- Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate!
It’s so important to not just hydrate your skin externally, but internally as well. Drinking 6-8 glasses of water a day will help prevent dehydration - the effects of which will show up across your skin. Apply topical creams, which penetrate your epidermal and dermal layers to nourish deeply (think plumping a raisin into a grape) not just a blanket of suffocating cream. Some great tips to amplify absorption include patting and gently pressing when applying your products, not just rubbing it across the surface. Applying while your skin is still damp from cleansing will also help lock in moisture. It’s also important to be aware of moisture-magnet ingredients like ceramides, glycerin, sodium hyaluronate and hyaluronic acid. These are intense hydrators that will help rejuvenate, plump and restore moisture to your skin. We recommend Skinmedica’s HA5 Rejuvenating Hydrator, a long-lasting rejuvenating hydrator that uses 5 different types of HA to deeply nourish with immediate results, visible for up to 8 hours.
- Nourish Your Body With Healthy Fuel
Eating your antioxidants will guarantee a deep glow from within! Keep your energy up and your skin vibrant with a healthy diet of fruits, vegetables and nuts. Some of the highest potency foods and spices are paprika, turmeric, bell peppers, spinach, quinoa, salmon, avocados, cinnamon, artichokes, miso, ginger and tomatoes. Including supplements will boost your immune system and help fill any gaps where you may be deficient in certain vitamins and minerals. Add fish oils (omega-3s), chlorophyll and vitamins A, B, C, D + E for a radiant difference you can see and feel.
- Get Up and Go!
Exercise has an incredible amount of benefits for the body, including increasing circulation and creating a healthy, lasting glow. A minimum of just 30 minutes, 3-5 times weekly will bring radiance to your skin and boost your overall mood and energy levels! If you
feel like you don’t have the time, even a 30 minute yoga routine right before bed will help relax your mind and body, release tension and assist with sleep. During the day, try to make regular activities a little more physical. Waiting for the microwave or kettle to boil? Try doing squats! Be aware of how long you’ve been sitting, whether for work or watching TV and try standing, stretching or taking a break to go for a walk. Need more motivation? Crank some music and dance like nobody’s watching! A 30 minute dance session can burn upwards of 534 calories, according to a University of Brighton study. It also creates a fun and functional way for your body to adjust to accelerating and decelerating activity, which we sometimes struggle with when performing general exercise. So pick your favourite song and bust out those moves!
- Cleanse + Exfoliate
One of the most important ways to get clear skin is through a proper cleansing ritual.
In the morning a light cleanse will wake up your skin and remove any buildup that may have occurred overnight. Gently massage a small amount across your face using circular motions, starting from your nose area and working outwards. The evening; however, is the crucial cleanse. It helps remove all dirt, oil and impurities and allows your skin to breathe - and heal itself. If you wear makeup, a double cleanse is required to remove all traces of it. We recommend avoiding harsh wipes and using a micellar water, balm or cleansing oil, followed by your favourite cleanser.
The next step is extremely important and often forgotten! Unless you exfoliate, your glowing potential will always be hiding underneath the outer layer of dead skin cells. This buildup also makes it difficult for your products to effectively work and get deep into your skin. If you’ve ever felt like your moisturizers weren’t doing anything - this may be why! There are two kinds of exfoliants - chemical and physical. A physical exfoliant is anything that physically removes the cells by buffing, like a brush, sonic tool or face scrub. These can be used two to three times a week depending on how your skin responds. Chemical exfoliants like face peels, and strong doses of AHAs and BHAs should only be used once weekly or three times maximum for more resistant skin types. Daily exfoliation can be accomplished with a gentle exfoliating cleanser or cream. For fast, visible results monthly diamond glow peels are perfect to remove dead and damaged cells and promote cell turnover. To find out what’s best for you, speak with your aspireMD skin care team for custom recommendations.
- Diminish Excess Oil
Excess sebum (oil) clogs your pores and creates a dull film. While some of this can be solved with exfoliation, other treatments may be needed. The best option is to avoid adding oils in the first place. Check to make sure your skincare products don’t contain excess or unnecessary oils. A good way to do this is to check that what you’re using is oil-free and non-comedogenic. While there are good oils that exist within skincare, it can sometimes be hard to tell. Your aspireMD skincare team can help you decode your ingredient list and find the right products for you. If you find you still experience excessively oily skin even while reducing problematic products, there may be a genetic or hormonal issue at play. Speak with
Dr. Jane about treatment options that are available to you.
- Stay Shielded from the Sun
Barrier protection with hats and clothes is important, but did you know the sun’s rays can penetrate through certain fabrics? We recommend an inert physical shield as with a cosmetically elegant zinc oxide and titanium oxide over a chemical SPF. Chemical SPFs still allow your skin to absorb the UV rays and convert it to heat which is then released from your body. Physical sunscreens create a barrier to reflect UV rays and protect your skin. They will not degrade when exposed to UV light and are effective immediately, whereas chemical compounds require 20 minutes to start working. In some cases, a combination of chemical and physical works best. Chemical sunscreen will absorb into the skin, allowing for easy application of other products afterwards. This is ideal as a daily base paired with a physical sunscreen for re-applications. We recommend Skinmedica’s Tinted Total Defense + Repair SPF 50 with Age Defense, a powerhouse sunscreen that protects against UVA, UVB and Infrared A. Packed with antioxidants, this multitasking product diminishes signs of aging while fighting environmental stressors. Want to know more about how to protect your skin while still getting your vitamin D in the sunshine? Read Dr. Jane’s Conversation here.
- Apply Antioxidants in the AM
Our skin is under attack daily. Whether it’s pollution, environmental stressors, lifestyle or sun we need support. Antioxidants are your skin’s neutralizer of harmful free radicals produced by those aggravators and are a crucial ingredient in your skincare. We recommend Rejudicare’s 2CRM+ with Peptides - complete with Vitamin C and E to support antioxidant protection, repair collagen and even out complexion, this “liquid gold” serum also repairs cell senescence and slows aging at a cellular level. Apply in the morning, gently pressing into freshly cleansed skin.
- Use Retinoids Nightly
Retinols are key to promoting skin cell turnover and stimulating collagen and elastin - the holy grail of youthful skin! Some tout it as the only anti-aging ingredient. It helps with exfoliation, fighting free radicals and aiding in collagen production. Firmer, smoother skin and diminished fine lines and wrinkles are all credited to this amazing product. Start slowly and carefully, working from 0.25 upwards. Dr. Jane and the aspireMD skincare team will guide you through as you are introducing retinol to your skin. We recommend Skinmedica’s 0.25 Retinol Complex with patented PhytoShield Complex, to minimize irritation and improve texture.
- Make It A Relaxing Ritual
Following all the steps but still dealing with high levels of stress can affect your skin, causing wrinkles and acne. It’s so important to set aside time for yourself to relax, re-centre and breathe deeply. For those that find it difficult to find any extra time in the day, turning a regular routine into a self-care ritual is key. Simple things like brushing your teeth and washing your face should be more than something we “just do”. Thinking of your skincare process as a self-care ritual and letting yourself be changed by that new mindset can dramatically alter your mood. Take a moment and practice grounding. Feel the textures of each product you apply. Light a candle. Choose one thing to add that feels luxurious or special to you, whether it’s a special under-eye treatment, mask, gua sha or jade rolling to stimulate circulation, de-puff skin, relax tight facial muscles and promote lymphatic drainage. You’re worth every moment you take and should treat yourself kindly, calmly and beautifully.
- Makeup to Help, Not to Hide
Sometimes a final touch on an already beautiful canvas adds a boost of confidence and just a little extra glow. Instead of covering up the skin you’ve worked so hard to nourish, try makeup that offers benefits not only upon application, but afterwards as well. Colorescience’s Sunforgettable Brush On Sunscreen provides mattifying effects for overly oily areas and offers a sheer, natural finish while also offering easy to re-apply sun protection. It’s a great way to be sure your sun protection lasts not just upon application, but throughout the day. Our favourite skincare hero is Oxygenetix Oxygenating Foundation. This revolutionary formula breathes, protects and heals while you wear it. With a unique aloe vera base, this oil-free, non-comedogenic foundation increases oxygenation of the skin, helps build collagen and elastin and offers SPF 30 UVA/UVB protection.
Want to win 3 incredible medical-grade skincare products, featured in this Conversation?
Visit us on Facebook or Instagram and follow the instructions on our GIVEAWAY posts! We are giving away two of these incredible gifts, valued at over $200 each! In the spirit of spreading a little joy and helping encourage your at-home self-care ritual, we wanted to offer something positive, fun and free! Simply help us spread joy by tagging a loved one in the comments and letting them know why they're important to you! Every comment gives you an extra entry, and the more love you can spread to others - the better! Contest closes Wednesday, April 15th, 2020 at 10:00 PM EDT. Winners will be announced on Friday, April 17th!
(see individual GIVEAWAY posts on Instagram and Facebook for all rules of entry)
