Tips for Healthy Skin

This post is for all skin types & conditions.

• Maintain a consistent AM/PM skincare regime.  Changing products results in flare ups, irritation and little to no beneficial results.  A simple regime may consist of  A) Cleanser B) Treatment ( serum, Vitamin C, acne treatment, retinol, glycol, ect)  C) Moisturize (AM and PM) +SPF (AM).  There are plenty of moisturizers with spf 15+, but I recommend spf 30 everyday regardless if its cloudy or you are indoors.  
• Choose a cleanser for your skin type/condition.  Unless you are oily within a hour of cleansing, you won't need a foam cleanser (already foam when you pump the bottle).  It will be too drying for your skin, stripping it of vital moisture.  Excess oil and natural moisture barrier are too different things.
• Always cleanse 1-2 minutes with TEPID (lukewarm) water, never hot.  It strips skin, dries and irritates.
• Apply skincare products in order 1) Cleanse & Tone 3) Treat/Repair 4) Hydrate/Protect (SPF for day time) 5) Primer & Foundation
• Most drugstore skin products are too harsh on skin (contain excess alcohol, chemicals, irritating ingredients, no anti-inflammatory's, or hydrators.)  Neutragena is the worst thing you can use.  I trust CeraVe products though.
• Toner's purpose is to remove cleanser residue, debris and bring skin back to its pH.  Do not use 100% alcohol or witch hazel to tone-it's too stripping on skin.
• Use a gentle exfoliant, not a gritty St. Ives type scrub.  It creates micro tears, damages and irritates skin.  Use a Beta hydroxy acid: salicylic acid (for acne or oily skin) or alpha hydroxy acid: glycolic, lactic citric, mandalic acids.  Enzyme exfoliants are gentle and effective. The Clarisonic also exfoliates!
• Exfoliate 2x week and 3x week for oily/acne skin.  Normal/Combo skin: Murad T-Zone Pore Refining Gel  (amazing on blackheads).  Murad Pomegranate Exfoliating Mask can be used on all skin types. Oily/Acne prone: Murad Acne Exfoliating Treatment Gel. Adult acne: Murad Acne & Wrinkle Reducer. Aging Skin: Murad Age Reform at home peel, Complete Reform and Intensive Wrinkle Reducer. As you can see I love Murad.  I also work with these products on a daily basis with amazing results =)
• Make sure to cleanse skin in the evening.  Remove makeup-don't sleep in it.  Makeup wipes are not sufficient cleaning, so use your wipes to remove makeup, then wash your face.
• EVERYONE needs to moisturize, especially oily & acne prone skin.  Without moisture your skin will try to overcompensate for needed moisture and produce even MORE oil.  Skin may not heal as fast either.  Try a oil-free moisturizer.  I love Murad Skin Perfecting Lotion (the ONLY moisturizer that doesn't break me out & has done wonders for my oily/acne prone skin.)
• Steer clear of products with bright colors i.e. Neutragena (not the box, but the actual product).  They have overly irritating ingredients..dyes, synthetic fragrance that can wreak havoc on your skin.
• Higher percentage of skin treatments does not equal better results.  Starting with a higher % can irritate your skin, putting your skin in shock.  Adjust slowly to products.  Take baby steps to avoid irritation.  
• Don't try and dry your oily skin out or over scrub/over cleanse acne prone skin.  Your skin will produce more oily and your skin will become irritated.  I know this from personal experience (I am acne prone AND oily) & as a Professional Skincare Therapist
• Don't over use cleanser, it can dehydrate skin.
• Thoroughly rinse cleanser off skin, including hairline and sides of the face.  Rinse up to 4x if  necessary to remove all impurities and cleanser residue.
• Apply serums, lotions, creams to still moist/damp skin.  Products will absorb better and lock in vital moisture. 
• When using lightening/brightening products, apply product to entire face, neck and chest.  Do no spot treat, you will have light and dark spots if you do.  
• Invest in a Clarisonic Mia!  It deep cleans skin with sonic micro massage brush, exfoliates, allows products to work faster & more effectively, refines pores.  Think your skin can't get any better?  Buy the Clarisonic Mia $119-it's worth it, believe me.
• Avoid dimethicone or "cones" especially in primers-they don't allow your skin to breathe.  There are dimethicone & cone free primers out there!
• Steer clear of skincare products by cosmetic company's (Mac for example).  Most have skin conditioning ingredients  to make skin look soft and smooth but with no real benefits.  Also they have the tendency to clog pores with synthetic ingredients, dimethicone, silicones, 'cones'.
• Pick a great everyday SPF unlike greasy traditional SPF.  Murad has fantastic spf's: Acne/Oily-Murad Anti-Aging Moisturizing SPF 20. Aging skin: Perfecting Day Cream SPF 30. Sun Damage: Essential C Day Moisture SPF 30.  
• A balanced diet can truly change your skin.  Eliminate fast food, fried food, processed food.  Juicing does wonders for the skin as well as fresh fruits and fish (omega fats great for anti aging).  Acne prone folks: follow the above statement and try and eliminate dairy, it has been shown to clear skin up.  I worked at a frozen yogurt ship for 3 years-after I left my skin cleared up (sugar too.)
• Give your skin a nice boost with supplements.  A multi-vitamin and Green tea for everyone. Aging skin: Fish Oil,antioxidants: Pomegranate extract.  Acne prone skin: Zinc, B vitamins, yellow dock, burdock, antioxidants..Murad Pure Skin Clarifying Supplement hits all the marks.  L-lysine promotes healthy skin, heals skin (acne) and promotes collagen production.    

How to Choose a Cleanser for your Skin Type/Condition

Stay away form drugstore cleansers (with the exception of Cerave), my experience with them they are way to drying, strip the skin of vital moisture, contain irritating dyes, fragrance, too much alcohol- (too much of all the above) -especially Neutragena.  Neutragena is the devil.  Article coming soon..

1) Normal: A balanced complexion, not to oily or dry, but just right!  Murad AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser, Murad Renewing Cream Cleanser, CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser, CeraVe Foaming Cleanser or Murad Refreshing Cleanser.

2) Dry: Lack of oil, tight, dry, flaky skin all over face, maybe sensitive (not to be confused with dehydrated-lack of water from skin treatments, not enough moisture, or general hydration).  Try a cream cleanser.  Murad Renewing Cleansing Cream, CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser.

3) Combination: Oily in some areas (t-zone forehead, nose, chin) Dry in others (predominately cheek area).  Try Murad Energizing Pomegranate Cleanser or Renewing Cream Cleanser.

4) Oily: Larger pores, oily all over face, feels greasy, looks shiny.  Try a gel cleanser.  Neostrata Anti-bacterial Facial Cleanser, Murad Clarifying Cleanser or Murad Time Release Acne Cleanser (for adult skin oily & acne prone),  Andalou Naturals Citrus Kombucha Gel or CeraVe Foaming Cleanser.

Skin Conditions

1) Acne prone: Typically oily but some are dry.   Dry acne prone skin is harder to treat.  Look for salicylic acid, triclosan, sulfur, vitamin A (retinol), hydrogen peroxide (not the bottle to clean cuts), Tea tree oil (no it doesn't clog pores.  Antibacterial), BPO (benozyl peroxide.  Neostrata Anti-bacterial Facial Cleanser, Murad Clarifying Cleanser, Murad Time Release Cleaner (for adult acne), CeraVe Foaming Cleanser (only for very oily skin), CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser for (normal, combo, dry skin), Murad AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser (3x week rotate cleanser with regular cleanser, for most skin types except extreme sensitive cases.)

2) Sensitive (considered a skin type & skin condition) : Easily irritated skin, blushes easily, may have rosacea or psoriasis.  Murad Soothing Gel Cleanser or CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser.

3) Sensitized: Skin has become sensitive from treatments (retinols, glycol, ect) or overly harsh products with fragrance, dyes, irritating ingredients.  NOT normally sensitive.  Try same as Sensitive.  

4) Rosacea: Chronic skin condition you turn red, may swell, skin sores that look like acne, blushes easily, spider like blood vessels.  Same products as Sensitive/Sensitized.

5) Dehydrated (Lacking water) :Tight, over processed, parched skin.  Feels like your skin needs a drink of water & is not normally dry.  Avoid gel cleansers until skin is balanced again.   Try Murad Renewing Cleanser, which protects skins natural moisture barrier.  Instant relief. CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser is also a good option.

6) Aging Skin: Loss of elasticity & firmness, hyper pigmentation (dark spots, age spots, sun spots, melasma).  Murad Renewing Cream Cleanser or Murad AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser.  

How to choose a Cleanser

 Cleansing is the first step in your skin regime.  The benefits of skin cleansing include:

• Removes makeup, dirt, debris, oil and bacteria from skin.
• May contain emollients that soften skin.
• May contain ingredients to treat various skin conditions.
• Offers a clean slate for other products to penetrate skin better.

The first step to choosing a cleanser is know your skin type. Cleanser formulations include: gel, cream, lotion, and oil.

Gel Cleanser is a foaming cleanser that dissolves oil.  Perfect for oily and acne prone skin, but do not overuse it can dry skin out causing irritation.  If oily skin becomes dry, it can stimulate oil glands, causing them to overcompensate for loss of oil.  Medicated cleansers are also available for acne prone skin.

Cream Cleanser contains mainly oil and is great for mature and very dry skin.  Cream dissolves makeup & dirt and should be removed with a washcloth, tissue or sponge.  Follow up with a toner to remove any residue. 

Lotion Cleanser is a water based cleanser for normal and combination skin.  For dry skin, choose a "milky" cleanser containing emollients or oil to soft skin.  Skin will feel comfortable and does will not strip skin of its pH balance. 

Oil Cleansing is very popular now.  It is used to remove makeup and attracting oil from the skin.  Oil attracts oil.  Follow with another cleanser to remove oil residue and thoroughly cleanse skin.

Basic Skincare

A skincare regime is very important for the health and appearance of your skin.  Here are the steps you should be taking to a healthy complexion morning and night.

1. Cleanse morning and night. Pick a cleanser appropriate for your skin type.  Wash your face with a Clarisonic brush or clean washcloth.  Be sure to remove all traces of makeup before going to bed.  This will prevent accumulated makeup, oil, debris and bacteria from causing breakouts.

 2. Tone.  This balances skins pH, removes cleanser residue and excess debris.  Choose a toner without alcohol, which can strip skin of its acid mantle.

3. Treat. Apply serum or corrective skincare & eye cream.  Target your areas of concern.  Apply when skin is still moist, products will penetrate better and work better.

4. Hydrate.  Moisturize your skin, even if its extremely oily.  Oily skin can will overcompensate for loss of moisture and produce even more oil.

5. Protect (day only).  Wear a minimum SPF 30 EVERYDAY.  No one is immune to skin cancer, protect yourself.  Olay Sensitive Skin SPF 30 is a great option without irritation.

Weekly Skincare
1. Exfoliate.  Exfoliation is extremely important, sloughs off dead skin cells to reveal fresh, healthy skin cells.  Acne prone skin and oily skin must be exfoliated up to three times a week to clear & prevent clogged pores.  Everyone should be exfoliating at least 2x week. I do not suggest using St. Ives Apricot Scrub, it is too aggressive for facial skin, will irritate skin and create micro-tears (it's better suited for feet).  Instead try a enzyme, AHA/BHA or Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant.  Exfoliate after cleansing.

2.  Mask.  A mask can treat blemishes, draw out impurities, brighten, rejuvenate, nourish, calm & soothe, tighten & tone skin, and hydrate skin.  Use a mask 1-2x a week.

Review: Control Corrective Salicylic Wash The Answer for Acne

I have been using this cleanser for only 3 days and the texture of my skin is already smoother, softer, and my blemishes are shrinking.  I have not had any new blemishes!  These are great results for my skin.  I am ecstatic with these results!  

"Sweep away dead skin cell build-up so blackheads and whiteheads don't stand a chance. By dissolving sticky pore-clogging oils and cellular debris, exfoliating Salicylic Wash creamy gel helps reduce congestion and improve skin texture on the face, back, shoulders and arms."-Control Corrective


The cleanser is a gentle soft pearl solution, is not overstimulating, does not smell like harsh chemicals, does not irritate my skin and a little product goes a long way.  2% Salicylic Acid dissolves dead skin cells and pore clogging oils, preventing clogged pores.  Aloe Vera Juice and Chamomile calm irritated skin.  The cleanser feels silky on my skin,  leaves my skin feeling extremely clean, without stripping my skin of moisture.  After cleansing my skin feels great, not tight, but comfortable.  This cleanser delivers on all its claims, I am sold.  I Love it!  Recommended for normal, combination, oily and acne-prone skin types.

$24
6.7 oz.
5/5 Available at Meridian Day Spa (310) 601-7633

acne mask