1. double cleansing...what is all the hub-bub about cleansing oils and double cleansing!?...a method I have followed religiously for the last 14 years. I was first introduced to oil/double cleansing when I was a floater at Bergdorf's Goodman while assigned at the Shu Uemura counter. like most of you I thought putting oil on my skin would cause me to break-out, and would not leave me feeling squeaky clean. in a nut shell oil and water do not mix where as oil is attracted to oil; which is why oil pulling has become such a new phenomena. esthetically, the purpose of cleansing is to soften the sebum in the follicle allowing the sebum to naturally secret. we tend to do the opposite by using acne-cleansing washes (assuming that more suds and higher percentages of SA will rid the skin of more oil!!)... which only causes the skin to become dehydrated, and pump more oil as result. it's all about cause and effect. when strip your skin of the natural oils that we need, your skin will go into wound healing mode and pump more oil. are you extra oily by 12o'clock??...then your skin is dehydrated!! a cleansing oil will give you a below the surface non-squeaky clean and allow your 2nd cleanser to actually really get into your pores!! 2. sleep in your mask...what in the world are you saying! let me explain...using a mask is like taking a pill for your headache. a mask will help to fix/correct/improve the current condition of your skin. and because the condition of your skin, like the weather changes daily, you should have more than just one mask. I have a whole gang!! the best way to select your gang is to determine what types of activities dictate your lifestyle. if you are a person who fly's frequently, sleeping in hydrating gel mask while your on the road will offset that annoying dry feeling you have once you've returned from your trip.
3. dram your toner and take it with you when flying...because flying leaves your entire body completely parched, i always have a travel size of my most hydrating toner to offset that dry tight feeling. If your favorite brand doesn't come in a travel size, a simple solution is to dram your toner in an empty 2-3 oz. spritzer! Spray a little before take-off, and whenever you feel the tightness approaching. This way your skin will stay balanced and will reduce the chances of a freakout once you've returned to your normal routine.
4. exfoliate before masking...exfoliation before masking is like sweeping before you mop the floor. When you remove the surface dead skin cells this allows the mask to work to its full potential. Leaving dead cells on the surface causes suffocation...nothing can get in the pores, and nothing can get out of the pores!!!
5. cool water...make it apart of your skin care ritual to cleanse at the sink with cool-warm water. Using hot water breaks down the lipids (which looks like butter on the surface). The lipids are a form of protection that keeps our skin balanced. If compromised the skin becomes in balanced, and either over produce oil, or not produce enough oil, leading to breakouts or premature fine lines both conditions due to dehydration.
Hope your skin gets a lot-a-bit happier!!
xoxo,your esthetican