#LoveYourSkinChallenge Skincare Tips

August was #LoveYourSkinChallenge month. Well August has come and gone, summer has ended and fall has arrived. In case you missed the skincare tips from this year’s challenge, here is a recap of them. Enjoy and here’s to beautiful skin!

Tip #1: Ditch Soapy Cleansers

Did you know that bubbles and foam are bad when it comes to cleansers? When you wash with a foaming bar soap or cleanser, it pulls water out of your skin and creates dead, dry skin cell buildup. To compensate for the moisture you removed, your moisturizer has to repair the dehydrated cells caused from cleansing.

There’s a difference between dry skin and dehydrated skin. People associate dry skin with flaking. Dehydration, on the other hand, is when there is a tight feeling, which indicates that water has been robbed from the skin. If you have been using foaming cleansers to wash your face for a long time, you might think this tight feeling is normal because you have nothing to compare it to. However, if you use a foam-free cleanser, you will definitely notice that your skin doesn’t have that tight, parched feel. So ditch those soapy cleansers!

Tip #2: Keep Skin Fit

Research suggests that low-impact exercise along with eating a healthy, balanced diet that includes lots of fruits, vegetables and fish actually slows down the aging process not only for your body, but for your skin as well.

When you step up your workout goals, remember to set the bar just as high for your skincare routine. Follow this workout mantra for your skin: cleanse, sweat, cleanse. Make sure your workout bag contains the following:

• Facial wipes – Use to remove makeup
• Sunscreen – When you take your workout outside, remember to always protect your skin from the sun
• Clean towels – Wipe your face with a clean towel to avoid the spread of bacteria on your face as much as possible (avoid touching your face during a workout and wash your hands afterwards)
• Cleanser – Wash your face after working out (sulfur-based cleansers are great for oily or acne-prone skin, since they can penetrate clogged pores while reducing the appearance of redness)
• Moisturizer - Sun exposure, steam baths and extra showers create the perfect storm of dehydrating factors, so apply moisturizing lotion while skin is still damp to seal in moisture

Tip #3: The Power of Goji Berries

Goji berries are a powerful antioxidant that can work as a conditioning agent, offering the following refreshing skin benefits:

• Decrease oxidation in the lipids of your skin
• Protect against skin damage associated with exposure to UV rays
• Contain more than 400 times vitamin C found in oranges
• Contain other vitamins (A, B1, B2, B6, E) as well as 18 amino acids that are considered the gold standard in anti-aging ingredients

For example, goji berry extract is used in the REDEFINE eye cloths. Here’s a skin tip for you: Place REDEFINE eye cloths in the fridge and use them as a cooling, soothing eye compress to refresh tired, puffy eyes.

Tip #4: Retinol is Your Friend

Retinol is made from vitamin A and promotes faster skin cell turnover. It provides some of the most proven, effective and powerful options for treating skin issues ranging from acne to signs of aging. Not all retinols are created (or even delivered) equally though...

Oxygen ruins the efficiency of retinol. So when you’re using a tube, jar or pump, the retinol becomes less potent each time that you open, squeeze or press down on that pump and allow oxygen to get in there. With a REDEFINE Night Renewing Serum capsule you open it, put it on your face, it’s time-released, and you get the maximum efficiency with every use because there’s no chance the product will be compromised by oxygen.

Each Night Renewing Serum capsule contains 0.075% retinol. But because of the encased microsponge technology, along with combination of appropriate peptides, the retinol is released overnight for 12 hours in time-released increments. Because of the time-release capsule, the retinol changes from liquid form to powder form in 45 seconds. This process makes the retinol react as if it were a 0.15% dosage of retinol (double the actual retinol in it). Additionally, the skin is treated over a number of hours, making it much more powerful.

Tip #5: Clean Your Makeup Brushes and Tools Regularly

How often do you clean and replace your makeup tools and brushes? A big part of caring for your skin involves tools, so it’s important to clean and replace them as necessary on a regular basis. You can undo all of the hard work taking good care of your skin if you’re using dirty or worn-out tools.

Clean your makeup brushes at least every 2 weeks. The longer you wait to clean your brushes, the longer you’re putting bacteria on your skin, causing breakouts. Use warm water and a mild anti-bacterial soap or disinfectant alcohol to clean your brushes and tools, laying them flat to dry to avoid any warping that can happen to them.

Tip #6: Do Sunscreen Shots

In fact…let’s do a few shots. Think of a full shot glass as a goal for each time you apply and reapply sunscreen.

Make sure that the sunscreen you use is labeled broad spectrum with an SPF of 15 or higher. Apply liberally 15 minutes before any exposure to the sun, which includes driving in your car to go to work and/or run errands. If you’re at the beach, reapply sunscreen every 2 hours and after 40 minutes of swimming or sweating.   

Tip #7: Consistency is Key when it comes to Skincare

Even if you regularly get fillers, injectables, chemical peels, laser treatments, facials or have had a face lift, maintaining your skin on a daily basis with safe and effective skincare products is still so important for your skin in the long run. It takes the right ingredients (such as peptides, hyaluronic acid, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, retinol and alpha-hydroxy acids) in the right formulations in the right order to make a difference. It’s important to invest in a regimen that works for your specific skin type and issues. Maintain a simple but effective morning and nighttime routine to ensure you're doing everything you can to take care of your skin, regardless of having any surgery, procedures and treatments done.

If you keep your skin healthy with a good, consistent routine starting at a young age, your skin will age well. There are effective products and tools on the market today that can transform your skin over time. As the saying goes…“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of filler.”

Tip #8: Use Eye Cream

The skin around your eyes is thinner and more sensitive than the rest of your skin. Eye creams are specially formulated for this thinner, more sensitive area around your eyes. Areas around your eyes experience dark circles, crow’s feet and sagging skin. Eye creams are often formulated with special ingredients just for this special, delicate area.

Eye creams should be applied gently, with a dabbing motion around the orbital bone working inwards toward the bridge of your nose. You want to use caution not to pull or stretch the area as this may result in sagging or loose skin.

Tip #9: Go Faux

The sun’s UV rays are the number one cause of aging, so when it comes to tanning, think “fake” rather than “bake” for a year round glow. Sunless tanners are the way to go in this day and age. Why fry your skin when you can achieve a healthy-looking glow with a foaming sunless tanner? Instead of jeopardizing your health with indoor tanning beds and laying out in the sun, go for a natural faux glow. Healthy skin is always in style.

Tip #10: Wear Sun Protection Daily

Did you know most sun damage happens before the age of 18? Think about it...18 years spent playing outside, recess and running errands. Kids are exposed to harmful UVA and UVB rays daily over almost two decades before they really think about protecting their own skin on a daily basis, not just when going in the water.

It's not just about anti-aging. Skin cancer is a growing epidemic. Choose a broad spectrum sunscreen or sunblock that is recommended by the American Cancer society and make application a part of your daily morning routine.

Tip #11: Treat Your Face

Two things recommended for aging skin: an amazing retinol product and a killer exfoliation product. Here's the ultimate face treatment for smoother, softer skin: MicroDermabrasion Paste and Night Renewing Serum. Get back your natural youthful glow!

Tip #12: Break the Acne Cycle

Do you know breakouts actually begin weeks before pimples appear on your skin? Break the cycle with UNBLEMISH and tackle acne before it even appears.

Tip #13: Get Rid of Blackheads

Use this combination 2-3 times a week to help knock out those gross pore cloggers: 

• Wash your face gently with Microdermabrasion Paste
• Place a thin layer of the UNBLEMISH wash as a mask for 10 minutes
• Use the UNBLEMISH oil control lotion for maintenance

Tip #14: Keep it Real

Strive to look YOUR best. Instead of wanting to look like someone else (insert famous celebrity name here) or striving for unattainable perfection, focus on real-life results and feeling confident in your own skin. If you are always running after someone else’s ideals, you might just end up looking like someone who entered the Witness Protection Program. Real results are possible when using intelligent skincare on a daily basis.

Tip #15: Travel with Toner

Whether you are going away overnight, the weekend or a whole week, no one wants to go without their products, including skin toner. Check out the photo below to learn the easiest way to travel with your toner.

Tip #16: Exfoliate Regularly

Why do we need to exfoliate? With every passing year, your skin functions a little bit differently. Over time, skin cell turnover slows. So much that by the time you hit 40, it could take 50 days or more for your skin to rejuvenate. You can compensate for this change by incorporating regular exfoliation into your routine.

No matter how great your skincare regimen; exfoliating your skin 2-3 times a week makes the results even better. Dead cells can really stand in the way of how well ingredients are able to penetrate your skin. Exfoliation allows other products to be absorbed better. Think of the surface of the epidermis and those dead skin cells on it as a barrier. You have to remove those dead cells for products to get in. With regular exfoliation 2-3 times a week, makeup goes on smoother. If you have blackheads or acne, it unclogs pores. If you have dry skin, your skin will be less dry because your moisturizer will penetrate better. Skincare products work so much better if there isn’t dead skin in the way. It is best to exfoliate in the evening. Freshly exfoliated skin is more sensitive to sunlight. If you absolutely must exfoliate during the day, be sure to wear sunscreen/sunblock after.

Regular exfoliation is one of the best ways to combat dull skin, refresh your appearance and even out skin tone. However, never scrub your face too hard with an exfoliator or use it too often. Two to three times a week usage is best. Over exfoliation can strip away your lipid barrier, making skin more susceptible to irritation and bacterial infection.

Tip #17: Are You Rolling?

Did you know that around the age of 30 the amount of collagen we produce diminishes? This is why we may start to notice our necks a tad more loose, the area around our mouths start to jowl and our cheekbones lose that definition we've always taken for granted. The AMP MD roller system encourages collagen production, helping to firm and tighten areas around your face and neck. This non-invasive roller is clinically proven to safely and effectively improve the appearance of skin firmness. Simply roll the AMP MD over clean, dry skin for no longer than a minute a night for 3 days a week before building up to daily use.

This roller contains surgical grade tiny acupuncture needles 0.22 mm in length to stimulate collagen and elastin production and increase firmness. It reduces scars caused by acne, surgery and thermal burns. It reduces fine lines, wrinkles and dyspigmentation (dark marks). It’s not recommended for active acne breakouts or sensitive skin. The roller is replaced once a year.

Tip #18: Keep Your Hands Off Your Face

Avoid rubbing your eyes and touching the skin on your face. Stop picking at pimples. Stop tugging or pulling at your face. All of these habits can affect the quality of your skin. Rubbing your forehead or simply resting your chin on your hand adds oil and bacteria, causing it to break out and look greasy. Rubbing your face can also loosen the skin, causing premature wrinkles. So, make an effort to stop unnecessarily touching your face.

Tip #19: Clean Your Phone

Sanitize your phone often, it’s a magnet for microbes that can cause breakouts on your face.

Tip #20: Common Face Washing Mistakes to Avoid

Here are the 5 most common mistakes people make when washing their face:

• Not washing your hands first - If your hands are dirty when you wash your face, you end up rubbing MORE oil and bacteria into your skin
• Exfoliating too much – More than 2-3 times a week will strip your skin of its natural moisture
• Scrubbing too hard - Use a gentle circular motion; if you’re too aggressive, it can actually cause excessive wrinkling
• Using cold water - Warm water helps open your pores while cold water closes them up again; wash your face with warm water
• Not using a toner - Toners help restore skin pH balance after you cleanse, hydrate skin which is essential to maintaining elasticity, remove oily residue and dead skin cells on the surface of skin thus reducing breakouts, and tighten pores

Tip #21: Moisturize Regularly

Moisturizing is such an important step in your skincare routine. Normal, dry, oily and combination skin all require hydration. The key is to select a product developed with your skin type in mind. Moisturizers for complexions that are oily or prone to breakouts should be more light weight. Dry skin will benefit from thicker creams, while light weight creams/lotions best serve combination and normal skin.

Make it a habit to moisturize your face and body regularly, like right after getting out the shower while your skin is still damp. Make sure to wash your face and apply eye cream, lip cream, any serum treatments and a moisturizer every night before going to bed. Make it a point to moisturize your feet so that you’re not stuck trying to undo months of neglect a week before sandal season. Give your hands the extra care they require with a protective, hydrating hand cream and sunscreen duo to visibly reduce the appearance of brown spots and wrinkles.

Tip #22: Don’t Overdo Injectables, Fillers and Other Procedures

This is especially true for beginners. It’s always best to underdo it. You can always do more down the road when it is needed. It’s not just fillers, injectables and surgery that can age your face…lasers can too. Over treating your skin with heavy lasers can leave it looking waxy. Lasers can also change the natural pigment of your skin. When this happens, there is a drastic difference in the coloring of the skin, which means more makeup will need to be worn to cover the discolorations up, which can age you. Moral of the story...moderation is key. You want to look as natural as possible when getting injectables, fillers or any other procedure done, not overdone like the photo on the right below.

Tip #23: Apply Products in the Right Order

The key to skincare success is consistency, patience and understanding which product ingredients work best together and the order they should be applied on your skin. Proper sequence matters for the best results. There is a definite order to applying skincare products in order to maximize their benefits.

As a general rule of thumb after washing your face, you should start with the lightest products and end with the heaviest products. Toners, spot treatments and serums should always come before lotions and moisturizers. Anything water-based will sink into your skin easier without any heavier products getting in the way. Concentrated treatments like retinol or prescription topical treatments should be applied at nighttime since for the most part, they can cause sun sensitivity. Always put lotions and moisturizers on last. During the day, most experts recommend a simple cleanser-toner-day cream/sunscreen routine. At night, that’s when you load up on more concentrated skincare products and targeted treatments.

If you're using two products for two different problems, you should consider applying one to clean skin in the morning and the other to clean skin at night so you're guaranteed 100% efficacy from both.

Tip #24: Store Products Properly

A pretty display of skincare products in your bathroom or bedroom may look nice, but it’s not always great for what’s inside the bottles. For example, antioxidants and plant extracts do better when they aren’t exposed to direct sunlight. So always keep your skincare products stored in a cool, dark place.

Tip #25: Adjust Your Routine

When you start to feel your routine isn’t giving you the glow you need, it may be time to adjust it, but don’t go overboard. Don’t toss everything out, just switch out one or two products and see what happens. Or you may need to add an additional step into your routine (Hint: exfoliate).

Most products take up to 90 days to deliver maximum corrective results. So be patient. Depending on the time of year, skin can change. If a product seems less effective, consider whether changes in age, lifestyle, environment or seasonal changes may be affecting your skin. Try taking a break from your regimen for a few weeks to see how your skin responds. Because skin is hydrated primarily from the outside, evaluate your environment and adapt your products accordingly. Although you might not see the same rapid progress you enjoyed in the first few weeks or month, it doesn’t mean the products have stopped working. Your skin may have reached its maximum benefit and be in maintenance mode while the products quietly sustain those initial benefits at a more optimal level. Ultimately, don’t completely change a routine or products that work well for your skin. Make adjustments only if necessary. Remember, consistency is key to achieving great results.

Tip #26: How Much Product to Use

Ever wonder how much skincare product you should really be using? Here is a guide. Make sure to use the right amount so that your products last a while.

Have any other skincare tips or tricks to share? Please comment below. I would love to hear them!