Skincare You Can Do Yourself and What You Should Leave to a Professional
Just a couple of years ago the skincare market was valued at $130 billion, and it is expected to grow by more than $4 billion over the next three years. It’s no surprise when skincare technology keeps improving and more emphasis is placed on keeping skin youthful and clear instead of covering it with makeup. Skincare is also expanding into the underrepresented masculine sector of the market. Whether you’re a man or woman, your skin affects how others perceive you both personally and professionally. There are some aspects of skincare you can take care of yourself, but if you want to dive into more invasive procedures, it’s time to call in the professional.
Take Care of Basics at Home
Whether you want high-end skincare from top-end department stores or you’re looking for a natural skin care routine, you can take care of your basic needs at home. Here are the fewest steps you need in your routine:
• Gentle cleanser: even once a day is enough if you wash your face in the evening with a gentle cleanser that removes dirt, makeup, sunscreen and dead skin cells. A gentle cleanser is not the closest bar of soap. Invest in a cleanser with a pH of 4.5 – 7 or something that clearly states it is a low-pH cleanser. Bar soap can have a pH as high as 10, making it too alkaline for your skin’s biome.
• Moisturizer: a good moisturizer protects your skin barrier and keeps your skin plump, soft and youthful. Don’t skip moisturizer if you have oily skin. It helps draw water to the skin and trap it there, keeping your skin balanced and reducing the likelihood your skin will overproduce oil.
• Sunscreen: the last step is applying sunscreen every day. Even if you work inside, you are outside some of the day and even a few minutes of sun exposure through a car window causes photoaging, the wrinkles, sagging and discoloration caused by the sun.
Add In Additional Steps
You can expand well beyond the basics without the help of an aesthetician, but consulting an aesthetician can help guide you to the best products for your particular concerns. When adding new products, remember to only add one at a time and give it a few weeks to see if you develop a reaction and to gauge whether it is adding any value to your routine.
Check social media and Reddit for recommendations on products. Korean skincare has always led the way in multistep routines and unique ingredients. With the legalization of CBD, you’ll also find more products with this soothing, anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial agent. Consider adding serums for extra moisture, a specific eye cream with a thicker consistency than your moisturizer and products with active ingredients like AHAs, BHAs, retinoids, Vitamin C derivatives and niacinamide.
It’s Time for the Professionals
When you’re ready for more invasive treatments, it’s time to find an aesthetician you trust. Exfoliating treatments like chemical peels use strong acids to remove several layers of skin at once. Dermaplaning uses a sharp blade to remove hair and the top layer of skin from the face. Laser treatment can help the skin produce more collagen naturally while breaking up melanin deposits that cause age spots. All of these treatments involve tools that need a trained professional.
Aestheticians are trained in more than treating the skin. If you are looking for fillers or injections to provide a renewed, youthful look, an aesthetician can help you. They are trained in some of the basic cosmetic procedures you shouldn’t trust to an unlicensed provider, but at a better price and with less hassle than you can find at a cosmetic surgeon.
Whether you’re just beginning your skincare journey or you’re an enthusiast that’s looking for the next great thing, do your research. When it comes to aesthetic treatments, make sure you find a licensed professional. After all, your skin is one of the first things a person sees. Make a great first impression by taking care of it.
