If you’re reading this article, then you probably already have a skincare routine. Most people develop one in their 20s, but things change over time, and it’s equally important to adjust your routine to suit your evolving needs. The basics will always be the basics: cleanse, moisturize, protect. But sometimes the go-to products stop working due to aging, pregnancy, and even stress. We want to help you get better results, so read on to learn how to make your products work harder.
Buy a Balanced Cleanser
A good cleanser doesn’t have to be expensive, but some lesser quality products can do more damage than good. When picking a cleanser to suit your skin, focus on both the pH level and the ingredients. You don’t necessarily need to invest in pH testing strips. You know, the kind that show you how alkaline or acidic a product is. Your skin is a great indicator. Super foamy cleansers often have a pH level above 5.5 and contain sodium lauryl sulfate, a surfactant that cleanses but also alters the skin’s natural pH level, leaving it feeling tight. That tightness is not an indicator of cleanliness, though. It simply means that the cleanser removed both dirt and natural oils, leaving your skin stripped and uncomfortable. IS Clinical Cleansing Complex contains sugar cane extract and white willow bark extract, which gently exfoliate the skin. It also includes centella asiatica (aka tiger grass or gotu kola), which calms irritation, soothes aggravated skin, and has wound healing properties. No wonder tigers roll around in it when they’re hurt.
Include a Targeted Serum in Your Routine
Unlike moisturizers or cleansers, serums generally serve a single purpose: to brighten, strengthen, repair, etc. Many people use several serums but adding just one to your routine may give you better results overall. The reason: one product, one outcome. For example, if your skin looks a little worse for wear, it’s tough for moisturizer to get down deep enough to make much of a difference. A serum, however, is formulated in a lightweight consistency, so that it can penetrate the upper layers of skin and go to work by breaking up hyperpigmentation or increasing collagen production. Our Vitamin C+E+Ferulic Acid Serum does all of the above while fighting off free radicals and reducing the look of wrinkles and fine lines. Since most vitamin C products are notoriously unstable, choosing a medical grade product instead of a drug store formulation improves your odds of success.
Rev Up Cell Turnover with Retinol
Most people know that retinol is a form of vitamin A and that it’s frequently used for antiaging … but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Retinol helps your body bring new skin to the surface, improving skin texture, tone, and pore size while nourishing the skin and reducing the look of wrinkles and even redness. While there are over-the-counter (OTC) products that include retinol on the label, the percentage of the active ingredient is rarely listed, and you’ll be hard pressed to decipher what’s actually in it. You can’t expect much from these versions, whereas medical grade retinol has proven benefits backed by research. They work in small doses, too, so you’ll get better results for your money in the long run. The Replenix All-trans-Retinol Smoothing Serum 2X even contains green tea polyphenols that protect against UV damage.
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Considering the amount of money you invest in skin care, we hope we’ve given you some things to help make your shopping easier. No one wants to waste money, and real life results are easier to achieve when you know what’s actually in that cleanser, serum, or retinol product. If you have questions about selecting the right product for your skin type or goals, just let us know. We’re always happy to help. We’ve even designed an online quiz to help customize a routine that fits your unique situation.
To your continuing skin education,
Team Reflect
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