Julie’s Skincare Cheat Sheet

Mornings: 

Cleansing -

A morning cleanse will prepare and purify the skin, allowing the rest of your ingredients to penetrate. I don’t recommend overlooking your cleanse, it is one the most important parts of your skincare routine. I recommend either a gentle, milky, or gel-based cleanser. I don’t recommend anything foaming or stripping to your skin’s natural barrier. While cleansing, use circular massage motions and upward strokes, slowly adding minimal lukewarm water. I suggest cleansing for a minimum of thirty seconds. Two to three days a week or more if tolerated, exchange your morning cleanser for an exfoliating cleanser. Using either a physical or chemical exfoliator of choice. I prefer enzyme exfoliator rather than harsh scrubs. If you are using a textured exfoliator, I recommend using one with beads that are circular and dissolve, you can use these two types of exfoliators interchangeably if you like to have a more textured cleanser in your routine. 

Drying -

Pat dry your skin with a flannel or baby wash cloth, these materials are gentle on the skin and will help ensure the skin is clean, I recommend using a fresh cloth each day for morning and evening (it sounds like a lot, but they are small and easy to clean!)

Eye cream -

If you have an eye cream you like to use incorporate now using patting motions from the edge of the eye to the duct, never tugging or pulling at this very thin skin. A pine nut size of product per eye will suffice, going around the entire orbital area, above and below.

Serums and Antioxidants and Acids -

Once the skin is cleansed your serums can penetrate much more effectively. These ingredients and products should be selected by considering your individual skin conditions and concerns. Some antioxidants and acids that are great for the morning include vitamin C, niacinamide, resveratrol, vitamin E, and azelaic acid. Following your choice, I like to add in a hyaluronic acid serum. H.A. is a humectant that will help bind and trap water to the skin, giving you a nice dewy glow, this molecule is usually larger that the ingredients above but if you find that you’re HA’s consistency is very lightweight and absorbs quickly you may apply before the application of other ingredients. 

Moisturizer -

Moisturizer will help seal your serums onto the skin and protect from trans-epidermal water loss. If you feel your skin is oilier in the morning, you can use a small amount of a light moisturizer. Alternatively, if you feel your skin is dry in the morning use a creamier product more freely. 

SPF Broad Spectrum 30+ -

SPF should always be the last ingredient you apply in your skincare routine. I prefer to use mineral sunscreens, but chemical sunscreens are great too if that’s your preference, just make sure you are wearing SPF, rain or shine. Your skin is concerned with both UVA (aging) rays and UVB (burning rays) UVA, rays are shining all year long and are the number one cause of premature aging, fine lines and wrinkles. Try to apply SPF 20 minutes before sun exposure. 

Evenings:

I recommend double cleansing at night- there are different ways to double cleanse, here are some of my favorites:

Step 1 -

Begin with micellar water, pouring a product onto a cotton cloth and using upward strokes to remove make up from the neck to the scalp line. Following micellar water cleanse the skin with your cleanser of choice. Pat dry.  

Step 2 -

Cleanse with the same cleanser twice or use two different cleansers (start with the less expensive one!)  preforming a full cleanse twice. Pat dry. 

Step 3 -

Begin with a balm cleanser followed by a water-based cleanser of choice. (This is a great option if you wear makeup, using a balm will allow for an easy removal of makeup without the need for water to start your cleanse. Pat dry.

Makeup and SPF -

Makeup and SPF are intended to stay on the skin, we need to take the time to remove these products. You want to make sure your skin is properly cleansed before you sleep, my rule of thumb is a minimum thirty second cleanse. If there is still product on your towel after washing your face, you need to cleanse again!

Eye cream -

If you have an eye cream you like to use incorporate now repeating the same motions as listed above. 

Serums and/or Vitamin A -

After your skin is cleansed you can use your serum of choice, if you are using a retinol or retinoids, I don’t recommend combining them with other active ingredients, especially if you are new to using retinol. If you are a retinol newbie start off slow…Three days a week with days off in-between. Mild irritation, peeling, dryness and tightness are all normal when using these products for the first time. If any of these symptoms occur, pull back, and listen to your skin or sandwich your retinol. The sandwich technique for retinol is to use a thin layer of moisturizer, then apply retinol, and more moisturizer. If you have found retinol to be too irritating in the past, try switching up the concentration and product or switch to a bakuchiol.

Moisturizer -

Your last step is prevention from your skin becoming dry and water loss. Moisturize every evening and switch up your moisturizers seasonally and based on your individual skin needs.

Friendly Reminders:

-       Facials are recommended once a month.

-       I don’t recommend using makeup remover wipes, which can spread bacteria and don’t properly cleanse the skin.  

-       Don’t pick at your breakouts! The skin takes much longer to heal when we do (spot treat with benzoyl peroxide if needed and apply a warm compress frequently.)

-       SPF is your most important skincare and anti-aging ingredient.

-       Never aim for your skin to feel squeaky clean, slightly dewy, slightly acidic skin is the goal.

-       When in doubt the general rule of thumb is to apply your products from thinnest to thickest.

-       A great retinol alternative for pregnant woman: Bakuchiol 

-       Try not to overdo it with lots of products, we don’t want to sensitize our skin. Consistency in your routine is the key to success for great skin.

What treatment is best for your skin?

-       Redness, hyperpigmentation, melasma  IPL treatment and infusion facial 

-       Tightening, contouring and smoothing  Radio Frequency Skin Tightening

-       Acne scarring, texture, fine lines, or a collagen boost Microneedling

-       Texture, hyperpigmentation, breakouts, dullness light to deep chemical peels

- Dehydrated, lack of glow, breakouts Infusion facial