DIY Skin Care

DIY skin care is hard to avoid. Assuming you are all as avid pinners as I am, you are constantly seeing crazy remedies from peoples pantries. But who's to say what really works and most importantly, whats really SAFE for your skin? Some things will work if you are truly in a pinch but nothing truly replaces a skin care regimen prescribed by your trusted esthetician.

Apple Cider vinegar has antibacterial and anti-fungal properties which can help preventing acne. It is a good source of alpha hydroxy acids, it will help to remove built up dead skin cells by exfoliating. Apple cider vinegar is potent stuff, so be wary if you have sensitive skin. Apply it with a cotton pad, as you would a toner. Let it sit for a few minutes, then apply a soothing moisturizer. We like Yonka's Hydra 1 Cream, since they are a natural line made with essential oils. 

Avocados are abundant here in San Diego, and I'm willing to bet you have a few sitting on your kitchen counter right now! So, cut it open and smear it on your face. Why? Avocados are a great source for omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins A, D and E. Using a mashed avocado as a quick DIY mask can provide your skin with a ton of moisture. Cold pressed avocado oil is another (less messy) way to get these same benefits. It can help sooth irritated skin in a pinch. 

Oatmeal is great for not only your face, but your entire body! Oatmeal can help normalize your skins pH levels, pouring a cup into a warm bath can help sooth dry, itchy skin. For your face, you can whip together a little oatmeal, coconut oil and brown sugar for a DIY natural exfoliating scrub.

Get the Man in Your Life to Wash Their Face!

"How do I get my son/husband/boyfriend to prioritize skin care?" This seems to be a question with many situational answers.  Men have about 25% thicker skin than us ladies. Is thick headedness the be all and end all answer? In most cases it is unfortunately is not. Men also have skin with a rougher texture. So when men try to (not so slyly) use our products, it may not be enough for their skin. In our experience men are able to commit to the basics, cleanser, exfoliation, and moisturizer. We can do everything up to coming to your house and forcing the men if your life to wash their faces. Here are our tips for encouraging guys to take care of their skin.

 

Is your man forgetful? Put his cleanser in the shower. Making it easy for him to wash his face along with the rest of his body!

Men like to scrub their skin. A cleanser with micro-beads is going to slough off dead cells and remove dirt and oil, all while giving them a scrubbing sensory experience. 

Sometimes it takes a little push. Buy your guy a few products as a gift! Don't worry about him being insulted, guys like things that are specially made for them. Make sure to encourage them to use products properly for maximum benefits. Guys are vain too! 
  

• Dermalogica Breakout Clearing Foaming Wash - $19.00 
• Dermalogica Oil Clearing Matte Moisturizer SPF 15 - $24.00 
• SkinCeuticals Simply Clean - $34.00 
• Dermalogica Daily Defense SPF 15 - $36.00
• SkinCeuticals Micro Exfoliating Scrub - $30.00
• PCA Rebalance - Not available online, pick it up at Surface Esthetics

Are you Exfoliating?

Exfoliation is a major part of our facials at Surface Esthetics, whether its microdermabrasion, dermaplaning, or a chemical peel. We are working to remove your oldest, outer most skin cells. This will reveal your newest, most fresh skin underneath. Exfoliation will allow products to penetrate deeper, benefiting you in a number of ways. Your skin renews itself approximately every 30 days. Exfoliation will remove dirt and oil that accumulate on the skin over time, helping to prevent acne. It can also help even your skins overall tone. You can exfoliate your skin using mechanical methods, meaning you are physically scrubbing the skin with an abrasive (i.e. a wash cloth, facial scrub, or microdermabrasion). We include diamond-tip microderm in all of our treatments at Surface Esthetics as we believe it is essential in assisting with removing dead skin cells. The machine can be adjusted according to your skin type and condition, so those with sensitive skin need not worry! Chemical exfoliation is using acids or enzymes to loosen and remove the top layers of skin. You can find alpha hydroxy acids, beta hydroxy acids, and enzymes in over the counter professional products. The most obvious chemical exfoliating treatment is a chemical peel. The treatments mentioned are just the tip of the exfoliation ice burg. (Or should we say, tip of microderm wand?) There are a bevy of ways to exfoliate using both mechanical and chemical methods.

 

• SkinCeuticals Blemish + Age Defense
• Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant
• Yonka Alpha-Complex

Covering Imperfections for a Flawless Complexion

Last week we talked about choosing the right eye cream for your age, this left a lot of our readers saying, "Okay... Preventative and reparative creams are great and all, but I need my dark circles gone NOW!" Ladies, we understand. Covering under eye circles, blemishes and unsightly dark marks can be difficult. We want to show you that if you take just a few moments each morning, a little concealer can make a huge difference. Which is why we are compiling our personal tricks to help you achieve that perfect "no makeup" look.



Bobbi Brown - Face Touch Up Stick: Is great for covering any unwanted redness or dark marks. Thick, yet buildable, this creamy concealer stick will work for normal and combo skin types. You can apply it with your finger, a brush, or even directly to skin. So keep this bad boy in your purse for any touch ups you may need throughout the day. Note: This product is not dual purpose and is not intended for under eye use. (But if you try and it works, your secret is safe with us!)

Bobbi Brown - Creamy Concealer Kit: Amazing under eye concealer and powder duo! Make sure to always use an eye cream before applying this to avoid any dry or "cakiness". Set with the included powder and voilà! A long wear product that will instantly rid you of those pesky dark circles. 
Apply with your finger or a brush. However we prefer to use our fingers since it will help to warm the product and allow for a seamless application.

Josie Maran - Argan Creamy Concealer Crayon: A crayon concealer stick, its twist up and self sharpening. For those of us who prefer a one stop shop, this bad boy can be used to cover uneven skin tone as well as under eye circles! Formulated without parabens, synthetics fragrances, or irritating chemicals makes this perfect for anyone with skin sensitivities. Apply directly to skin and blend using your finger or a brush.

Pro Tip: Always chose a concealer that is a shade or two lighter than your natural skin tone. This will ensure brightness under your eyes and any blemishes will be fully covered.

Blending out concealer is something a lot of women have trouble with. Over blending wipes the product off completely, leaving those unsightly marks as visable as ever. Not blending the product enough will leave you with light spots all over your face, which is what you're trying to avoid in the first place! So, for blending we suggest two methods, the finger or the brush.

1. Using your finger to blend: The index or middle finger work easiest for us, but do whatever feels most comfortable to you. Use a "press and roll" technique, on the outer edge of your concealer, light press into your skin and roll your finger to the left or right (whichever direction is AWAY from the blemish or under eye). Continue this until your product is completely blended and there are no visible lines. 
2. Using a brush to blend: A concealer brush will work best, for obvious reasons. (See here for an example) Using light strokes, blend the edges of your concealer outward until there are no visible lines.