Ask Our Staff: Skin Care Products

Working in a Med Spa I have had the privilege of trying, experiencing and learning about products and treatments in the Medical Aesthetics industry.  Some products make my skin break out, others make my skin irritated and then I find THE ONE that gives me the results I want. It’s going to be full of trial and error, until you get the right skincare regimen, so don’t get discouraged. Your skin can reject certain products but you can think of it as a good sign, then you will know what NOT to use.  And you don’t need to spend a fortune on a good skin care, just read the ingredients, know which ones work for your skin type and try it. Ask for samples, they won’t make a difference over night, but it will tell you if you skin will react to it right away.

So when people ask me “What do you use on your skin?” I don’t even know where to begin to tell them what I use on my skin will most likely not be good for your skin. Unfortunately, there isn’t one product that can reverse your aging skin and any specific product that will make you look 10 years younger. It takes time for your skin to age so it will take some effort to get it looking healthy. Most of us don’t want to look 18 again; well maybe some do, but that is just not going to happen, but you CAN look good for your age. There are realistic goals that you can expect and you can get your skin not only looking “healthy” but physically healthy. You can cover up your skin with makeup and use Botox and fillers to diminish fine lines and add volume but your skin will not glow if you don’t take the effort to make it healthy.

Think of your skin as your body. If you want to lose weight or get into shape you need to eat right, work out, drink lots of water and take the right vitamins. The same is for your skin, you need to feed it right (skin care), work out (treatments) and again drinks lots of water and take your vitamins.

Let’s start with a beginners guide to getting your skin healthy.

Your skin needs the following:

Step 1: Cleanse

Start off with a cleanser that is suited for your skin type to take off make up, dirt and excess oils.

Oily/Acneic: PCA Facial Wash Oily/Problem ($39.00) cleanses away excess oil and make up, controls blemishes and reduces excess sebum production without stripping your skin and leaves you feeling squeaky clean.

Sensitive: Vivier Hexam Facial Wash ($37.50) removes skin impurities including acne and bacteria and helps prevent itchiness and relives minor skin irritations on sensitive skin.

Combination:  Jan Marini Bioglycolic Cleanser ($30.80) is a gentle cleanser with glycolic acid which will rinse your skin completely without the need for a toner leaving your skin soft and hydrated.

Normal Skin: Neova Herbal Wash ($28.00) has a peppermint scent that removes impurities and make up leaving your skin feeling clean and refreshed.

Dry Skin: PCA Creamy Cleanser ($45.00) formulation won’t leave your skin feeling tight after your wash it. It is also a good eye makeup remover when used on its own with cotton pad.

Aging Skin: Jan Marini C-Esta Cleanser ($30.70) it great at removing make up and will give you that squeaky clean feeling and also help brighten your skin with the added vitamin C.

Step 2: Correct 

Your skin needs at least one product with an active ingredient that will help correct problems on your skin.

Oily/Acneic: Jan Marini Bioglycolic Face Lotion ($61.50) utilizes a combination of glycolic acid, salicylic acid and alezaic acid to resurface and retexturize your skin and minimize enlarged follicles.

Sensitive: Vivier A/K Caps ($71.00) formulated for reactive skin prone to redness. These capsules are a unique combination of Vitamins A (retinol), K, C and E with soothing Green Tea to help combat redness and blotchiness while helping even skin tone and texture.

Combination:  PCA A&C Synergy Serum ($138.50) has 5% vitamin C and 2% vitamin A to brighten skin and minimize discoloration, improve skin tone and inhibit bacteria proliferation which causes sebum production. This is my personal favorite serum and almost every skin type can benefit from it.

Normal Skin: PCA C-Quench Serum ($113.00) is a 15% vitamin C and antioxidant serum, it will brighten skin and minimize discoloration, even your skin tone and texture.

Dry Skin: Vivier Kine C Serum ($131.00) along with the benefits of vitamin C it has hyaluronic acid which will bind water to the skin to keep you hydrated throughout the day.

Aging Skin: Skin Medica Essential Serum ($260.00) is a dual chamber bottle and the only product with patented human growth hormones in one chamber and packed full of antioxidants, vitamin C and peptides in the other chamber. Essential Serum will minimize discoloration of skin, even skin tone, soften skin, tighten, add moisture and improve collagen and elastin production. It has a high price point considering everyday use, twice a day, will last you 45 days, but it is the ultimate in anti-aging.

Step 3: Protect

Using an SPF helps prevent premature skin aging. The sun’s harmful rays will break down your skin’s collagen and elastin which in turn will cause fine lines, wrinkles, sun spots and will damage your skin making it look dull, aged and dehydrated. All skin types need to wear an SPF every day, even the UV in your office lights carry harmful rays.

Oily/Acneic: Elta Clear 46 ($32.00) very lightweight sun protection has niacinamide to control acne.

Sensitive: Obagi Rosa Clear ($64.20) a non-comedogenic, mauve-tinted sunscreen lotion for sensitive and rosacea skin.

Combination:  Tizo2 Light Skin Formulation SPF 40 ($43.90) a mineral sunscreen that leaves skin slightly matte.

Normal Skin: Elta UV Defense 45 ($36.00) oil-free, micronized zinc blends well into the skin to leave your skin feeling moisturized but not greasy.

Dry Skin: Elta UV Daily 40 ($40.00) sun protection with hyaluronic acid for added hydration.

Aging Skin: Jan Marini Antioxidant SPF 30 ($52.00) has the added benefit of antioxidants for anti-aging benefits and sun protection.

Elta, Tizo, Jan Marini, Vivier & Obagi Products are carried at Physician Skincare Centre and Pender Medi Spa. PCA, Neova & Skin Medica can be found online or other physician-directed spas.