If I did not work out, then I skip the AM cleanse unless I feel like I sweat in my sleep or my face needs to be cleaned off for any reason!
2. Every other morning I swipe a 5% Mandelic Pad on to help kill bacteria, decrease inflammation, brighten and “tone” my skin for the day. 
3. Next, I hydrate my skin with HA Peptide Serum. This is the perfect lightweight daytime moisturizer. It sucks right into my skin like a big drink of water. I like to layer Restorative Lotion on top on days when I want extra hydration. That really locks in the serum.
4. After my moisturizer, I like to wait about 2 minutes (I brush my teeth or do my hair during this time) and then I use our RFA Prime + Protect SPF 40. This is a daily tinted SPF + moisturizer. It blends right into the skin and is a perfect universal tint for all skin types. This particular SPF has a mousse-feel and is extremely lightweight. It acts as a primer or base makeup if you don’t want to wear any! I also love Daily + Protect SPF in both non tinted and tinted and use that from time to time as well. This one is a little heavier and more like a lotion- great for extra dry skin.
5. Lastly, I apply my Hydrating Eye Serum. I LATHER this all over my delicate eye skin. You want to softly rub it in circular motions all the way under the eye, around the eye in the “crow’s feet” area, on the actual eyelid itself, and all the way up to the brow bone. This will suck into that skin and help reduce puffiness and minimize dry skin, fine lines, and wrinkles. It leaves the eye area looking bright. Wait just 1-2 minutes and your eye makeup layers perfectly on top.

Evening

This is where it gets a little tricky. I am a product junkie so I obviously use many things and alternate and coordinate them into my plan. If you are a newbie, less is more- you don’t have to go crazy like me. A few great products will CHANGE your skin! Most of my patients start slow and gradually increase their stash over time. When you are new to medical grade skincare your skin doesn’t tolerate as many products as well. When you become more seasoned and your skin becomes more acclimated, you can start adding more steps in. You have to build a tolerance. 

1. Cleanse with Gentle Foamy Cleanser. This is my favorite gentle cleanser that truly just wipes the day away. Think of this first cleanse as removing makeup, dirt, and debris on that outer layer of skin.
2. Double Cleanse with either Purifying Cleanser or RFA Exfoliating Scrub. This is the cleanse that really cleans the skin and unclogs the pores. This cleanse gets your skin and pores ready to accept all of the magical products you are about to apply.

*Think of that first cleanse as washing away the day. We are washing off all of that icky makeup, pollution, dirt, debris, SPF. Think of the second cleanse as the one where you are DOUBLE checking that your face is clean. We are getting that leftover residue from the first cleanse and making sure the skin is perfectly clean so we can absorb the products that follow.

3. Weeknights, I alternate Lux Cream and  Koji-C Pads. The Lux Cream gives me the retinol I need to improve texture and the Kojic acid pads keep my complexion even and glowing. 
4. On top of the Lux Cream or Koji-C Pads I layer either my Radiant Vitamin C or my Growth Factor Serum. These are amazing anti-aging serums that improve the overall health of my skin. The acids in the cream and pads help to drive these serums into the skin. I alternate nights with the two. If you are not feeling dry, you do not have to layer on top of your exfoliants. Layering is best for me, because I am a dry skin type and I do not want to over exfoliate my skin.
5. On nights I am not using pads or exfoliating creams… I LOAD up on the hydration. I recommend taking at least 1 if not 2 “off” nights each week. On this night you will not use any acids and instead will focus on hydration. I like to use my HA Peptide Serum first and then I lock it in with Hydralipid Moisturizer or Silk Serum. I love layering hydration during the winter. The Hydralipid is a nice thick moisturizer and the Silk Serum is an intensive nourishing serum. I lather in it!
6. Youthful Eye Cream. My eye cream is always my last step. You only need ½ pump of this powerful, retinol eye cream. Less is more.This helps me fight fine lines and wrinkles and aging in the delicate eye area. If you use this at night, make sure to use the hydrating eye serum or carry your moisturizer under your eye the next morning to avoid getting too dry.
7. Youthful Neck Cream. Don’t neglect the neck! This is a great product to help anti-age the skin on the neck and chest. It is packed with powerful growth factors and peptides to work on laxity and overall texture.

Tips & Tricks/FAQ:

These are products I rotate into my plan regularly.

• I often layer my Radiant Vitamin C with my HA peptide in the AM, however I prefer it in the PM. I always say, “Your skin does not know what time it is.” Therefore, you can choose which time of day you like certain products better.  I will sometimes use it on top of my Koji-C pads or Lux Cream. I also layer with moisturizer on nights I am not using a pad. All Vitamin C serums are NOT created equal. This one is specifically formulated for maximum penetration. This product helps to fight off free radicals and protect and nourish the skin all while anti-aging. It contains a little salicylic and ascorbic acid to brighten the complexion. It feels so dreamy!
• Refreshing Toner. I like to use about 2-3 spritz of this on my face in the morning. It helps to clean and tone the skin. I sometimes will use 2 sprays on top of my mineral makeup and this helps to “set” the makeup. 
• Once per week I do my weekly Lux Pad! I usually wear overnight, but at times when my skin is feeling dry I will wear for just 30 minutes, rinse, and lather on the HA peptide serum with Hydralipid on top! When I leave on overnight I use the Lux pad and then I put a little silk serum on top after.
• Cranberry Skin Tightening Mask or Organic Healing Mask. I am LOVING masks. The Cranberry Mask contains exfoliating enzymes that help to tighten the skin. I leave it on for about 15-30 minutes and then I rinse and apply my Radiant Vitamin C after. It’s a great little anti-aging treat to do during a bath or time of relaxation. The Organic Healing mask is the ultimate restoration for dry or compromised skin. I will leave this on overnight to heal dry skin. I also use it on my kiddos’ faces, lips, elbows, toes, etc. It is a magical healing cream for compromised skin.

RFA SKINCARE PRODUCTS GLOSSARY

Lets breakdown the products I use a little bit more!

Gentle Foaming Cleanser = works gently, but intensively to remove all impurities while nourishing your skin leaving you feeling cleansed and refreshed.

Mandelic 5% Pads=  exfoliating toner pads with Mandelic, Azelaic, and Lactic acids for a balanced approach to treating acne and irritated skin. These pads do it all: antibacterial exfoliation, toning, regulating oil production, hyperpigmentation reduction, and so on. In short, these toner pads are absolutely amazing.

Koji Pads = fighting pigmentation and evening my skin tone. These are my #1 fav product I use.

HA Peptide Serum = a powerful hyaluronic acid serum moisturizer sucks into the skin like a “big drink of water” and provides daily hydration while also plumping the skin and providing anti-aging benefits.

Prime and Protect SPF 40 = Guard against the sun’s damaging rays with this daily SPF 40 facial sunscreen. This lightweight, fast-absorbing, and easy-to-blend lotion provides protection from UVA, UVB, and HEV blue light rays while leaving no chalky white cast.

Hydrating Eye Serum= This hyaluronic eye serum delivers super hydration benefits to plump and smooth the eye area minimizing fine lines and wrinkles.  Packed with antioxidants rest assured your eye area will be protected from free radical damage to prevent aging.

Youthful Eye Cream = rich hydration, this deeply moisturizing cream helps to smooth fine lines & wrinkles while state of the art microcirculation ingredients minimize dark circles & puffiness

Purifying Cleanser = antibacterial cleanser is safe for sensitive skin types while helping fight acne infections by eliminating undesirable bacteria

Lux Cream= One cream does it all. A nice gentle retinol paired with Vitamin C and 5 different brighteners. 

Exfoliating Scrub = gently exfoliate, refresh and revitalize your complexion, while simultaneously refining the feeling of skin for a brighter-looking appearance

Growth Factor Serum = botox in a bottle. This really sucks into the skin and tightens and plumps the skin. I like to use this on the nights I am not using Lux Cream. 

Hydralipid = A little heavier than Restorative. It contains fatty acids, cholesterol, and ceramides to anti-age, nourish, and repair the lipid barrier.

Restorative = A little lighter than Hydralipid. It contains azelaic and niacinamide to help treat pigment and redness while hydrating and nourishing the skin.

Silk Serum= Infuses skin with rich, pure oil extracts that produces a healthy glow to the skin and helps combat dryness. The lightweight texture absorbs fast into the skin, delivering intense nourishment to keep it looking youthful and healthy.

Youthful Neck Cream = intensive anti-aging treatment formulated specifically for the neck and décolleté. Helps firm and tighten skin, support the restoration of lost collagen and elastin, and diminish the appearance of age spots and uneven skin tone

Radiant Vitamin C Serum = a high potency antioxidant formula, delivers an instant brightening, firming, and plumping boost, while reducing dark spots, pores, and wrinkles

Refreshing Toner = a hydrating toner with therapeutic amino acid action for all skin types

LUX Weekly Pads=  contain TCA and Salicylic acid. This combination is going to help tighten and brighten your skin, giving you an overnight glow! This product works to exfoliate, shrink large pores, kill acne-causing bacteria, lighten pigment, and makes your skin look and feel like you had a mini facelift overnight. Great to use the night before an event! Contains 60 pads

LETS GET STARTED

Are you ready to achieve your best skin yet? Whether you are dealing with sun damage, acne, rosacea, pregnancy, or just looking for overall anti-aging and skin brightening….we’ve got you covered! Reach out to the email in our bio or fill out a form on our website to get started with your very own customized skin care plan. 

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For Custom Complimentary Skin care consultation please FILL OUT THIS FORM we would love to design a plan just for you!

XO

Racquel