Happy New Year! Saying that we are all ready for a fresh start and a new year is a pretty big understatement given all that went down in 2020. So, here we are in a new year with new beginnings and endless possibilities. So, there is no better time than right now to commit yourself to achieving your best skin ever! Don’t know where to start? That’s what I am here for! Here are my top skin resolutions and self-care ideas that will keep your skin glowing and healthy all through 2021 and in the decades to come.
BELIEVE YOU ARE WORTH THE INVESTMENT IN YOUR SKIN
This first tip is a huge one. Busy women (& men) often put everyone else in their lives before themselves. I know it sounds crazy, but giving yourself permission to take care of yourself leaves you more energized for those you love. When you are feeling confident and your best, you make a more powerful impact on those around you. Self care looks different for everyone, but one thing I know for sure is that it is the single biggest factor in boosting your confidence.
Just like dying your hair or shaping your eyebrows, an aesthetic procedure or skincare can build confidence! So I’m here giving you permission to get that ‘thing done’ that you have been dreaming of for so long. It’s your body and your happiness! I love having the ability to help people feel good about themselves. The majority of the patients I see are wonderful people who want to look and FEEL their best. They are doing it for themselves, not for others. Why do we work out? To be in shape and to stay healthy, and to feel good about ourselves! This is the same so why would we not take care of our skin and face as well?!
Taking care of yourself is something a lot of people don’t prioritize – but the truth is, how you take care of yourself is the example you set for how others should treat you. And busy Mamas, I see you! You’re thinking, “oh I’m married I don’t need that”, or “Oh my friends will judge me”, or “Oh I should spend the money on something for the kids”. The answer is YES! You DESERVE to feel confident. You aren’t just a Mom or a wife or a student, you are YOU, beautiful, powerful, individual, and you should feel as such.
CLEAN YOUR SKIN FIRST
Start 2021 with a clean slate…literally. It’s time to stop sleeping in makeup and instead go to bed each night with a cleansed and hydrated face. Using the right cleanser and double cleansing when necessary is key when it comes to clean skin.
MORNING CLEANSE:
A gentle creamy or foamy cleanser to use as a gentle morning cleanse is ideal. This same cleanser will also be used as your makeup remover at night also known as your “precleanse”. Gentle cleansers should be used for a morning cleanse to remove impurities from sleeping over night. A gentle cleanser is suggested to avoid over stripping the skin and causing dehydration. There is no need to do an aggressive deep cleanse in the morning.
NIGHT TIME CLEANSE:
At night we want to do a “double cleanse.” I recommend using a gentle foamy or creamy cleanser first to pre-cleanse and remove makeup and debris from the skin followed by a second cleanse. Doing a precleanse at night to remove makeup or product from the day is crucial for optimal skin health. It ensures that no impurities are left behind. Apply gentle cleanser to dry skin, slowly add water with finger tips to emulsify makeup and product using circular motions. Once emulsified, I like to use the Jane Iredale Magic Mitt (or use a makeup wipe or gentle washcloth) and gently wipe away the foamy cleanser. Do this until all cleansers have been removed.
This second cleanse is going to be a “deeper cleanse” and is often done with a treatment cleanser for night that foams up or lathers. This cleanser is tailored to your skin type for a deeper cleanse to remove the most impurities while leaving your skin soft and clean. This cleanse is used on pre cleansed skin to achieve max results! For most skin types, this cleanse can be used with finger tips and circular motions. TIP: 3x a week, use an exfoliating scrub like our RFA Exfoliating Scrub with this second cleanse!
Here are my top cleanser suggestions:
Morning & Night Precleanse: RFA Gentle Foaming Cleanser
Option to use with Jane Iredale Magic Mitt
Second Cleanse Recommendations :
Dry skin: RFA Gentle Cream Cleanser
Normal: RFA Gentle Foaming Cleanser or Gentle Cream Cleanser
Combination/Oily: RFA Gentle Foaming Cleanser or Purifying Cleanser
Sensitive: RFA Gentle Cream Cleanser
Acne: RFA Gentle Cream Cleanser or Purifying Cleanser
Shop all these products here!
Never, Ever Pick Your Blemishes
I know, I know this can be easier said than done. But it’s time to commit to STOP. I beg you, please stop picking at your blemishes! It only exacerbates the problem and transfers bacteria from your hands onto your face – right where you DON’T want it. Not only that, but the inflammation caused from picking creates broken skin, sores, and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (little red marks/scars) that can take weeks maybe months to fully heal. Instead, use a treatment pad that contains salicylic acid, like our Daily Balancing Pads. It works to slough away dead skin cells, minimize excess oil production and unclog pores of unwanted debris for a clear and calm complexion! Picking at your skin now will only require more expensive treatments down the line to help heal scars and discoloration. Save yourself now!
Apply SPF Daily
It’s 2021, do we really need to go over the importance of sunscreen?! Prioritize your health and the largest organ on your body this year and start wearing a sunscreen that will protect your face without irritation. Elta MD UV Clear SPF 46 provides UVA/UVB protection with 9% transparent zinc oxide and 7.5% octinoxate and contains hyaluronic acid to hydrate and niacinamide to help clear acne-prone skin and improve circulation. I LOVE the tinted version to combine your foundation and sunscreen in one simple step!
Hydrate
As we come into the drier, colder months lots of hydration is so important! Hydrated skin is happy skin. Think of your moisturizer as giving your skin a big drink of water (our skin is almost always thirsty!). I recommend moisturizer every AM and every other PM, especially in the winter months. For more oily skin types choose a hyaluronic acid serum moisturizer such as HA Peptide Serum. This lightweight moisturizer really absorbs into the skin to improve hydration, glow, and fine lines and wrinkles. For more dry skin types I love to use HydraLipid Moisturizer. For very dry skin the best trick is to layer BOTH! Apply HA Peptide Serum first and then layer the HydraLipid Moisturizer on top!
Here are some of my favorite winter moisturizers:
HA Peptide Serum (Hyaluronic Acid + Peptides)
HydraLipid Moisturizer
Rescue Cream
Restorative Moisturizer
Exfoliate
Exfoliating in the winter is still important but should not be over done. Exfoliating too much can dry out the skin by removing the top layers of the derma and exposing the more sensitive skin. Consistent use of an exfoliating acid makes all the difference. I always say when prioritizing your skincare you should “splurge” on your exfoliating acid. This is the type of product that is going to really induce change in your skin. Your exfoliating acid could be retinol, Koji-C pads, and/or Lux pads. By implementing a product like this into your routine we are increasing skin cell turn-over leaving you with brighter, tighter, and glowing! You see, as we age, our skin cell turnover slows and slows and we are left with dull skin. These products not only brighten you back up but they also can be used to treat pigmentation and acne. If you wanted to start with just one new medical grade product, my recommendation is go for the Lux Pads, baby! This is my one stop, overnight, facelift in a jar. Cleanse, apply pad, (no moisturizer), go to sleep, and wake up to noticeably tighter, brighter, and GLOWING skin!
Heal Your Skin From the Inside Out
Almost any disease, pain, rash or blemishes in the body are a result of inflammation. Not to get too sciencey but inflammation is the result of free-radicals in the body. Imagine free radicals as little tiny villains that run rampant throughout the body and antioxidants as the superheroes which come and neutralize them. An overload of free radicals is not good and leads to inflammation in the body which is the main cause for imbalances. Imbalances that may result in unhappy skin! Antioxidants fight off these free radicals that damage the skin and can even cause skin cancer.
Nutritious foods like fruits and vegetables are high in antioxidants, and other foods include coffee and chocolate! Yup, it’s true! So while we can eat our antioxidants, applying them directly to our skin is also hugely beneficial. Using a daily antioxidant is important for healing and protecting the inside of your skin.
One of the most common antioxidants used in skincare is Vitamin C. There are thousands of products out there that have Vitamin C or ascorbic acid in them but if they are filled with other preservatives or not able to penetrate the skin then you might be wasting your money. I have searched high and low for the latest and greatest when it comes to Vitamin C serums. Finally I’ve found one that I am obsessed with Radiant Vitamin C Serum!
Invest in Clinical Treatments
…and don’t feel guilty about it! There is nothing wrong with using something more than a product line to take care of your body and your skin. If a cosmetic treatment is going to make you feel better about yourself and more confident then of course you should do it! Take the time. Make the investment. You ARE worth it. Here are some of my top treatments to mix in throughout the year for amazing skin:
Botox every 3-4 months (see my Botox 101 blog for more info)
Fillers to enhance your natural beauty or correct volume loss (Fillers 101 blog here too!)
Hydrafacials + Dermaplaning + Chemical Peels (learn more about these 3 here)
Annual Intense Pulsed Light therapy
Microneedling
SKINCARE ON THE DAILY!
If you were ever wondering if maybe this would be something for you… please reach out, I’m always here to help I could go on for hours explaining all of this stuff (trust me), but I’ll save it for other blogs! If you just want to see what it is that I am talking about with different procedures like botox or filler and skincare reviews, my highlights on Instagram are loaded with before and after photos and testimonials etc. For more info on treatments I perform or to schedule your complimentary consultation fill out the contact form on my site and I will be in touch! Keep in mind I typically book a few months out for in-office treatments. So plan ahead!
Where do I start?!
WHY MEDICAL GRADE SKINCARE?
In medical grade skincare, the formulation of the products are scientifically designed to penetrate into the skin and to be able to yield real results. There are no fillers – just high quality, active products that WORK. These products contain the perfect mix of active products in a formulation that can be delivered with minimal to no irritation. That is what you are paying for. I wholeheartedly believe that you will get better results by buying 1 pricier product than you would by buying 5 bottles of the drug store version. Once you invest you’ll know it’s worth it!
NEED SKINCARE RECOMMENDATIONS?
I provide complimentary, custom regimens online! Whether you are looking for anti-aging, acne treatment, or even pregnancy-safe regimens – I can help! I help patients nationwide achieve their best skin by using medical grade skincare. I love being able to reach and help people all over the country with the very same products I use daily in my practice. Skincare is not one size fits all. I create complementary, custom skincare regimens for my clients and I am able to do this via email and in the convenience of your own home. If you’re ready to start working towards healthier balanced skin today fill out the form here and click ‘Request Now’. I’ll create a plan that fits your needs with product recommendations. I ship nationwide!
What are you waiting for!? 2021 is your year to have CLEAR and GLOWING skin!
XOXO,
Racquel
