SkinMedix

Tag Archives | acne

To Squeeze or Not to Squeeze

The Hamlet-esque question we all contemplate in the bathroom mirror.

An unexpected whopper just showed up on your face. Like a mosquito bite or scab, you want to touch it. You want to pick at it. You really, really want to pop it. But should you? While most skin care professionals would prefer you leave it alone, the truth is that YES, you can – but only if your blemish is white. 

Here are a few tips to keep in mind if you’re a persistent pimple popper. 

First, make sure your hands are clean. (I always keep either alcohol wipes or alcohol hand sanitizer with me in my car or bag. Avoid scented or doctored-up hand sanitizer (the real goopy stuff; the goal is to sterilize, not scent-ivize). There are too many fillers and added ingredients in your run-of-the-mill hand sanitizer beyond sterilizing agents like isopropyl alcohol to further irritate your skin. 

Next, cleanse the skin you’re going to be touching before popping. If you have to use your fingers, fine, but ideally, you’ll either use a sterilized blemished tool or two Q-tips to gently press on either side of the blemish (if you see blood or any liquid or feel pain, stop pressing)

Then, pop the head. Dab what comes out with a tissue. Bacteria can easily spread from a ruptured blemish to other areas of the face, creating more acne. 

Lastly, cleanse your skin immediately and avoid touching other parts of the face, then use an antibiotic spot treatment. We recommend Murad Acne Spot Fast Fix or Glycone Acne Tinted Spot Treatment. After that, hands off!

 

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5 Reasons to Add Masks to Your Regimen

mask1. Masks are powerfully concentrated. Masks are able to contain higher levels of key ingredients because chemists do not have to be concerned with how blendable a product is that is rinsed off after a few minutes – or thrown away, if you use a sheet mask. Sheet masks, like SK-II Facial Treatment Maskare single-use masks that are individually sealed. These masks have extra muscle because they are sealed and protected from the air, which oxidizes and weakens many of the key ingredients.

2. Masks enhance the products in your regimen. You can achieve quicker and even better results, if you Continue Reading →

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The Best Exfoliators for Your Skin Type

face_scrub_3Exfoliating regularly leaves your skin with a smooth, healthy finish. Here are some tips for choosing the best exfoliator for your skin type.

Normal Skin

Glycolic acid is one of the most effective exfoliators and is great for normal skin types. It can also be slightly irritating, so moisturize after to prevent inflammation. Look for moisturizers for sensitive skin with ceramides or green tea. Start off with a cleanser like Neostrata Foaming Glycolic Wash or Peter Thomas Roth Glycolic Acid 3% Facial Wash, and follow up with a soothing moisturizer, like SkinMedica TNS Ceramide Treatment Cream.

Oily or Combination Skin

A scrub with microbeads or sugar once a week and a salicylic acid-infused cleanser every day sounds like sloughing overload, but scrubs, like SkinCeuticals Micro Exfoliating Scrub sweeps away dead cells so the salicylic acid can penetrate and clean clogged pores. For your “every day cleanser”, we recommend Obagi CLENZIderm MD Daily Care Foaming Cleanser. Or, for occassional use, you can get the benefits of both in a single product with antioxidant-rich  iS Clinical Tri-Active Exfoliating Masque.

Dry, Sensitive, or Very Fair Skin

Try products that contain lactic acid, like Dermalogica Skin Resurfacing Cleanser and PCA Skin Body Therapy. Lactic acid is a relatively large molecule that can’t penetrate the skin as deeply as the other alpha hydroxy acods, which means its not as abrasive. Unfortunately, anything else may make your skin drier, redder, and more sensitive.

What is your favorite exfoliator?

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How to Layer Your Skin Care Products

layeringblogimageWhen it comes to layering your skincare products, there’s a right way and a wrong way. In fact, the order in which you apply your products is just as important as what’s inside them. You know the first step to use a cleanser, then a toner…but what comes next?  Don’t fret. Learn to layer products like a pro, with our guide to skin care layering below.

Morning regimen order

1. As a general rule, apply your lightest product first. Serums, which can range in texture from liquid to gels are applied first because they deliver the highest concentrated of active ingredients most efficiently. Pick two or three serums that each treat one of your concerns. For wrinkles, we recommend formulations with added peptides, like PCA Skin ExLinea Peptide Smoothing Serum. For oily skin types, look for serums that contain salicylic acid, like Cosmedix Clarity Skin-Clarifying Serum.

2. Use targeted treatments for problem areas nextlike Murad Rapid Relied Acne Spot Treatment on that persistent blemish, or cover your crow’s feet with your favorite eye cream. We recommend one with an SPF like SkinCeuticals Physical Eye UV Defense SPF 50.

3. Then, apply full-face treatments, like an antioxidant treatment or acne treatment for the entire face.

4. Moisturize to seal in your other products. Facial oils, like Eminence Facial Recovery Oil can be applied after to any dry spots you find after moisturizing. If you’re using two or more serums under your moisturizer, skip any facial oils to avoid becoming too greasy. Remember, facial oils can penetrate moisturizers but not vice versa, so always apply your moisturizer before a facial oil. If you choose a moisturizer with an SPF, opt for one with UVA/UVB broad spectrum protection with a minimum SPF of 30. We recommend a lightweight, oil-free moisturizing SPF, like Elta MD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46.

5. SPF. You’ve heard it a million times, but we’ll say it a million-and-one. Never leave home without an SPF on your face. We’ll leave it at that.

Night regimen order

1. Retinols need to be applied directly to clean skin to be most effective. However, if you have sensitive skin, applying a serum or moisturizer before hand will help the retinol to penetrate with less irritation.

2. After your first layer has absorbed, apply any targeted treatments, like a rich eye cream (we recommend Neocutis Lumiere Firm Riche), or if you have any other spot specific treatments, like Murad Rapid Age Spot Correcting Serum for dark spots and discoloration, now is the time to apply.

3. Finish with a moisturizer.  Apply a heavier night cream, like Obagi Hydrate Luxe, for drier skin types. If you have oily skin, opt for a lotion, instead of a cream as they are less hydrating. Many are specifically for problem or acne-prone skin. We like Jan Marini Bioglycolic Bioclear Face Lotion.

Morning or evening, remember to wait for a few minutes between for each layer to allow for the product to absorb.  This way each product is able to penetrate and deliver its specific benefits without interfering with the function of the next product layer.

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To Squeeze or Not to Squeeze?

Pop-A-PimpleAn unexpected whopper just showed up on your face. Like a mosquito bite or scab, you want to touch it. You want to pick at it. You really, really want to pop it. But should you? While most skin care professionals would prefer you left it alone, the truth is that YES, you can – but only if your blemish is white. Here’s how: On clean skin, use two Q-tips to gently press on either side of the blemish. Dab what comes out with a tissue (if you see blood or feel pain, stop!), then use an antibiotic spot treatment. We recommend Murad Acne Spot Fast Fix, Dr. Dennis Gross Correct and Perfect Spot Treatment, and Dermalogica Clear Start Breakout Clearing Emergency Spot Fix. After that, hands off!

The SkinMedix Team

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Cleaning Your Clarisonic

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Cleaning your Clarisonic may seem redundant, but caring for your beloved facial brush can actually help it last longer. Plus, a dirty brush can spread around unwanted bacteria, fungus, and mold. Keep your pores and your Clarisonic clean following the steps below!

1. Remove the brush head. You can also push in the white clips on the back to separate the inner bristles from the outer bristle ring for a more thorough cleaning.

2. Add a couple drops of antibacterial soap to an old toothbrush and scrub the bristles and crevices of the brush head first. Then repeat with the device handle and rinse with warm water. Don’t worry about getting the power buttons wet – the entire device is waterproof!

3. Let the brush head air-dry overnight, before reattaching it to the handle.

4. Store your Clarisonic properly. The Aria and Pro models go upright in their drying/charging stands. Mias should lie face down with the cap on to protect the brush head bristles.

Is it time to replace that brush head? Shop Clarisonic Replacement Brush Heads here.

The SkinMedix Team

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SkinMedix Power Couples

Sales pressure and misleading information have likely made you believe that you must use products from the same brand to see results. This is 110% FALSE. Not only is it perfectly OK to mix and match products from different brands, but sometimes doing so is essential if you want to get the best results possible! But you don’t need a chemistry degree to master your skincare equations because we’re revealing some of our favorite high-powered pairs! Choose your skincare concern and see your solution below.

De-Aging
de-agingLook younger, longer. This powerhouse duo helps skin make skin look smooth, soft, more youthful.
SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic
Avene High Protection Mineral Cream SPF 50

Blotchy or Uneven Skin Tone
evenskintoneThese two work together to help create skin that looks more even-toned and younger.
Murad Rapid Age Spot & Pigment Lightening Serum
Revision Intellishade Tinted Moisturizer SPF 45 Original

Unslightly Pores
poresCreate a virtually poreless complexion instantly and over time.
Clarisonic Replacement Deep Pore Cleansing Brush Head
PCA Skin Total Strength Serum

Acne
acneMeet the blemish busters. Look fresh, natural while fighting blemishes all day.
Obagi CLENZIderm MD Daily Care Foaming Cleanser
Murad Acne Treatment Concealer

Redness
rosaceaWelcome to the redness-free zone. Help visibly calm skin for instant redness relief.
Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Daily Face Peel
SkinMedica Redness Relief CalmPlex

Hydration
hydrationNever be thirsty again. Replenish dry skin instantly with this moisture-rich team.
Revaleskin Intense Recovery Treatment
Neocutis Lumiere Riche Bio-Restorative Eye Balm

Do you mix and match your skincare brands? Let us know in the comments below!

The SkinMedix Team

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November is National Healthy Skin Month

nationalhealthyskinmonthWhile November is typically known for celebrating Thanksgiving and as the month to begin holiday shopping, you probably didn’t know that November is also National Healthy Skin Month! Good skin care and healthy lifestyle choices can help delay the natural aging process and prevent various skin problems. So before you dive into your Thanksgiving turkey or shop till you drop on Black Friday, get started with these 8 no-nonsense tips for healthy and young looking skin!

How do you keep your skin healthy and young looking?

The SkinMedix Team

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Your Skin on Stress

????????????????????When you’re living life in the fast lane, your skin is often the first thing to freak out. What happens when a schizo schedule becomes totally routine? — Keep calm and read on.

Stress factor: Working like Crazy
What you’ll see: Redness and Breakouts

Chronic high levels of stress – a by-product of a competitive job market and 24/7 reachability – trigger your brain to release neuropeptides that cause blushing and sensitivity. On top of that, your body releases an excess of androgen hormones that can bring on breakouts.

Calm It Down:

Stress factor: Partying Away Stress
What you’ll see: Wrinkles and Dullness

Drinking dehydrates skin, making fine lines look deeper and complexion look dull. Your favorite cocktail or martini  – plus, the carby snacks you binge on after you get home from the party – is packed with sugar and can make you skin look older, faster, through a process called glycation. During this process, sugar impairs the production of collagen and elastin in the skin and can cause your skin to stiffen and lose its springiness. Another issue: smoking (whether you inhale it or not) is full of collagen eating carcinogens that increase your risk of skin cancer.

Party Smart:

Stress factor: Skimping on Sleep
What you’ll see: Flakiness and Dullness

Those late nights at the office and a little late-night DVR time can leave you playing “catch up” on ZZZs during the weekend. This erratic sleep schedule can through off your natural time clock, which inhibits your skin’s ability to stay hydrated. Research shows that poor sleep weakens the barrier function, causing moisture to escape. And chronic sleep deprivation impairs collagen production. After six months of sleep loss, skin starts to lost its suppleness and glow.

Fake Eight Hours:

The SkinMedix Team

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You say Retinol, I say Retinoid

skin-creamConfused by all the name variations? Don’t be. Here, a guide to all these perplexingly named vitamin A derviatives.

Retinoids: The umbrella term used to describe all vitamin A derivatives used in skin care.

Retinoic acid (aka tretinoin): The only vitamin A derivative proven to alter gene expression and bring about cellular changes in the skin to produce measurable anti-aging results. It is present in prescription retinoids such a Retin-A, and is the chemical that over-the-counter retinol is converted into after being absorbed and processed by the skin.

Retin-A: The brand name for the first prescription retinoic acid.

Retinol: A vitamin A derivative used in non-prescription anti-aging products to increase collagen production. The amount often found in an over-the-counter formula is 1%.

Reintyl Palmitate: A weaker, less irritating vitamin A derivative that is stored in the skin and undergoes an enzymatic conversion to retinol and ultimately retinoic acid.

Tip: Deciding on which type of retinoid and which percentage strength is best for you will depend on how your skin tolerates the retinoid. Generally, you go with the strongest retinoid you can tolerate with the least amount of irritation, even if that retinoid is considered weak.

The SkinMedix Team

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