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Home Care: What Skin Products Do You Really Need?

You’ve probably felt overwhelmed if you’ve ever had to pick home care skincare products for yourself. There seems to be hundreds of different cleansers, ointments, moisturizers, tonics and other treatments, all promising to make your skin dreams come true. Then there are the beauty blogs that have a new secret formula or ingredient every week. How do you know what to choose? What products are important?

We want to help you make good product decisions. But if you want the best treatment and solutions that are unique to you, make an appointment with us! We’ll create an individualized plan just for you.

Foaming Cleansers

Cleansing the skin is the first step in any skincare routine. One of the more popular cleansers right now is a foaming cleanser. Many people like the feeling of the suds, as well as the feel of “squeaky-clean” skin.

But squeaky-clean tight skin is NOT the goal. It’s actually a sign that a foam cleanser isn’t suitable for you! In some cases, that foaming action strips your skin of its protective barrier, the acid mantle. It can exacerbate your skin problems, like breakouts, dryness, or irritated skin!

Some people DO benefit from a foaming cleanser. But typically, these individuals have an excessive amount of oil, such as teenagers who are dealing with hormonal changes. If you’re an adult with mildly oily skin, a foaming cleanser may not be the right choice. We can help you choose a cleansing product that will work with your skin!

Alpha Hydroxy Acids

It can feel like every product contains AHAs or alpha hydroxy acids. We frequently get guests that ask for them in their products, both at home and in our treatment room. But just because AHAs are a buzzword doesn’t mean they are right for you.

AHAs are powerful ingredients in skincare. They exfoliate the skin, lighten hyperpigmentation and improve texture. They are great for age management. But you should avoid using them daily. They’re simply too strong and can disrupt your skin’s natural protective barrier. Exfoliation with AHAs should be limited to once a week.

It’s also important to note that AHAs require water to work correctly. If the skin is dehydrated, the AHAs can’t do their job and can irritate the skin. They can even make skin conditions like acne and aging worse! AHAs can also make you sensitive to the sun, making it easier to burn. While we think everyone should wear sunscreen every day, it’s essential if you’re using skin products with AHAs.

While alpha hydroxy acids have a place in skincare, please don’t assume you need them in multiple products or even every day. We can help you find the right balance.

Retinol

We are huge fans of retinol. It’s another powerful skincare ingredient that increases collagen, improves pigment and texture, unclogs pores, and reduces breakouts. Who doesn’t want super-powered skincare?

But too much of a good thing can wreak havoc on your skin. Too much retinol can cause a yellow or orange tint to the face due to the overuse of beta carotene. No one wants to look like a carrot!

The trick to retinol is to start with a low dose. Applying a product with retinol nightly isn’t necessary and can cause your skin barrier to deplete faster … leaving you open to more bacteria, fungus, and environmental damage. Using retinol once a week is a good place to start, and you can increase it to twice a week if you have good results with minimal side effects. Just remember to space out your retinol use with at least three days apart. That goes for other forms of exfoliation too.

We can help you find the right amount of retinol for your skincare routine to optimize the benefits.

Benzoyl Peroxide

Benzoyl peroxide is a common ingredient in over-the-counter skincare. Its primary function is to kill bacteria, and it’s often found in acne-fighting products. It also exfoliates dead skin cells.

But benzoyl peroxide doesn’t just kill harmful, acne-causing bacteria. It damages good bacteria and can mess up your skin’s natural barrier. If you have mild acne breakouts, benzoyl peroxide isn’t the right product for you.

Salicylic Acid

Another common ingredient in OTC skincare is salicylic acid. This exfoliating ingredient is a beta hydroxy acid used on oily skin to fight acne and breakouts by dissolving impurities.

It’s a great ingredient … if it’s right for you. It’s genetically similar to aspirin, so some people should avoid it (especially if you have an allergy). It’s also frequently overused, which strips the acid mantle of its protective properties.

Glycolic Acid

Another alpha hydroxy acid that we often hear about is glycolic acid. Glycolic acid exfoliates and uses water to help the skin appear smoother and improve texture. It is also responsible for making our skin’s pH more acidic, which helps protect it.

However, like other AHAs, glycolic acid can make skin more sensitive to the sun. It can also be overused, making the skin more sensitive. It’s important to get the right amount for you. We can help figure that out with you!

Microbiome Support

More often than what you might initially believe, skin conditions that just won’t resolve with consistent treatment are actually fungal! Ordinary approaches to skin conditions like acne and breakouts, hyperpigmentation, and flaky skin will not resolve a fungal skin condition. While a disruption in the skin’s microbiome can be great at disguising itself as some of the skin conditions we mentioned above, they simply cannot be resolved with the same approach. If we believe your skin condition is fungal related, we will let you know!

Are you feeling overwhelmed? We get it! There are so many choices, and it can be hard to determine what products are right for you … and in the right amounts. That’s why we’re here to help.

Find out what your skin really needs, and we’ll make a skincare plan just for you. Book an appointment with us at SPA Melissa Allen. We can’t wait to get you the skin of your dreams!