DAILY SKIN CARE

To achieve optimal skin health and visibly good looking skin, it is essential that you follow a daily skin care routine. Whatever your skin type, just 5 minutes in the morning and night can give visible results. The following routine of cleanse, prevent, correct, moisturise and protect can help achieve and maintain healthy and vibrant skin.

The first important step is,

Step 1: Cleansing your skin

Effective cleansing can help improve the quality of the skin, enhancing its radiance by giving a healthy glow and keeping it looking younger for longer. Thorough cleansing of your skin should be done morning and evening to ensure the removal of surface impurities and skin oils which always accumulate. This is regardless of whether or not you wear make-up! Regular cleansing will enhance the skin's ability to breathe and help to improve the quality of your skin giving a much clearer and brighter appearance.

How to cleanse:
Having selected a cleanser that is suitable for your skin type, moisten your face with lukewarm water and then apply a small amount of product. Gently massage the cleanser over your skin, using light, circular movements. Go gently so that you do not pull, drag or stretch your skin!  Lastly, rinse off the cleanser, using lukewarm water and pat your face dry.

At the Skin Service we do not recommend the use of ordinary soap on your face and would advise anyone using soap to try a cleanser specific for their skin type.

Step 2: Prevention

After cleansing we advise you to use an antioxidant serum such as Serum 15 by SkinCeuticals.  Research shows that aging skin is the result of more than just years on the calendar. Exposure to environmental elements like sunlight, smoke, and air pollution cause photo aging of the skin. Not only does this lead to the formation of lines, wrinkles and decolourisation - it can lead to more serious skin conditions, including skin cancer.  However, fortunately the application of an anti-oxidant serum can help prevent environmental damage and when used together with a sunscreen (see Step 5 – Protect) can provide optimal protection, preventing signs of premature aging, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and promoting skin health.

How to prevent:
Follow the Instructions
eg Serum 15:  Use 4-5 drops every morning.
Drop into the palm of your hand and then apply directly to clean skin using light, circular massage.
Wait a few minutes before applying any further product.

Step 3 – Correct

Corrective products combine reparative, lightening and exfoliating ingredients to help rehabilitate damaged skin, restoring a healthier and more youthful appearance. This step could include specific products to treat delicate areas such as the eyes and lips if these areas are of concern to the individual for either prevention or correction.

Examples of product that could be used here are :
Exfoliator type products for the treatment of facial lines e.g. SkinCeuticals Intense Line Defence
SkinMedica TNS Illuminating Eye Cream
Correction of blemishes and hyperpigmentation e.g. SkinCeuticals Retinol based products 0.5%
Lip repair products to accelerate cell renewal for full, healthy lips. E.g. SkinMedica TNS LipPlump
Medik8 PrePout

How to correct:
Follow individual manufacturer instructions.
For more advice please contact the Skin Service.

Step 4 : Moisturising your skin

This is an essential part of your daily skin care regime and should be performed morning after cleansing, following application of an anti-oxidant serum and again before retiring after cleansing.  A quality moisturiser protects your facial skin from environmental damage, provides nutrients for the skin and prevents loss of moisture, hydrating and restoring elasticity to the skin, thereby slowing down the aging process.  You may wish to consider using a specific night cream. For example an anti-aging cream such as SkinCeuticals Renew which helps diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.  The moisturiser should also be applied to the neck and décolleté. Although many moisturisers now contain a level of SPF(sun protection factor) , here at The Skin Service we recommend that you apply a broad spectrum SPF daily to ensure that your skin is receiving enough protection from damaging skin aging UVA rays ( see Step 5 - Protect )

How to moisturise:
Always follow the manufacturer's instructions, but in general massage the product into the face and neck using light, upward circular movements.

Step 5: Protect

Research has shown that UVA rays are responsible for premature signs of aging in the skin. UVA rays penetrate glass, are present all year round and go to all layers of the skin where the free radicals that they generate break down collagen and cause premature aging. As most sunscreens do not give you the full protection from UVA rays we highly recommend that you use a good quality broad spectrum sunscreen that blocks both UVA and UVB rays, together with an anti-oxidant serum to provide additional protection from premature aging.

How to protect:
Apply a minimum of SPF 20 to the face and other exposed areas such as the neck, hands and chest. Increase the SPF to a minimum of 30 for days when more protection is required or if you are sensitive to the sun.
Sun Protection should be reapplied frequently throughout the day and after swimming outdoors.

Pay particular attention to children's skin. Remember that by the time we have reached our early twenties, 80% of the sun damage to our skin has already been caused.

Daily Skin Care is a routine.  In addition to this a weekly routine is also important  ( see SkinCare - Weekly ) Other steps such as exfoliation need to be thought about.  Think of Exfoliation from this perspective. Exfoliation removes dead skin cells, soothes the skin and improves its tone. Dead skin cells are the very top layer of your skin. Applying moisturiser to dead skin cells does not make sense, does it? So exfoliation, removes the dead skin cells, promotes blood circulation and helps to invigorate and prepare the skin to more easily absorb any moisturising product you apply. Exfoliation also helps speed up the rate of cell turn over. Another word for exfoliation is scrubbing. Using a facial scrub at least once a week, makes your skin more receptive to creams and treatments. However care must be taken not to over exfoliate.  The aim is to remove any dead cells from the skins surface without disturbing the healthy cells beneath.

In conclusion, to follow a skin care regime is like taking out an insurance policy on the health and vitality of your skin. Can you afford not to follow a complete, daily skin care regime?