From Dryness to Breakouts and everything in between…

Today I’m going to share with you four signs that your skin needs attention. I remember a time when I did not have a skincare routine. I grew up learning “if it ain’t broke, don’t try to fix it” and that self-care (and skincare) is an indulgent luxury. If a woman tended to her own needs, she was considered either selfish or high maintenance. It wasn’t until I went to esthetics school that I learned the importance of self-care through skincare. This became a huge focus of mine because I wanted to improve the health and appearance of my skin as a way to ease the aging process, to feel as if my skin looked radiant without makeup and because I could change my hair, my clothes, my nails, etc but my skin would take much more effort to improve and maintain its appearance without cosmetic procedures.

I’m grateful I started my skincare journey at a fairly young age – I was 28 when I started investing in skincare products. I always tell my clients that it’s much easier to prevent issues rather than to correct them. You may already be taking care of your skin or you may just be starting out – wherever you are in your skincare journey here are four signs that your skin is calling for your attention and what you can do about it:

1.) Dryness & Dehydration

You’ll know your skin is dry if you are lacking oil and your skin is flaky, feels tights, is itchy or irritated. You’ll need an oil that absorbs well to lock in moisture, like the Facial Recovery Oil from Eminence Organics.

2.) Excessive Oiliness, Congestion, Blackhead, Whiteheads and Breakouts

On the other end of the spectrum, you may be dealing with oiliness, congested skin, blackheads, whiteheads and breakouts. As a child of the ’80s, I was conditioned to think “oil is bad” and the goal was to obtain clear squeaky clean skin. Little did I know at that time, as a consumer, this approach to skincare would create a dependence on the “medicine” that addressed the issue.

From a holistic perspective, I encourage my clients to find a balance of oil control in their skin. Our skin is made of a combination of oil and water, and when we strip our skin’s surface of oil, our brain’s signal an alert to reproduce more oil as a means of replacing the protective barrier of our lipid surface.

You’ll know your skin is oily if your makeup is running midday or you feel like an oil-slick on your face. To properly balance oil, you’ll need a matte moisturizer that contains ingredients like red clover extract and lactic acid, which you can find in the Mangosteen Gel Moisturizer.

3.) Redness

Many clients come to me with initial concerns of redness in their skin. They may experience irrational or sensitivity around their nose, cheeks or on their chin. They may tend to be reactive to touch, products, temperature or other sensory stimuli that can cause facial flushing. When I say this, my goal is to calm their skin and reduce inflammation.

When I see redness as an expression, ingredients that are cooling, like aloe, are what I reach for. Arnica is also an amazing topical to help boost microcirculation and flush out any stagnant blood in tissues.

You’ll know you experience redness if your skin flushes for an extended period of time (over one hour), you have broken capillaries or your skin has a “bruised-like appearance” from a cluster of distended blood vessels.

You’ll benefit from the Calm Skin Serum, which is excellent to expedite healing as well. NOTE: I often recommend that my clients take homeopathic arnica internally as well if their inflammation is chronic.

4.) Dullness

Finally, dullness is a sign that your skin needs attention. One thing I encourage my clients to do at home is to get the perfect combination of exfoliation and hydration suited for their skin, lifestyle and preference. I mention lifestyle and preferences because you want to make sure you are excited about your routine, it supports your way of living and is easy.

Now, back to dullness…you’ll know your skin is dull if you have buildup of dead skin cells, your skin looks ashy, sallow, or lacks vitality due to a deficiency in oxygenation or circulation. One of my main goals when it comes to healthy skin is to boost oxygen and circulation in the tissues, which can be one of the results from effective exfoliation. Exfoliation will especially be helpful to remove buildup. I always say, “if you want to fertilize your lawn, you’ll need to rake your leaves”. One way I love to exfoliate is with the Firm Skin Peel because it’s so easy to use, it’s a gentle leave on peel and I can see what dirt and grime comes off on the cotton rounds.

I recommend following up with a moisturizer that is rich in peptides, collagen, vitamin C and hyaluronic acid, so I like to combo the Marine Peptide Concentrate and Firm Skin Serum for strengthening elasticity and hydration.

It’s possible you can experience one of these signs, or even all four at any given time during the year. The only constant in life is change, and it’s important to be flexible and attentive to your skin’s needs in the midst of change in order to achieve and preserve its health and radiance. If you’re ever in the area and would like a personalized consultation, book a Customized Detox & Glow Facial at Project Gorgeous, we’d love to help. Otherwise, try some of these recommendations to boost the health and radiance of your skin today!