Try This Aesthetician-Approved Easy Skincare Routine

Few people know their way around skincare more than aestheticians. Aestheticians spend the vast majority of their time focusing on the faces of their incredibly varied client base. This means that they’ve seen it all: acne, skin texture, rosacea, scarring, excess oil, uneven skin tone, and hyperpigmentation. Whatever it is your skin is dealing with, there’s a good chance that your aesthetician has not only seen it before, but they probably have their own way of combating it.

It almost goes without saying that if a person is so familiar with the different types of treatments, that their own skin care routine must be the best of the best. Well, we asked our own resident aesthetician to divulge her daily skincare routine, and thankfully, she agreed. Here’s a basic skincare routine designed to protect your skin, prevent skin aging, and keep your skin healthy.

Morning Skincare Routine

The goal in the morning is to refresh and awaken. In the morning, it’s not necessary to barrage your skin with treatments or to use too much product. Your morning regimen should be simple and to the point. Focus on protecting against sun damage with SPF and support your skin barrier to prevent dryness, especially in cold and dry months.

1. Facial Massage: If you have one, a quartz or jade roller fresh from the fridge can really get the blood flowing and reduce swelling. If you don’t have a roller, a lymphatic massage will do the trick. The goal is to wake up the face, drain toxins, and ultimately reduce puffiness.
2. Cold Water Rinse: Next, rinse your face with cold water. Warm or tepid will not do; the water must be cold in order to refresh your complexion. There’s no need to use a cleanser in the morning (unless you have oily skin), as too much cleansing can dry out your skin. If you want to wash in the morning, use a gentle cleanser that won’t strip your skin barrier.
3. Moisturize: Speaking of moisture, now is the time to apply your chosen moisturizer. Your face moisturizer should be gentle, noncomedogenic, and unscented. Consider also applying a few drops of hyaluronic acid underneath your moisturizer for an extra boost.
4. Apply Antioxidants: Vitamin C serums are the best way to protect your skin against damage and pigmentation. Apply an antioxidant serum to clean, dry skin and wait a few moments for the active ingredients to begin working.
5. Sun Protection: This bears repeating: do not leave the house without SPF on your face. Your SPF should be broad spectrum with at least SPF 30. Whether chemical or mineral, sunscreen is the #1 most important thing you can do to care for your skin health. Carry a small tube with you for reapplication throughout the day.

Nighttime Cleansing Routine

The evening is all about cleansing and calming your skin after a hectic day out in the world. This is when you should focus on removing the day’s impurities from the skin’s surface (such as dead skin cells) and preparing it to revitalize while you sleep.

1. Remove Makeup: The first step you should take in your nighttime skin routine is to remove all makeup. Makeup may make us feel more confident when we are out in the world, but it can be a recipe for breakouts if you have acne prone skin. Use an oil based cleanser to remove makeup and avoid using wipes.
2. Cleanse: Now is the time to break out your gentle face cleanser. Rid your skin of any impurities it may have gathered throughout the day.
3. Indulge: If your skin is feeling more taxed than usual, now is the time to indulge in a mask or a mud treatment. This is not recommended every day, but for those special days when your face needs a little boost.
4. Treat: If you have specific skin concerns such as acne or fine lines, use this step to apply any active ingredients. For acne, salicylic acid can help unclog pores. For fine lines, retinol can replenish skin and boost cell turnover.
5. Moisturize: Once your face is clean and calm, it’s time to lock in moisture. Once you’ve applied any serums you might need, finish off with a thicker, replenishing moisturizer and now you and your face are ready for bed.

Skincare Products in Charleston, SC

These tips should be enough to get you started on the road to a healthy, happy, and youthful face. If you feel like you need an extra boost, pay a visit to our medical spa where our aesthetician will be more than happy to share her expertise with you in person.

To find out if a visit to our medical spa is right for you, contact us for more information or to schedule a consultation. Port City Plastic Surgery serves Charleston, Daniel Island, Mount Pleasant and Summerville, South Carolina from two locations in Charleston and Daniel Island.