Everyday Skin Care

SkinCeuticals Simply Clean
SkinCeuticals Daily Moisture
SkinCeuticals Sheer Physical UV Defense SPF 50
Obagi Tretinoin Cream
Obagi Elastiderm Eye Cream

How can I make my skin more healthy and beautiful every day?

Good skin care involves 4 basic steps:
Step 1: Cleansing
Selecting the proper type of soap is a challenge because of the varieties of cleansers and the different sensitivities of each person’s skin.

For sensitive skin, the safest soap to choose is a synthetic detergent soap, or syndet, which actually contains less than 10% real soap. They also have an adjusted pH so they are not as irritating to the skin. They are less likely to damage your skin but may not remove all of the sebum from extremely oily skin. We recommend Neo-Cleanse Gentle Skin Cleanser  by Neocutis which is rich in glycerin to maintain hydration of the skin’s outermost layers, and Obagi Nu-Derm Gentle Cleanser, 

Combination soaps contain both stronger soaps and syndets so they have greater cleansing abilities with less damage to the skin. We recommend Obagi Foaming Gel Cleanser which is a gel-based cleanser that removes impurities, oil, and makeup to leave even the oiliest skin clean and fresh. Lipid-free cleansers clean without soap and are applied to wet or dry skin, lathered, and rinsed or wiped away. They leave a thin, moisturizing film on the skin and are safer for extremely dry, sensitive skin. However, they are not very effective at killing bacteria and therefore may not remove odor from the underarms or groin..

Cleansers with alpha-hydroxy acids can be used to exfoliate the dead skin cells to produce smoother skin. We recommend Neo-Cleanse Exfoliating Skin Cleanser by Neocutis which contains 10% glycolic acid to gently exfoliate your skin.

A new and very effective method of facial cleansing is the sonic skin care brush by Clarisonic™. The Clarisonic Skin Cleansing System uses a patented sonic frequency of more than 300 movements per second to clean, soften and smooth skin. It removes six times more makeup and two times more dirt and oil than with normal cleansing. Sonic skin cleansing improves skin tone, reduces the appearance of pore size and helps skin care products work their best. It is particularly effective on skin that is prone to acne and seborrhea. For the most effective sonic skin cleansing, we recommend the Clarisonic PRO Sonic Skin Cleansing System. This is an exclusive professional model that is available for use and sale only by skin care professionals such as a dermatologist office.

Step 2: Moisturize
Immediately after cleansing, gently pat the skin dry with a soft cloth or towel. Then, while the skin is still damp, apply an effective moisturizing lotion to help “trap” the water in your skin. Apply it sparingly in a thin layer from head to toe. This should be done all year long but especially during the colder and dryer winter months. We recommend TriXéra Emollient Cream TriXéra Emollient Cream by Avène. For extremely dry, rough skin we recommend Akérat Skin Smoothing and Retexturing Body Cream by Avène.
You may reapply your moisturizer as often as you like during the day or at bedtime. Remember to first wet the skin by splashing on a little water, pat off the excess, and then apply the moisturizer.

For localized areas of very dry, thick scaly skin such as psoriasis or hyperkeratosis, we recommend Akérat S by Avène to restore areas where thick, flaky skin is bothersome.

If you have trouble with “keratoses pilaris” (small red bumps in the hair follicles on the upper back, arms or legs) we recommend the Glytone KP Kit. This is a 2 step system that incorporates an alpha-hydroxy acid (glycolic acid) to rid the skin of these bumps. The kit contains an exfoliating body wash and a body lotion.

Aquaphor Healing Ointment is a great lip balm for chapped lips.

Step 3: Apply an Antioxidant
Antioxidants are molecules that prevent damage to skin cells from environmental stress. They neutralize toxic free radicals before they cause harm to cell structures. During times of high oxidative stress such as exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun, cigarette smoke, air pollution, cold, heat, dust, and smog the body’s natural antioxidants are not sufficient to control these free radicals and excess damage can occur. Both oral and topical antioxidant supplementation serve to augment the body’s natural supply of antioxidants. They prevent excess damage by augmenting the body’s natural defenses.

It has been shown that topical antioxidant use can provide additional protection from oxidative damage, slow skin aging and improve skin appearance. The problem is that no sunscreen is 100% effective at blocking ultraviolet light. Therefore, some UV rays do get through to cause free radicals and damage. Once free radicals are formed, sunscreens are useless in preventing further damage. Therefore, sunscreen use alone is not enough. It is important to protect the skin with natural antioxidants by applying an effective antioxidant cream every night.

For effective antioxidant creams backed by medical science, we recommend Revaléskin® Night Cream with CoffeeBerry extract; Journée by Neocutis with green tea extract, vitamins C + E, hyaluronic acid, and Human Growth Factors; or  SkinCeuticals C + E Ferulic (contains vitamins C and E plus ferulic acid). For more information about antioxidants please follow the antioxidants link here.

Step 4: Apply a Sunscreen

Sunscreens should be used all year long on a daily basis regardless of the weather. They are applied each morning after washing. Even on cloudy days, enough UVA and UVB radiation get through to cause a significant amount of damage to your skin. Avoid high intensity midday sunlight, wear sun-protective clothing including wide-brimmed hats and light weight long-sleeved shirts, and stay in shaded areas when possible. Use a UVA/UVB broad spectrum sunblock that has an SPF of at least 30 and reapply during the day, especially if you are swimming or sweating excessively.

For more information about sunscreens and sunblocks, and our recommendations for choosing the right sunscreen for you, please follow the sunscreens link here.