Do you have your skin team together?

Do you have your skin team together?

Your skin gives others an impression of who you are, not only for the first time, but time after time. It’s the most obvious part of yourself you present to the world every day.

by Joyce Leibl — 

Would you create a baseball team by selecting three pitchers, no catchers, one infielder and four center fielders? That wouldn’t make for a very well-rounded or complete team, would it? You can apply that same idea to your everyday skincare. Most individuals have a potpourri of products that really don’t work together as a team.

Many people have not had help regarding their individual skincare needs, so they have an all-inclusive, hit-or-miss program to try to fight off the ravages of weather and aging. What they may not realize is that overlapping products from different lines can cause damage, especially when the products are of inferior quality and loaded with fillers, preservatives and other invasive ingredients. In other words, stay with one line of high-quality products.

Consumers’ perception of skincare has changed over the years. There is a solid understanding that skin will always be susceptible to Father Time, life choices, environment, weather and nutrition. We now realize that we not only need to maintain our skin, but to prevent lines, wrinkles and other skin problems from appearing in the first place.

Yes, this is a commitment — but it is your skin, so it is your responsibility. Who doesn’t have three minutes a day to complete a skin care program? You take care of your hair and nails, so why not your face? No one talks to your nails. What part of your body does the public see most often? Your skin gives others an impression of who you are, not only for the first time, but time after time. It’s the most obvious part of yourself you present to the world every day.

So let’s “jump start” your program now.

Cleanser: Use a gentle formula that quickly dissolves unwanted residues of makeup, skin oils and dead cells. Cleaner skin is restored, leaving it feeling fresh and dewy. It also helps to control blemishes before they break out.

Scrub: This product should be used only a few times a week. A scrub removes dead cells that accumulate on your skin’s surface. The particles in the scrub will actually capture and lift environmental intruders from your skin, too. Using a scrub is especially important several days after an alpha hydroxy acid is applied. A scrub will finish the exfoliation process begun by this product.

Toner: Toners help balance the skin and remove debris left from your cleanser and scrub. On the days you skip your scrub, use your toner immediately following the cleanser.

Alpha hydroxy acids: Known as AHA, these are made from one form of food acids or another. The most important of these is glycolic acid. The effectiveness of each kind depends on whether it is pure or buffered, and its level of concentration. AHA dissolves the “cement” that binds dead cells on the outer layers of your skin allowing dull, rough surface skin to slough off. This is also known as a light peel to expose the healthy skin underneath.

Many of the exfoliated cells are removed in your shower or when toweling off, so you might not visibly see the residue. Nevertheless, your skin feels baby soft and has a glowing radiance. Additional benefits include a decrease in lines, wrinkles and blemishes. This is one of the most important products in your skincare regimen and should be used every day. Now your skin is ready for your moisturizer or any other advanced product.

This program will take only a few minutes and will cost you just pennies per day — a small price to pay for healthy, gorgeous skin. What about getting started today?

Joyce Leibl is a paramedical esthetician and president of Transformé Skin Care Products. She has provided her expertise to many clients and other practitioners in her field, and has traveled widely to find and procure quality ingredients for her skincare product line. www.TransformeInc.com, [email protected] or 520-293-5530.

Reprinted from AzNetNews, Volume 23, Number 1, February/March 2005.