Summer is slowly winding down, and for many people that means returning to normal routines with work, school, sports and extracurricular activities. While you’re getting back into the groove, now is also the perfect time to get back into a regular skin care routine for the fall. Dr. Christy Walker, a dual-board-certified cosmetic surgeon and gynecologist in Plano, Texas, offers patients practical skin care tips for looking great year-round.
Why Is a Skin Care Routine Important?
Taking care of your skin is important because your skin is the largest organ of your body and serves as your body’s first defense against the environment. Although skin cells regenerate, as we age, the production of new skin cells slows down, leaving skin looking dull and us looking older. Establishing (and keeping) a regular skin care routine can help keep your skin looking great as you age by keeping your skin healthy and hydrated.
You may think just a quick cleaning with soap and water is enough, but you may be missing out on serious skin care benefits.
Follow a Prescribed Order
Following a step-by-step routine for taking care of your skin allows you to make the most of the products you use, and also gives your skin a chance to absorb the moisturizers, serums and sunscreens you should be using.
The Steps to Great Skin
Step 1. Wash Your Face. The first step to great skin is clean skin. Remove makeup with a cleansing oil (oil attracts oil and cleans more thoroughly than water) and then wash your face with a high-quality cleanser to remove any remaining oil, dirt and makeup in case everything was not extracted in the first pass.
Step 2. Toner Time. For years, people considered toner as just a way to dry out oil and shrink the pores, but toners play another critical role; they help to deliver vitamins and antioxidants to the skin.
Step 3. Address Any Spots. This is the time to spot-treat any blemishes. Use treatment creams that contain benzoyl peroxide to kill the bacteria that cause acne. Give these products about five minutes to begin working before you move on to the next step.
Step 4. Serum. Serums are highly concentrated, lightweight moisturizers designed to penetrate deep into the skin and deliver the ingredients needed for great skin, such as vitamin A or vitamin C. These products often have specific goals, such as reducing puffiness around the eyes or helping to reduce the appearance of fine lines.
Step 5. Add Eye Cream. Using a high-quality eye cream can help maintain the health of your eyelid skin, which means it may reduce drooping eyelids (and the need for eyelid surgery) later in life.
Step 6. You Must Moisturize. Don’t skip moisturizing your skin with a quality moisturizer. Using moisturizers helps to restore and repair the skin overnight and can help protect it from harsh weather elements like the cold, wind and sun.
Step 7. End with Sunscreen. While we are talking about the sun, we want to remind you about the significant step of adding sunscreen as a final layer to your face. Choose a broad spectrum, mineral-based product to block both UVA and UVB rays. Wearing sunscreen will help to minimize the potential for both skin cancer and sun damage.
Take care of your skin with these tips and skin-rejuvenating treatments from Dr. Christy Walker. Learn more about our offerings by calling 972-696-2963.
