Change (?)

Are you feeling extra dry? Does your skin feel tight? Are you having more breakouts than normal? Have you noticed your skin looks dull, lacking radiance?  Are you starting to notice wrinkles, lack of tone, a different texture? Is it time to make a change? We are here to help and guide you in this process.

As with everything in life (i.e. job, relationships, exercise, diet) results take time and patience, coupled with commitment and consistency.  Your skin is no different. Don’t expect to start something new and get miracles overnight. It takes longer than you think to achieve results and they can fade quickly if you don’t keep up.  It’s also important for you to manage realistic expectations, related to how quickly and what type of results you can expect in cosmetic-grade professional skin care. 

Tascha's Tip: “For best results, I always recommend a complete routine, which ideally includes regular facials using advanced technologies, home care products and taking care of your health.  It’s like following a recipe, one missing ingredient will always alter the outcome”

One formula, season after season, year after year is not optimal or realistic for your skin.  That’s why there are times when it makes sense to change up your routine:

• Seasons: special care is required when you live in extreme climates, such as Canada, with drastic weather changes throughout the year.  
• Hormones: Pregnancy and menopause are the perfect examples.  Certain ingredients are not permitted or recommended during pregnancy (or when trying to become pregnant), while during menopause (pre and post) your skin can become dry to very dry and lack density, firmness and luminosity. 
• Age: what you need in your 20’s will change with each year and decade that passes. Refine your routine according to concerns and goals.
• Sensitivity: this can happen from one day to the next and your skin suddenly becomes intolerant, reactive or breaks-out due to certain ingredients.
• Exercise:  When starting a new or modified routine that involves increased perspiration, specific care is necessary to ensure you are using the correct products to manage the effect this can have on your skin (i.e. cleansing, exfoliation and protection).

THE BASICS

This exercise is important in today’s society with the constant bombardment of “newest - latest - greatest” via advertising, beauty-bloggers, social influencers, promotions and/or your personal social circles. Just because a product (or brand) is trending, high-end and/or sensually appealing (i.e. packaging, smell, texture), does not mean it works or that it’s the right choice for you.  Don’t be a follower with your skin care regime! 

Understand the basics; they are the foundation and will guide you with every direction and decision.  Get to know your skin, your goals, understand your commitment level, what’s working and what’s not. Thoroughly review the questions below and write down your answers. Please be completely honest with yourself, after all this will benefit you and your skin.

• WHAT IS YOUR SKIN TYPE?  Does your skin feel dry and/or dehydrated? Do you have an oily t-zone (at what time during the day do you notice it)? Does your skin feel sensitive? Do you experience redness (when)? Do you have oily skin (this is when you face is shiny within an hour of washing it, with excess oiliness on your cheeks and forehead (not just your t-zone))? Does your skin feel normal, without any noticeable dryness or oiliness?
• IF THERE WAS SOMETHING YOU COULD CHANGE ABOUT YOUR SKIN, WHAT WOULD IT BE (ANYTHING ELSE, ANYTHING ELSE)?  If you are not sure, look at yourself in a mirror (clean skin, without make-up) and point out the area(s) you would like to improve and/or where you have noticed undesirable changes. It’s best to do this in the morning after a restful sleep. The key is to have three (3) areas to work on, as a priority.
• WHAT IS YOUR COMMITMENT LEVEL? This is a huge and it doesn’t only relate to budget, it’s about how important your skin is to you.  Do you want to take steps to prevent, correct and change? Or do you want to wait and see what happens? Does your grandmother have amazing skin, so you automatically assume you will too?  Are you willing to start a consistent daily & weekly skin care routine?
• WHAT’S YOUR CURRENT ROUTINE, WHAT’S WORKING AND WHAT’S NOT?  Let’s face it, everyone uses some sort of product(s), like a face cleanser, moisturizer and body/hand cream.  What brand(s) are you using? Are the products you are using helping you achieve your goals? Are you seeing any results?  How long have you been using these products? Who recommended these products?

IMPLEMENTING CHANGE

Prior to introducing new products or making drastic changes to your skin care routine, recognize that you need to do this with care and with guidance from a skin care expert.  Certain advanced ingredients (formulations) take time before you will see results (i.e. Vitamin C, AHA’s, Retinol, Alpha Arbutin, Salicylic Acid and Azelaic Acid +++). When you’re dealing with challenges like acne, rosacea (sensitivity), hyperpigmentation and overall ageing you need to be patient as results evolve over time. 

Some products are easier to change and implement than others and it should be a relatively easy process.  You are not going run out of everything at the same time, therefore, it can be a step-by-step integration process.  Identify the category of each product you currently use and then follow these simple guidelines:

Categories:

• Easy: Cleanser, toner (lotion, essence)
• Medium: Exfoliation, mask, neck, lips
• Game-Changers: Serum (ampoule), moisturizer (am / pm), sun protection, eyes

Guidelines:

• Step 1: Be sure to thoroughly verify the ingredients in your current product(s) vs. your new product(s). This is especially important when using products for acne, hyperpigmentation, rosacea and ageing.  It’s always recommended to consult a skin care expert beforehand. 
• Step 2: Start by implementing the easy and medium products, as you run out.  These product categories are not usually responsible for drastic skin change and are relatively safe to play around with. 
• Step 3: Game-Changers are products that target skin correction and have the highest level of active ingredients.  Optimally, it’s recommended that they introduced at the same time and used together, as they most often work synergistically. For example: serum(s) with the adapted moisturizer.  

It is completely normal to try and need to change things up, in order to get the right formula for you.  Please do not get discouraged if this happens to you. You may need to make a few adjustments, before getting it right.  

Need help? Complete this form with as many details as possible and email it to info@bskinenvie.ca.  Our expert team is always available and eager to support you with your skin.

Skin first, makeup second… smile always,

Tascha xxx