Hey guys! My name is Iris, the Medical Aesthetician at The Aesthetic & Wellness Center.

Now, I can’t speak for you, but years before I became an aesthetician, I had this little magnifying mirror that I would use when I tweezed my brows. However, every time used it I would take a closer look at my face and all of a sudden become an OCD maniac about my skin — I remember seeing fine lines around my eyes and smile lines, black heads on my nose and freckles all over (Okay, maybe I was a little too dramatic as a 16-year-old) but in my world it was terrible!

So…what did I do?

I took my mom’s harshest scrub, snuck it in the bathroom so she wouldn’t see me and I scrubbed like there’s no tomorrow. My results–dry, tight, itchy red skin…Let’s face it–we’ve all done it. It didn’t work then and it doesn’t work now.

Simple is Better!

I’m here to tell you, there’s a better way. We don’t need to over exfoliate the skin to improve the look of it. Instead, we need to cleanse in a balanced manner.

TIP: If your skin feels tight and “squeaky clean” after cleansing, your over doing it.

Avoid harsh scrubs, astringent-based products, and anti-acne ingredients such as benzoyl peroxide, triclosan and alcohol toners for long term use. These should only ever be used short term to treat acne flare-ups; long-term use can do more harm than good. The same goes for any “bleaching” or “lightening” creams.

We need the natural oils in the skin in order for our skin’s barrier to work properly.

Maintain a healthy lifestyle.

It’s important to maintain a well-balanced diet to prevent nutrient deficiencies that can affect your skin. Fruits and vegetables provide you with vitamin C, a powerful anti-oxidant.

Add fatty fish, such as salmon or tuna, to your diet because they provide beneficial omega-3 fatty acids, as well as vitamin D and selenium.

Eat nuts for a skin-healthy snack rich in zinc, selenium and healthy unsaturated fat, including omega-6 oils.

Read product labels.

Before you get overwhelmed and curse yourself with “bad skin” consider the products you’re using and the make-up you’re applying to your skin.

Many products and ingredients we use daily could actually be the causing congestion and acne cosmetica (little bumps on the skin).

A lot of those products are loaded with heavy silicones and oils that clog the pore or talc that can dry the skin in some people, making fine lines and wrinkles more visible.

By switching to a natural mineral makeup and using the appropriate skin care for your skin type, the congestion will improve.

Hydrate yourself.

It’s impossible to have glowing, gorgeous skin when it’s not nicely hydrated. Seek an appointment with a skin care professional to make sure your skin routine is suitable for your skin type.

If you are prone to acne, talk to a Skin Care Specialist, such as myself, before selecting a moisturizer or any other product for acne-prone skin. Some moisturizers are comedogenic (pore-clogging) and can cause or make acne worse.

For dry skin, moisturizers and emollients work best when they’re applied to skin that is wet or damp. After washing or bathing, pat the skin dry and then apply the moisturizer right away.

Don’t forget eye cream! The skin around our eyes is extra delicate and thin, it needs special care–a hydrating eye cream makes all the difference.

For those of you on the dry side, using a therapeutic night cream really helps balance the skin.

Of course, it’s important to keep your body hydrated with water also, to have happy, healthy skin.

Protect your skin.

#1 ANTI- AGING PRODUCT: SUNSCREEN

It turns out sun block does more than protect you from skin cancer and painful sunburns — it offers a boost to simple vanity. Studies show that routine sun block use protects against photoaging: (the wrinkling, spotting and loss of elasticity caused by exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet radiation).

UVA rays – age skin
UVB rays – burn skin

Both damage the skin, therefore it is important to use a broad spectrum sunscreen on a daily basis of at least an SPF of 30.

Reapply every 90 minutes if you’re planning on being out for hours at a time.

These are just a few tips to help you in your pursuit to a better looking you. If you need more information or your skin is in need of a professional evaluation, give us a call at 941-749-0741 and I would be more than happy to help.

Best wishes,
Iris XOXO