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    skincare routine

    Skincare Routine 101: An Esthetician’s Guide to Improving Your Skin

    Starting a skincare routine may seem like a piece of cake, but we often run into various obstacles once we try to build it. What to put first, what is a correct skincare routine order, what if I do something wrong are some of the most commonly asked questions regarding this important step-by-step beauty challenge.

    A basic skincare routine depends on the person’s skin type and the results they want to achieve. Many esthetic medicine experts claim that you can benefit from your unique skin care regimen once you start following these 3 simple steps – cleansing, treating, and moisturizing. Are you familiar with these terms?

    Even if you are not sure what these steps include, don’t worry. It is never too late to start your skincare routine if you’re willing to dedicate some of your valuable time to treat your face. And if you’re not sure from where to start, you’re in the right place – let’s go through the 3 different types of your skincare routine and explain each of them thoroughly.

    How to Build a Skincare Routine? Ask Wendy Malla, a Licensed Esthetician from San Francisco

    Building a skincare routine may be challenging for beginners, but nothing is impossible with professional help and guidance! If you have any questions about conducting skin routine, cosmetic treatments, or skin products, don’t hesitate to email us, fill out a form, or call us at (415) 710 5904. We’ll be ready to give you a hand and lead you toward revitalizing young skin.

    Your Skincare Routine is All About the Layers and Correct Order

    Applying cosmetic products in the correct order is essential because your skin can receive the full benefits of each item. To get the best results, you need to make sure that each ingredient can penetrate the skin flawlessly. How to do that? It’s simple – start with the thinnest products (liquids), and finish with the thickest ones (creams). That way, your skin can get the most out of each product.
    morning skincare routine

    Morning Skincare Routine

    A good skincare routine starts in the morning. Apart from providing a refreshing wake-up and preparing you for daily challenges, a morning skincare routine protects your skin from free radicals, sun exposure, pollution, and other potentially harmful elements that could cause irritation.

    Step 1: Cleanser

    Cleansing your face should be the first step of your morning routine. Wash your face with a cleanser you typically use but make sure you don’t over-cleanse. Rough moves or harsh cleaners may be too hard on your skin, leading to irritations and skin issues.

    Our Choice: Daily Hydrating Cleanser ($24.00)

    A Daily Hydrating Cleanser is ideal for dissolving dirt, oil, and impurities. At the same time, it doesn’t strip your skin. It features a gentle, soap-free formula that hydrates your skin and protects from moisture loss.

    Its regular use results in clean, unclogged pores while leaving the skin fresh and comfortable.

    Step 2: Toner

    A toner is an excellent way to balance your skin’s pH. It is an optional step of your morning skincare routine, but it is recommended to use it if you have acne-prone skin. In that case, look for toners containing salicylic acid, which is an excellent ingredient for calming breakouts. If you have dry or sensitive skin, a hydrating or soothing toner should be your go-to choice.

    Our Choice: Glycolic-Lactic Toner ($21.00)

    A powerful and highly efficient Glycolic-Lactic Toner contains alpha-hydroxy acid vital for reducing sebum and exfoliating the skin. It features two active ingredients, glycolic acid (5%) and lactic acid (3%), suitable for acne-prone skin and hyperpigmentation.

    It is convenient for non-sensitive and oily skin types.
    $32.00

    Step 3: Vitamin C Serum

    Vitamin C serums are perfect for daily use. Vitamin C is generally convenient for everyone, regardless of their age. It can reverse skin damages resulting from the sun and pollution while nourishing your face and retrieving its natural glow.

    Our Choice: Advanced Performance Vitamin C Serum ($65.00)

    Advanced Performance Vitamin C Serum is a lightweight and splendid product whose micro-encapsulated formula allows deeper penetration into the skin.

    It won’t provoke any skin irritations but will help protect it from premature aging, delivering a glowing effect. Use it in the morning alongside SPF.
    $75.00

    Step 4: Eye Cream

    Eye cream is what we use to “treat” our skin. Many dermatologists recommend using an eye cream at least two times a day, starting in your 20s. An eye cream can help you maintain your eyelid skin's health and thickness, making sure it doesn’t lose its smooth appearance as time goes by. Apply the cream with your ring finger, so you don’t damage your eye area.

    Regular use of eye creams may promote collagen production, preventing fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes. However, keep in mind that consistency is a key – no results will come overnight.

    Our Choice: Eye Firming Peptide Cream ($46.00)

    An Eye Firming Peptide Cream is a lightweight cream rich in eye firming peptides. It stimulates extracellular matrix production and cell renewal, which slows as we age.

    Its incredibly gentle texture hydrates and soothes your delicate eye skin area, delivering long-term effects in terms of firmness and elasticity.
    $53.00

    Step 5: Moisturizer

    Now that you’ve treated your skin, it’s time you put some moisturizer on it. Moisturizers will keep your skin hydrated and help strengthen your skin barrier. We recommend choosing a lightweight moisturizer for daily use and letting it soak in quickly without causing pilling under makeup.

    If you have sensitive skin, you may want to choose a moisturizer with SPF. Sun protection will keep your skin safe from the sun while hydrating your pores without clogging them.

    Our Choice: Moisture Soothing Barrier Repair Cream ($55.00)

    A luxurious and water-based Moisture Soothing Barrier Repair Cream is rich in essential ingredients that soothe the skin, penetrate deeply into it, and make miracles!

    It is incredibly convenient for sensitive skin and dry skin conditions, including dermatitis.
    $63.00

    Step 6: Sunscreen

    Sunscreen may be the most important step in your skin routine. Sun exposure is one of the most common reasons people’s skin ages prematurely, so it’s essential to protect it from UV rays, whether you’re spending your time indoors or outdoors.

    Our Choice: Ultimate Protection SPF 28 ($28.00)

    Don’t leave your home unless you’ve put the Ultimate Protection SPF 28 on your face. It contains zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, which will protect you from harmful UVA and UVB rays.

    It is a noncomedogenic sunscreen that is excellent for sensitive skin and skin prone to acne and rosacea.
    $32.00
    nighttime skin care routine

    Nighttime Skin Care Routine

    A nighttime skincare routine is vital for enriching your skin with essential nutrients and active ingredients. If you find it more convenient to treat your skin during the night, don’t hesitate to switch your face routine to the nighttime.

    The nighttime skin care routine steps remain the same – cleanse, treat, and moisturize. Still, the routine itself will be a bit different.

    Step 1: Cleanser

    You may use a gentle cleanser, but you won’t go wrong with an oil-based product either. It is convenient for removing makeup, dirt, and other particles that might have accumulated on your face throughout the day. You may also consider “double-cleansing,” which consists of using a water-based face wash after an oil cleanser. That way, you may remove any dirt and oil from your pores.

    Step 2: Toner

    You may use a toner the same way you use it in the morning. Don’t forget to use it before you apply serums and eye creams.

    Step 3: Serums and Treatments

    Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) and retinol are potent ingredients that will enhance your skincare routine, mainly when applied during the night. Products containing these elements will help brighten your skin by removing dead skin cells and nourishing your face. If you want to reduce wrinkles and fine lines, look no further than retinol, which is excellent for decreasing visible imperfections, bright spots, and pore size.

    Our Choice: Retinol Renewal Complex ($80.00)

    Retinol Renewal Formula is what you need to stimulate cellular turnover and natural collagen production. It diminishes the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines, and you may expect to see results after one week of use.

    Don’t hesitate to include this product in your anti-aging skin care routine – you won’t be disappointed.
    $92.00

    Step 4: Eye Cream

    The skin around our eyes becomes affected as we age, calling for active ingredients that deliver more visible results. Still, many estheticians recommend “training” the skin around the eyes to handle more active products you’ll apply in the future. You may pat your retinol serum around the eyes and layer it with your eye cream. That way, the results will be more prominent.

    Step 5: Acne Spot Treatment

    Acne spot treatments are essential for removing the pimples efficiently. However, you shouldn’t perform these treatments only during breakouts but as a preventive measure throughout your regular skincare routine. It’s crucial to keep the pores clean to prevent acne breakouts, which may leave scars on your face. Therefore, you should treat the whole face instead of addressing the affected spot only.

    Our Choice: Acne Med 5% ($19.00)

    Resolve your acne problems with an award-winning Acne Med 5%.

    This water-based product enriched with 5% benzoyl peroxide should become an essential part of your acne skincare routine, whether your skin is prone to inflamed or non-inflamed acne.
    $28.00

    Step 6: Moisturizer

    Applying a moisturizer at night is quintessential since it creates a barrier that seals in hydration and active ingredients. So, when you wake up, you will see the glowing and radiant skin ready to be shown to the world.

    Step 7: Face Oil

    Face oils are ideal for locking in moisture while you sleep. Although many people think that oils may worsen their acne-prone or oily skin, the truth is totally different. Namely, face oils can help hydrate and soften the skin, especially if you are using retinol and alpha-hydroxy acids. That way, you can enhance moisture, allowing the skin to breathe freely.
    acne skincare routine

    Acne Skincare Routine

    If you are prone to breakouts, a regular skincare routine is a must. Your facial routine should help you eliminate excess oil, keep pores clear, and foster the healing of existing blemishes. Although it might seem time-consuming and complicated, a skincare routine for acne is actually a simple step-by-step process that delivers incredible results.

    If you can dedicate 5 minutes of your time each day, consider yourself ready to build your skincare routine. Follow this particular skincare order to provide your acne-prone skin with essential nutrients and minerals and reduce inflammation caused by breakouts.

    Step 1: Cleanser

    It is vital to cleanse your face gently yet thoroughly. Use your fingertips or a washcloth to wash your face, jawline, neck, and the area in front and behind the ears. Avoid rough pads or aggressive scrubbing to prevent skin irritations or damages.

    If you have mild breakouts, you may choose products containing salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide since these ingredients can stop the acne onset and keep pores clean.

    Our Choice: Ultra Gentle Gel Facial Cleanser ($22.00)

    A sulfate-free Ultra Gentle Gel Facial Cleanser is incredibly beneficial for acne-prone skin, including acne rosacea.

    It is appropriate for all skin types, such as sensitive, oily, dry, or mature skin. It consists of botanical ingredients that won’t irritate or damage your face.
    $30.00

    Step 2: Toner

    A good toner may remove excess oil, tone, and hydrate your skin while fighting blackheads and blemishes. Start by applying a toner to a cotton ball or pad. Smooth it gently over the face and neck to remove any makeup, cleanser residue, and oil.

    Go for alcohol-free products if your skin is dry or sensitive. If you notice that toners still irritate your skin, remove them from your skincare routine.

    Step 3: Acne Treatment

    Now it’s time to apply your acne cream. Let it absorb or dry completely before you continue with your face routine.

    Step 4: Oil-Free Moisturizer or Gel

    Moisturizer is a vital part of your acne skincare routine, and you shouldn’t miss it. Acne creams may dry out the skin, leading to peeling and similar issues. To reduce the dry skin effects, apply a moisturizer twice a day.

    Go for oil-free moisturizers or gels since these are a more convenient and lightweight option for your skin.

    Our Choice: Oil-Free Moisture Balance ($41.00)

    Non-pore clogging ingredients you will find in Oil-Free Moisture Balance deliver exceptional results to dry, oily, and acne-prone skin.

    It is incredibly lightweight and refreshing, and your skin will love it!
    $47.00

    Step 5: Sunscreen

    If you conduct a daytime skincare routine, you may want to include sunscreen. It will protect your skin from potential sun damage, preventing skin aging at the same time. If your moisturizer contains SPF, you don’t need a separate product.