The Fountain of Youth: How to Revive Your Skin

did you know it takes 28 days for a skin care product to change the appearance of your skin?

We all know that it is important to take care of your skin, but just how important is something many people don’t realize. You should be washing your face twice daily. Each time you wash your face, you should be actually washing it two times. Why? The first wash only takes of 30% of any dirt, bacteria, debris, and environmental damage that impacts your skin health away. So, that means that you are still left with 70% of the dirt, bacteria, debris, and environmental damage on your face. That’s why it’s so important to wash two separate times each time you wash your face. 

Dermalogica offers a PreCleanse product that will dissolve oils from makeup (and other sources), sunscreen, and environmental pollutants without clogging your pores or removing your skin’s natural barrier. This product is great as a makeup remover and it enables your main cleanser to be more efficient and effective. 

Fun fact: Adding any type of vitamin C into your cleanser or moisturizer helps to hydrate and repair your skin, which helps prevent against blemishes and premature aging.

Your skin is the largest organ on your body and it’s your body’s protective barrier. Keeping your skin healthy and protected maintains this barrier against infection, and the harshness of the surrounding environment. When your skin gets dry or irritated, you can get cracks in the skin which makes you more susceptible to infection.

Dermalogica prides itself on taking their customers’ skin health fitness to new levels. Their products are a comprehensive skin care routine. According to their website, they don’t want to be pretty, beautiful, or pampering. Instead, they want to provide the highest quality skin care products available, which is why so many skin care professionals choose their products over all others. Dermalogica lists all their (natural) ingredients on their bottles and recyclable packaging. Their products are vegan friendly, 100% organic, gluten free, and are never tested on animals. 

I began my journey in the beauty industry at a young age. My mother’s best friend owned one of the top salons in the Bay Area. I was influenced by watching the way my mother’s friend was able to seem to bring out her client’s inner beauty, and project that to their outward appearance.

One of my biggest frustrations in the beauty industry was that people didn’t seem to want to invest in facial treatments, when they could just purchase something over the counter

With my own skin, especially as a teenager, there were days where I didn’t even want to step out of my house. I felt like my skin was going to be a focal point for others, noticing my outbreaks of acne. I can thank genetics for that one. It made me feel very self conscious, and I had a negative self image about my appearance. Everyone knows that confidence is beautiful, and I was struggling to be confident with myself.

Fast forward to 2014 when I opened my own day spa after obtaining my sports massage therapy license. I decided to make an addition to my team by hiring an esthetician to provide her services to my clients. What an eye opener this was.

This was where I was first introduced to Dermalogica and their products. Everyone who knows me, knows that I’ve been a strong supporter of Dermalogica for years. Skin care quickly became my passion. One of my biggest frustrations in the beauty industry was that people didn’t seem to want to invest in facial treatments, when they could just purchase something over the counter. I decided to pursue my esthetician’s license to advocate the benefits of skin care therapy. 

Dermalogica products are a step above the norm when it comes to skin care products

Most people think that any run of the mill, over the counter skin care product will work. I can tell you that this simply is not true. These products are full of fillers, artificial ingredients, and are not promoting your skin health at all. Truth be told, these products aren’t doing much more for your skin health than a $1 bar of soap.

Dermalogica products are a step above the norm when it comes to skin care products. The company was formed in 1986 in LA with the intention to create a “product line free of common irritants and ingredients that could cause breakouts (including lanolin, SD alcohol, mineral oil, artificial colors and fragrances) that would improve skin health, and were only available from qualified skin care professionals…” (dermalogica.com).

Dermalogica offers a wide variety of products for every skin type. One of my favorites is their skin care kit. This kit gives you a cleanser for your specific skin type, a toner, an eye repair treatment, and a moisturizer. Below are some more products and recommendations to help you find your own fountain of youth.

Dermalogica’s Solar Defense Booster is chock full of antioxidants which fight against free radicals, which cause the skin to age prematurely

Demalogica’s Labeling

Dermalogica’s products are broken down into five major categories to address specific concerns:

• Silver label products are designed for general maintenance and upkeep. This is Dermalogica’s retail line. 
• AGE Smart products are designed for damaged skin, sun exposure, and premature aging of the skin. These products help attack your problem areas, stimulates collagen production,  and have higher levels of antioxidants to help combat more serious issues. 
• MediBac products are designed to help treat, clear, and prevent issues with adult acne.
• PowerBright TRx addresses issues with hyperpigmentation and uneven skin tone. 
• UltraCalming products are designed for relief to sensitized skin. 

Sun Exposure

One of the worst things for your skin is that little ball of energy that heats our planet. The sun causes more skin damage than almost all other damaging elements combined. Ever see one of those people who have been smoking for 40+ years? Their skin looks grey and unhealthy. Guess what? Constant unprotected sun exposure is 100 times worse in a shorter amount of time than being a lifetime smoker. Scary, right?

Applying SPF three times a day and drinking lots of water will help to subdue any skin dryness, clogged pores, or breakouts. Dermalogica has you covered here. Their Solar Defense Booster (SPF 50) will help you block harmful UV rays which are one of the leading causes of skin damage, not to mention skin cancer.

Dermalogica’s Solar Defense Booster is chock full of antioxidants which fight against free radicals, which cause the skin to age prematurely. Along with protecting against the sun, it will also help moisturize your skin, and can be used with your foundation.

Dry and Prematurely Aging Skin

If you are finding your skin to be excessively dry and seeming to age prematurely, Dermalogica’s Super Rich Repair is a must have in your cabinet. This is a super concentrated, heavyweight cream that will definitely go to bat for your skin. I consider this to be the Marines of the Dermalogica line. This is the product you want to call in when things are at their worst.

The Super Rich Repair will repair and protect your skin while battling chronically dry and dehydrated skin, which can lead to unwanted, premature aging. In a perfect world, the goal is the exact opposite. You want healthy, youthful looking skin that is hydrated and moisturized to give that youthful glow. 

This should be only done by a professional skin therapist…

LED Facial Light Therapy and Colloidal Masque Base

One of my absolute favorite combinations of facial treatments, is an LED light mask combined with Dermalogica’s Colloidal Masque Base. When I first heard about the use of LED light therapy for rejuvenating skin, I was more than intrigued. It seemed like an effective way to get that healthy “glow” without the risks and price tag of a surgical option. Every colored light has a primary function for every skin type.

This should only be done by a professional skin therapist because a skin therapist is trained to help you determine what light and masque combination will be best for your skin. Investing in your skin should be as much of a priority as any other wellness related expense. After all, you only get one body, so why not take care of it?

It is important to work with a trained skin care specialist…

Face Mapping

Do you know what you blemishes are telling you? There are certain points on your face that are connected to certain organs on your body. Face mapping is an ancient practice that connects a point on your face to a part of your body (or organ) to help you determine if you need to lower your blood pressure, increase your water intake, or maybe add a few more fruits and vegetables to your diet.What this means is that, depending on where your blemishes occur, it can tell you much more about your body’s functioning than just that you might have dehydrated skin or a pimple.

For example, your lower chin area is connected to your ovaries, which is why so many women get breakouts in that area when Aunt Flo rolls into town. Face mapping is sorted out in a methodical fashion to help you determine where you skin’s problem areas are stemming from.

Exfoliants

Exfoliation is necessary for your overall skin health. It helps to takes off dry skin, stimulate cell renewal, and helps to reduce the signs of premature aging. By removing the oldest skin cells you will get rid of that dead layer of skin that is a breeding ground for bacteria. 

Dermalogica recommends a 1:7 ratio of intense to gentle exfoliation. This pairing of one intense day of exfoliation coupled with seven days of a more gentle exfoliating product will aid your skin’s rate of repair. 

One of Dermalogica’s most effective exfoliants is their Daily Microfoliant. It’s a rice-based enzyme powder that you can use daily that will leave your skin noticeably smoother and brighter. It’s gentle enough for daily use and will fast track cell rejuvenation, leaving your skin supple, smooth, and bright. 

Importance of Working With a Skin Care Specialist

It is important to work with a trained skin care specialist because they will help you identify problem areas, evaluate your skin’s overall condition, and provide a personalized, daily skin care routine that will maximize your skin health. The equipment and product, like Dermalogica’s professional-use-only / medical grade products, are something only available through a licensed skin care professional. This ain’t your momma’s medicine cabinet apricot scrub. Plus, you also get a mini-massage as part of the treatment. Talk about full-service.

Skin Care Sites

The beauty of Dermalogica is that they provide the following sites to help educate their customers.

Face Mapping will help you with your skin goals and find products. 

Skin Sensitivity Risk will show you, based on your location, what are the biggest risks to your skin and products you can use.

Breakout Predictor will show you where your next breakout might occur. 

Biolumin-C Mirror will show you what you would look like with brighter skin. 

Skin Pollution is another location based site that will give you a risk index number based on where you live. 

Adding a monthly facial to your at home skin care regimen is something that should be part of everyone’s healthy lifestyle. As mentioned above, you only get one body in this life and every part should get fair and equal treatment. The next time you’re thinking about spending $200 on a lipkit that is just a trend, you should put that money towards an investment in your skin’s future. Your whole body deserves it.

 

Source: dermalogica.com