Why you should educate yourself on skincare

You may be wondering, what ingredients should I look for in anti-aging products? Where can I find them, and what can they do for me? Learning about the ingredients in skincare is one of the best things you can do for your skin. You will have a deep understanding of what to use, when to use it, and how to use it. You’ll also understand that it requires time and consistency to maintain beautiful, glowing skin. Beauty knows no age; it blossoms from the exploration of the world of skin science and overall health. Combining the right ingredients and medical spa treatments will ensure healthy, radiant skin that you’ll feel confident showing off. We’ll talk about exfoliating acids, moisturizing ingredients, and of course, sunscreen!

Now that we know the significance of choosing the right ingredients, we’re going to go more into detail with the key elements that can transform your skin. We are going to begin with exfoliants- the biggest game changer in achieving glass-like skin. Proper exfoliation will help your other products penetrate into the skin, making them more effective. Keep in mind that if you add products to your routine with one or more of these ingredients, avoid using any other products with other active ingredients to avoid irritation and excess inflammation.

Retinol

As a medical esthetician with 5 years of experience, I do not think one day of work has gone by without me hearing about retinol. It is undoubtedly one of the most popular ingredients for both anti-aging and anti-acne treatments in skincare, and has been for decades. It is a vitamin A derivative that increases cell production, collagen production, and the production of hyaluronic acid. You can find it in food supplements where it supports healthy immune function, vision, and cellular turnover. In a one year study done in 2015, published in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 84 percent of women ages 40-55 saw improvement in the appearance of their discoloration within 52 weeks of use. This study found that a 0.1% stabilized retinol formulation can significantly improve the aesthetics of women and men with prolonged use. Retinol is extremely versatile and can address so many skin issues.

Retinol increases sun sensitivity, so depending on its strength, you must avoid direct sun exposure for a certain amount of time before doing outdoor activities.

Study: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25738849/

Glycolic Acid

Many people with dry, mature skin love the feeling of using a physical scrub to exfoliate, since it leaves the skin feeling super soft. While physical scrubs leave the skin feeling soft, they also leave little micro tears in the skin and do not exfoliate as evenly as chemical/enzymatic exfoliants. The problem with chemical exfoliants, in many people’s eyes, is that they do not feel like they’re ‘working’. You will not get this feeling with glycolic acid, it is a pretty strong chemical exfoliator, and it leaves skin very soft immediately after. It loosens up the bonds between dead skin cells. It also stimulates the production of collagen and acts as a humectant, which attracts moisture to the skin. This ingredient is actually suitable for most skin types.

When using a glycolic acid, avoid sun exposure a week afterward and discontinue use a week prior to outdoor activities.

What dermatologists have to say about Glycolic Acid: https://www.byrdie.com/glycolic-acid-5079041

Lactic Acid

As we age, our skin produces less hyaluronic acid. Lactic acid helps to stimulate the skin’s natural production of hyaluronic acid, which is why it is known as a moisturizing exfoliator. Its unique structure allows it to bind water within skin, promoting hydration. Naturally produced in the skin, lactic acid’s role is to maintain moisture and gently exfoliate. It targets skin smoothness, texture, wrinkle depth, and the thickness of the epidermis and dermis. Since too much sun-exposure can contribute to a large amount of premature-aging, many dermatologists and estheticians recommend lactic acid for mature skin since it improves signs of sun-damage. It also works wonders for skin discoloration, making it a must-have for those dealing with hyperpigmentation.

Now that we’ve covered the benefits of increasing cell turnover and removing dead skin cells, we need to talk about what compliments this; hydration. Specifically to freshly exfoliated skin. Together, these help your skin absorb hydration and ingredients, and this is how you will genuinely nourish your skin for long-lasting results.

Hyaluronic Acid

A naturally occurring substance in the skin, hyaluronic acid holds a large amount of its own weight in water. It’s available in a topical form, preferably as a serum, and applied on damp skin for optimal results. Hyaluronic acid comes in different molecular weights, and how it is processed can significantly change its efficiency and outcome. When it comes to choosing a product, the quality of the processing can make all the difference. Brands who cut corners in making their product do so by providing lower-quality ingredients and unstable formulations. You may feel like when you apply it your skin is hydrated, but this hydration is only surface-level. It fails to deliver genuine nourishment in the deeper layers of the skin, making it ineffective in the long run. The opposite is true for brands who pay more attention to detail and focus on creating a stabilized product. These hyaluronic acid products enhance penetration, delivering hydration to multiple layers of the skin and providing long-lasting moisture.

Niacinamide

Niacinamide is a form of vitamin B3, or niacin. It is an essential nutrient for many of our organs, and recently it has gained popularity in the skincare community. The reason for this is because niacinimide has so many benefits and can help with a lot of common concerns. It fights against inflammation, hyperpigmentation, and skin aging. In this study published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology in 2005, female subjects with clinical signs of facial photoaging applied niacinamide to one side of the face and nothing to the other twice daily for 12 weeks. The results conclude that there was a significant improvement of appearance for topical niacinamide at a five percent concentration.

Study: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16029679/

SPF

Sun exposure causes around 80-90 percent of visible skin aging, according to recent studies. Also, if you undergo any kind of aesthetic treatment to reduce discoloration and visible signs of aging, but fail to wear your spf or avoid the sun as recommended, it’s equivalent to taking one step forward, then one step back. Wearing hats, staying in the shade, and wearing spf everyday is the smartest method to preventative premature aging. Building the habit and being mindful of protecting your skin from the sun with the inclusion of specialized treatments elevates your results.

Considering everything, the best skincare routine is built on the individuals education on the products they’re putting on their skin, with help from professionals. Having a beauty regimen specifically tailored to your skin will give you the beautiful, celebrity-esque skin most people want.

Book a facial: https://dripivbarandmedspa.com/facials/