GOOD-SKIN 101

Having amazing, impossibly luminous skin isn't difficult to achieve. It's the holy grail of beauty and what so many women (and men) desire to have. It's that mysterious glow, that smooth-as-silk complexion and that satiny texture that many find unattainable. It's not rocket science, however. It is a matter of consistent rituals, in conjunction with quality products and skin-care services. What does that mean exactly? That means: DON'T SKIMP, IGNORE, NEGLECT or ABUSE THE SKIN!

DON'T IGNORE

Skin needs perpetual maintenance in order to perform at its optimal level. Perpetual, meaning daily. A twice per day "CTM" (cleanse, tone, moisturize) ritual isn't enough however. Yes, it is essential to cleanse and tone, however, for renewed, stimulated, healthy skin, the epidermis must be "open"to receive nourishment. Think of a baby bird opening it's beak to receive food, the same theory applies with skin. If skin isn't prepped prior to applying a healing or nourishing product (such as a serum or cream), that product will simply sit on the face rather than penetrate into the skin. On average, skin has a 28 day cell-renewal cycle. Maintaining it with my instruction, will allow the skin's renewal process to perform at an elite level. Isn't that what we all want? Don't all women want their skin to perform like an Olympic champion? Absolutely, yes indeed!

DON'T NEGLECT
Weekly exfoliation is key to keeping the hair follicles flushed of debris and oil. Although a granular (mechanical) scrub works well, I am emphatic about the concept of using a "spherical scrub", which is one that is not jagged, but rather bulbous if inspected under a micro-scope. A granular scrub with jagged edges can scratch the skin and cause micro-damage, so toss those apricot facial scrubs, or reserve them for other parts of the body, like the legs.

My scrub of choice is an "acid scrub" (chemical exfoliator); I'm partial to Glycolic or Salysilic acid.

DON'T SKIMP
The follicles must be maintained with consistent, professional facials (every 3 months is my recommendation). Follicles which remain impacted with dirt and excess oil result in large pores, acne legions, free-radical damage, fine lines, as well as a slew of other skin-health related issues. A facial performed by a professional licensed Esthetician is essential to maintain beautiful skin, but it's up to you and your daily regime to truly keep skin on track in between sessions.

Skin needs to be cleansed, toned & nourished daily, and needs to be exfoliated at least twice per week. I recommend you use mild, face-specific clenasers (not a bar of Ivory soap). Depending on your skin type and sensitivity issues, the type of cleansing and exfoliation products will vary. As a rule of thumb, if a cleanser is foamy it's typically drying, which is good for oily skin and not recommended for normal to dry skin. My suggestion? Choose a mild, non-foaming gentle cleanser (like Cetaphil) even if your skin is oily. You want to cleanse the skin in the mildest way or else you risk damaging the skin's acid mantle.  If you follow my lead and your skin is still behaving badly, then perhaps you should visit your dermatologist or endocrinologist. There are underlying biological issues which do affect the skin's health and performance.

For daily beauty and skin-care tips, follow me  @Beauty and Brow Girl

Twitter @Beauty n Brow Girl

-CIAO for now  xo