Body Wise*

By Cassie Jo Coster

Cassie Jo Coster is a licensed
aesthetician and the owner of Vellum Skin Care.

Visit her at
852 SW 21st Ave.
Portland, OR 97205 or call
503-810-8545.

*The information contained herein is not intended to diagnose or treat ANY medical condition.

Getting Basic With Your Skin Care

When you hear the word “skin care” do you think of a bar of soap in your shower? A teenager with Noxema and Stridex pads? The diva with her million dollar creams and potions? There are many misconceptions about the time, necessity, and money involved in a skin care regimen, but in reality a basic skin care routine is a hygiene necessity for people of all ages and income levels. Your routine can be tailored to your specific skin care needs, time restraints, and budget. A good basic skin care routine consists of a gentle cleanser, an appropriate exfoliant, a good moisturizer, and a layer of sun protection. The difficult part can be finding the right products for you.

Cleanse
Regardless of skin type, a facial cleanser should be gentle. Anything that leaves a face feeling dry or tight is too harsh. Most bar soaps should be avoided as they can strip skin of its natural oils. Over-cleansing the skin in an attempt to control oiliness can create a domino effect. Continually stripping skin of its natural oils (by using too harsh of a cleanser or using it too often) causes skin to overproduce oil in an attempt to moisturize itself, creating more opportunity for clogged pores and blemishes. No one should be afraid of oil in a facial cleanser. Oil will help to dissolve the oil on skin, allowing it to be rinsed away without over drying.

Exfoliate
Exfoliating is the process of removing the outermost layer of dead skin cells on the
surface of the skin. This is an important step because unshed skin cells are in large part the matter that blocks pores to create blemishes such as blackheads and whiteheads. Removing the dead skin cells also promotes new cell growth keeping skin looking fresher and younger. There are a few different ways to exfoliate. One is to physically remove the dead skin cells by scrubbing them away using a washcloth, a scrub, or even baking soda and water paste. The other method is to chemically remove them with acidic products such as alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) or salicylic acid. Some people are turned off by the idea of using an acid product on their face. However, the skin itself is slightly acidic with a pH of around 5.5.

Moisturize
Finally, after the skin has been cleansed and exfoliated, it is important to moisturize. Moisturizing supports and improves the appearance and texture of the skin. Advanced moisturizers today also introduce any number of beneficial ingredients into the surface of the skin including vitamins, antioxidants, and natural oils. Moisturizers can be as simple as olive oil rubbed on your face or as loaded with ingredients as you want it to be. Available in a myriad of formulations and prices, it can be hard to choose the right moisturizer for you. A skin care professional can help you choose one to meet your needs and your budget.

Cleansing and moisturizing should be done every night before retiring. Exfoliating should happen, after cleansing and before moisturizing, anywhere from three to five times per week.

Once a basic routine is established, additional products can be added depending on your skin care needs. If you continue to have a problem with acne, you will want to add a product formulation with benzoyl peroxide to kill the bacteria causing your breakouts. If your skin continues to be oilier than you would like, blotting papers once or twice a day can help absorb excess oil on the surface of your skin without stripping the skin of natural moisture. To combat the effects of aging, you may want to add an intensive vitamin and antioxidant treatment or an eye cream. If you suffer dry skin you may want to apply an oil layer prior to your moisturizer. Solutions can be found for most skin problems or requests.

Protect
Even when it’s cloudy, the harmful effects of the sun are doing their damage to your skin. Protect your skin by wearing a sunscreen every day. To be effective, a sunscreen must protect against both UVA and UVB rays, listing titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, avobenzone (also known as Parsol 1789) and Mexoryl SX as one or more of the active ingredients. SPF must be 15 or higher to provide adequate protection. Sunscreen also needs to be applied liberally. Don’t forget oft overlooked areas like your chest, back of neck, shoulders, tops of ears, and the part in your hair.

If you long for sun-kissed skin, try one of the many great sunless tanning products on the market. Or simply know that pretty soon pale will be the new tan and you are just one step ahead of the game.