Why NOW is The Perfect Time to Start Your Skincare Journey
Every new year, we create resolutions to nurture our good habits and leave all bad habits behind. It’s the perfect excuse for a fresh start and a great time to get serious when it comes to your skincare routine. Maybe it’s because I just celebrated my 45th birthday, or perhaps because I have been so adamant about self-care. Or it could be because I have been obsessed with All Things Beauty my entire life. But I think we can all agree that we should all be consistent with our skincare to see results! It took me years to find the RIGHT products for my skin, and once I did, it was easier to stick to a routine.
The great new is, t’s never too late to start your #28DaysofSkin Challenge. Consistency is key and by committing to mastering the basic products is all it takes. I hope that my tips and recommendations today will help you jumpstart your skincare journey and maybe even convince you that now is the perfect time to start!
Remove Your Makeup
Look, I get it. We are all busy and definitely tired by the end of the day, but if you leave your makeup on while sleeping, you’re damaging your skin. While you sleep, your skin regenerates. And if you have makeup on, it prevents your skin from regenerating which causes signs of aging. Not only that, think how long all of the oils and dirt are sitting on your skin and transferring to your pillowcase.
An easy way to make sure you remove your makeup, is using makeup remover towelettes or micellar water. The Motives Makeup Remover Towelettes removes surface impurities to leave you feeling fresh without any sticky residue left behind, so there is no need to rinse.
Lumière de Vie’s Micellar Cleanser gently removes makeup and purifies skin with no need to rinse or scrub and is great for all skin types. You can do this extra step before using your favorite cleanser, toner, and moisturizer or start by keeping these by your bedside. That way if you happen to lay down before cleansing your skin, it’s convenient and better than not.
One habit that helped me with cleansing at night, was making a point of doing it earlier in the evening before I wind down for bed. I’m telling you, there’s nothing better than the feeling of freshly cleansed skin.
Use the correct cleanser for your skin
You should be cleansing your skin every day, TWICE a day. And as important as cleansing, is finding the right cleanser for your skin type and lifestyle.
Not sure where to start? There are products that are “all-skin-types” friendly. My favorite are the Lumière de Vie Facial Cleanser and the Lumière de Vie Hommes Cleansing Gel. The Hommes Cleansing Gel is also great to use as a shaving gel, so it has a dual purpose-which is a plus!
Now, if you are dealing with more normal-to-dry, mature skin, or with an uneven complexion, the Cellular Laboratories De-Aging Facial Cleanser is great for you.
For acne-prone skin, you want to be very careful with the products you use. You’ll want to use a gentle cleanser that will remove all that dirt and bacteria, but won’t over irritate the skin. Over-cleansing, or even the wrong cleanser will cause more redness and inflammation. The Skintelligence Hydra Derm Deep Cleansing Emulsion is formulated with gentle, natural ingredients like aloe vera, chamomile extract and lavender extract, calming the skin while deeply cleansing.
Exfoliate 2-3 times a week
Another important part of your skincare routine for achieving healthy, glowing skin is Exfoliating. It helps remove your dead skin cells so that your serums and moisturizers can penetrate deeply into the skin, which makes all the other products in your routine more effective. It seems to be the step that a lot of people skip.
An easy way to gently exfoliate daily is using a Konjac Sponge in the shower. For your face, the Lumiere de Vie Volcanic Exfoliating Mask and the Lumière de Vie Hommes Exfoliating Face Scrub are great for all skin types.
For your body, the Royal Spa’s Foaming Brown Sugar Body Scrub features the exfoliating elements of brown sugar crystals and walnut shell powder, and moisture preserving humectants.
Pair these with your favorite moisturizer and your skin is going to feel baby smooth.
Tone after cleansing your skin
Often times, people don’t understand the purpose of toning their skin. Proper pH balance is essential for your skin to perform its primary function as a barrier. Under normal conditions, the surface of human skin is acidic with a pH ~5. This low pH value is maintained in several different ways, including through the production of free fatty acids during cell maturation, and secretion of fatty acids and lactic acid in sweat. This acidic pH helps to protect the skin against micro-organisms and to maintain the skin’s natural barrier function.
The new Lumiere de Vie Hommes Refreshing Toner Pads make it so simple and easy. There are 60 in a jar, one for the morning and one for the evening.
If you prefer to spray on your toner, you’ll love the Lumiere de Vie Toner. The Cellular Laboratories De-Aging Toner is great for dry skin, and Skintelligence pH Skin Normalizer, for all skin types. If you have more sensitive skin, the Timeless Prescription® MDI Firming Activator helps soothe any irritation and promotes hydration.
Hydrate inside and out
Speaking of moisturizer, it’s important to moisturize twice a day in addition to drinking lots of water. Staying hydrated helps all of our organs function efficiently. Knowing that our skin is our largest organ, moisturizers are a great way to hydrate our skin topically.
Not sure where to start? Some all-skin-types friendly moisturizers are the Timeless Prescription Face Firming Moisturizer with MDI Complex, Lumière de Vie’s Intense Rejuvenation Crème.
For your body, the Lumière de Vie Intensive Hand & Body Crème. For those of you who have more sensitive skin or fall into the normal to oily skin type category, the Skintelligence Daily Moisture Enhancer ideal for you.
Vitamins are for your skin too
Using vitamins both internally and externally can promote healthy looking, youthful skin. This could reduce dark spots, redness, wrinkles, rough patches, and excessive dryness. Some vitamin topicals are the Lumière de Vie Brightening C-Serum, VitaShield Vitamin C & E Intensive Moisturizer, and the Lumière de Vie Retinol Crème. They are all great for brightening your complexion and reducing signs of aging.
Mask weekly
To give your skin a boost, it’s recommended to do a facial mask once a week. When your skin needs a little detox, use either the Lumière de Vie® Volcanic Exfoliating Mask or Skintelligence Facial Firming Masque. They’re great for all skin types and helps when your skin is feeling dull.
Another type of mask you can add into your routine are sheet masks. They are so easy to use and very powerful. It makes you feel like you’re having a mini-facial. If you have normal to dry, mature and uneven skin, the Cellular Laboratories De-Aging Lifting Facial Masque is for you. There is also the Lumière de Vie Moisture Intense Facial Masque, which is great for all skin types. The Moisture Intense Facial Masque is such a powerful sheet mask that it only needs to be used two times a month. It is recommended to alternate it with the other masks you have in your skincare cabinet.
Always wear SPF
The sun is so important for our overall health, but it is damaging to the skin. Not only can it burn the skin, it can accelerate signs of aging. You must use sunscreen daily, even if you are indoors, and even in the winter.
The Cellular Laboratories De-Aging Day Creme SPF 20 is a great to use under your makeup. The Motives Liquid Powder Mineral Foundation with SPF 15 has several shades from light to tan and has an exclusive multi-mineral complex that helps protect skin.
For stronger protection, the Lumière de Vie Daily Brightening Broad Spectrum SPF 50 is lightweight and helps with evening skin tone. It not only protects the skin from the sun’s harmful rays, but it helps brighten your complexion. This is great for those who are dealing with hyperpigmentation, whether hormonal or because of sun damage.
Wanting more direction on a specific regimen for your concerns? Check out my Skin Goals page. Want more of a customized regimen? Set up a virtual skincare consultation with me and I will help you find the right solutions for you!