Does your skin really need to breathe?

We hear this every day in the office. A woman will come and in while reviewing her skin history, she will talk about breaks that she takes from products, make up or both to allow her skin to breathe.

So, do we really need to give our skin a chance to breathe?

For some people, the benefits of being able to go without make up are great. They feel that their skin stays clearer the less product that they have to apply.The biggest breakout culprits are oil, fragrances, allergens and preservatives. However, if make up is properly removed each evening, there should not be an issue with clogged pores and breakout. There is no need to allow the skin to breathe.

The top layer of skin is dead and does not require respiration. When people refer to allowing the skin to breathe, they are usually talking about not occluding the skin with heavy creams or lotions. The lower layers of skin are really the layers that we need to concentrate on feeding and nourishing with effective vitamins C and vitamin A

Do you take a break from products to allow your skin to breathe?

-Diane

SkinCeutical's Clarifying Cleanser review

Elizabeth reviewing SkinCeuticals, our spotlight product line for October!

A Hard Habit to Break-Elizabeth

I recently came across an article at www.Allure.com (the makeup artist in me still loves reading

about new cosmetics!!) called “17 Bad Skin Habits.” As I was reading the article, it amazed me

how many of the bad habits I myself had! If I (a skincare specialist who worked with bad skin

everyday) was guilty of these habits, how many of our patients were? The entire list can be

found at http://www.allure.com/skin-care/2010/bad_skin_habits#slide=4. 
Below is highlighted a list of some very important, and easily breakable, habits.

* Skipping a Daily Sunscreen - The fastest way of aging your skin? Not wearing a broadspectrum

sunscreen of at least an SPF 30 or higher! A tablespoon is recommended to safely

protect your face.

* Smoking - Do I really need to explain this one? Not only is smoking horrible for your health, it

also ages you an average of 2.5 years every year. Not to mention the awful smell....

* Using Dirty Makeup Brushes - This is a HUGE culprit among many patients. Take 10

minutes once a week, and wash your brushes with your facial cleanser! You’ll be surprised at

the difference!

* Not Washing Your Face At Night - I am the guiltiest party with this bad habit! I understand

that by the end of the day, you’re beat. I’m the same way, but if I can break this habit with a

4 year old, work full time, and school full time, so can you! Take 10 minutes and wash your

face...I promise you’ll see a big improvement within a week.

* Popping Pimples - It’s so hard not to pick. As someone who used to suffer from cystic acne,

I know this all too well. But your face will thank you in the long run if you can keep your hands

off! Apply some SkinCeuticals Blemish + Age or some benzoyl peroxide to help dry it up.

Picking at a pimple can actually push the bacteria inside deeper into your face, causing more

surrounding breakout, not to mention redness and post inflammatory hyperpigmentation. If

a pimple looks ready to break, apply warm compresses to see if it will drain on its own. If not

HANDS OFF until it can heal itself.

* Tanning - Again, do I really need to explain this one? There is a laundry list of horrible things

that tanning can do to your body, including thicker skin, melasma, hyperpigmentation, fine lines,

and cancer. Self tanners and spray tans can give you the golden glow you want using much

safer methods.Check out the article at http://www.skincarekorner.com/index.phpp=detail&pid=61&cat_id=.

Which habits will you be changing?

-Elizabeth

My Skin Profile: Diane, 30 Something

As a Licensed Practical Nurse, my formal training in skin was simply to maintain skin integrity. Lectures and clinical practice for me were all about keeping our bodies largest organ intact, especially in the geriatric patient.

When I joined the Skin Care Krew in 2008, I was a mess to say the least. I had a bad case of "Mommy Skin" I was spending so much time working, going to school and raising my young family that I wasn't making any time to focus on my skin's needs, and it showed.

 I washed my face with a bar soap when I showered in the morning. I never wore sunscreen, and I was constantly breaking out. I had flushing over my cheeks, and the beginnings of pigment across my forehead.

After my Visia, Dr Fanny began to introduce me to building a regimen around my busy schedule with emphasis on the key ingredients my skin needed. I found a Vitamin C in l-ascorbic acid form that I tolerated well, and began using a gentle retinol. Most importantly, I began using a broad spectrum physical sunscreen every day.

My tired "Mommy Skin" gradually began to brighten up and my goal of being able to leave the house with out foundation was accomplished within about 3 months!

Now, I try other products based on what I know my skin needs, and I am looking forward to sharing my experience with you!

-Diane

My Skin Profile- Elizabeth, 20 Something

I joined the Skin Care Krew in 2010, after about 6 years of doing makeup, working for Lancome,

and managing the makeup store Ulta. I knew EVERYTHING about makeup: how to apply

it, what colors looked good for what skin tone, etc, but I only knew the basics of skincare. In

the makeup business, it didn’t matter how bad someone’s skin was - you could always cover

imperfections!

Covering imperfections was something I was all too familiar with. Through junior high and

high school, I suffered from horrible acne. When I started with the Skin Care Krew, the acne

was gone, but I was left with pitting and post inflammatory hyperpigmentation. The pounds of

makeup I wore for my previous job probably wasn’t helping my skin either! I had a consult with

Dr. Fanny, who did a Visia for me and tweaked my skincare regimen. I went from using Clean

and Clear and rubbing alcohol on my face, to using the appropriate products, such as a daily

sunscreen and nightly retinol. I also try to get monthly microdermabrasions/chemical peels as

well.

In the two years I’ve been with the Krew, my skin has improved amazingly. I can now go to

work or the mall with nothing but some tinted sunscreen on and feel confident about it!

-Elizabeth