Increase the Effectiveness of Your Skincare

It’s hard to tell which skin care products work wonders…and which one’s fall flat when people can get different results with the same product. Experts usually explain this is due to individual body chemistry. This is often the truth. However, sometimes it’s as easy as changing up a skin care cleansing routine to increase the effectiveness of the active ingredients in the products.

Skin care products such as creams, gels, lotions or serums are topical and are a mixture of chemicals. Some of these chemicals are active ingredients (substances in charge of the biological action of the product), while the rest are inactive ingredients (substances that help protect and deliver active ingredients).

The effectiveness of skin care products depends on whether (1) the active ingredients in the chosen product are in sufficient quantities and (2) whether they penetrate into your skin deeply enough and in sufficient amounts. So in other words – it depends on your choice of the product and secondly, how you apply it.

Tips for Maximum Penetration of Skin Care

1. Cleanse your skin before applying skin care products. The best time to apply skin care products is after you are fresh out of a warm shower or bath. When the skin is moist, active ingredients can penetrate better when they are dissolved. FYI: Don't ever wipe your skin dry, just pat lightly with a towel.
2. At night, take off make up with a conditioning make up remover. I use and love Dr. Daniel Man’s Conditioning Make-Up Remover (www.drman.com). It’s safe for the eyes and has Vitamin E to condition the skin. 
3. After rinsing off the conditioning makeup remover, splash face with warm water and use a facial cleanser. FYI: Do not wash your skin with hot water, excessive heat accelerates skin aging. (Also, don’t spend too much time in the shower- too much chlorine!!)
4. After cleansing, splash face with cool water in order to close the pores.

You’re Partner for New Fresh Skin: Exfoliation

Exfoliation is used to remove the uppermost layer of the skin, called the stratum corneum. Exfoliates can come in the form of chemicals such as alpha hydroxy acids, enzymes or other chemicals. If the stratum corneum becomes too thick (which is seen in aging or poorly maintained skin) active ingredients have a hard time penetrating deeply enough to have an effect on the skin.

• Use short, firm strokes to apply skin care products- experts say to use the middle finger. Do not stretch the skin. Do not rub. After applying, gently tap the area with your fingers for half a minute.
• For most people, a gentle scrub for a mild exfoliation is the prescribed method of application.
• While some exfoliation may be beneficial, overdoing it may do more harm than good to your skin. Facial scrub should not be used more than four times a week.