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[alizeesthetics]

Which serums are right for my skin type?

Steps for your skincare routine:

Cleanse 🧼

Tone 🧽

Retinols/Serums ✨

Moisturizer 🧴

(Daytime) SPF Broadspectrum Sunscreen 🌤

Dry Skin:

C-Quench Antioxidant Serum - PCA Skin

Skin Hydrating Booster - Dermalogica

Daily Hydrodrops - Obagi

C.P.R Skin Recovery Serum - CosMedix

Triple Hylaronic Antioxidant Hydration Serum - Allies Of Skin

Hylaronic Acid Intensifier - SkinCeuticals

Aging Skin:

Anti-Aging System - SkinCeuticals

ExLinea Peptide Smoothing Serum - PCA Skin

Vital C Hydrating Anti-Aging Serum - IMAGE Skincare

Intense Defence Anti-Aging and Repair System - Epionce

Blemish + Age Defense - SkinCeuticals

Sensitive Skin:

Serum 10 AOX+ - SkinCeuticals

Calm Gentle Retinal Serum - Osmosis Beauty

Calm Skin Arnica Booster Serum - Eminence Organic Skincare

AntiRedness Calmin Serum - Exuviance

EverCalm Anti-Redness Serum - REN Clean Skin Care

Acnaic/Blemished Skin:

15% Mandelic Acid 3-In-1 Serum - Vivant Skin Care

Blemish + Age Defense - SkinCeuticals

Obagi360 Retinol - Obagi

Acne Gel Spot Treatment - PCA Skin Care

Rescue Purifying Acne Serum - Suki

Hyperpigmentation:

Lytera 2.0 Pigment Correcting Serum - SkinMedica

Retinol Renewal - PCA Skin Care

Professional C-Serum 10% - Obagi

Glycolic 10 Renew Overnight - SkinCeuticals

Bright Skin Licorice Root Booster - Eminence Organic Skin Care

Brightening Regimen Kit - Best Products of Dermstore

Most skin is not all one texture. So maybe you have dry and sensitive skin, try using a serum targeted for dry skin then apply another for your sensitive skin. Mixing serums are safe, just make sure you give some time to let those serums seep into your skin. I’d say wait 2-5 min. before applying your next serum. Always start with lightest to thickest consistency, and if you’re using a retinol I’d recommend applying that first then your serums. Take some pictures of your skin before introducing serums then wait a month or so and take another picture for comparison. Serums are my favorite thing to apply to my face because I know that they work and will do wonders for yours too no matter what kind of skin problems you’re having, serums have your back!

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[alizeesthetics]

Moisturizers

So I’ll most likely be going into more depth on serums which is why I’ve skipped them for now. So let’s talk a little bit about moisturizers. Moisturizers are formulated to sit on the skins surface and act as a film or protetective barrier to lock in the active ingredients you’ve applied with your serums. Moisturizers can contain some active ingredients but they may be a bigger molecule of that ingredient which doesn’t cause the skin to absorb it past the epidermis. This is why not too much money should be spent on luxurious moisturizers as they really only have one purpose. Moisturizers however do play a role in skincare and shouldn’t be left out.

Key Ingredients:

Ceramides - Help to lock in the moisture on the skin.

Fatty Acids

Essential Oils - Lavender, rosemary, peppermint, tea tree, calendula oil, primrose and jojoba

Algae - A natural lubricant to act as a skin barrier while hydrating dry or flaky skin.

Vitamin E - Supports natural cell repair and defends against radical damage.

Hylaronic Acid - Naturally found one the skin and over time/as we age, we lose more of this natural plump in our skin. Hylaronic acid holds 1,000x it’s weight in water and can be formulated to penetrate past the epidermis. Also an ingredient used compacted in filler(juvaderm)/botox/sculptra.

Plant Oils - Rosehip, Grapeseed, Macadamia nut oil are all used to maintain the hydration in the skin.

Glycerin - An agent that naturally attracts water to the skin

Niacinamide - A form of the vitamin B3 helps soothe and calm the skin.

Shea Butter - An excellent emollient for the skin that contain a high number of fatty acids as well as triglycerides.

Just remember not everything you put on your face may have the molecular formulation to pass the epidermis layer in your skin. Therefore most moisturizers active ingredients are only sitting on the top of your skin. Think about a bowl filled with water up to the top, now add a thin layer of seran wrap/plastic wrap on top of the water. If you were to dip your finger into oil and then lightly spread it onto the plastic wrap you’ll notice it wont go into the water or even touch the water. Now compare the plastic wrap as being your epidermis (top most layer of your skin) and that oil being your moisturizer. It will add some slick and can contain ingredients to fight free radical damage but it simply isn’t formulated to do much to the already underlying damage in the skins under layers.

[alizeesthetics]

Credits to: @ ScienceBecomesHer on IG

I love this visual for how long it takes for active ingredients to start working and see visible results on your skin. It always takes time and patience. No one ingredient is going to magically work overnight and no one ingredient will treat all your skin problems. This is also a generalization chart as every skin is different and results may vary. Notice how hylaronic acid can visibly plump your skin up in about 15 minutes? I LOVE TO SEE IT!

[alizeesthetics]

What is retinol?

Retinol is derived from vitamin-A. It increases the cell turnover rate, renews the skin and reduces the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines and pigment spots. Retinol is a highly active molecule and can be broken down very easily through sunlight exposure. Most retinols should ONLY be applied at night because when it’s exposed to sunlight, it can cause the skin to get irritated. Most people don’t use retinol correctly or don’t know that there are different types of retinol. With all retinol products you should introduce them into your routine slowly, start 1-3 times a week. Your skin will slowly develop the proteins it needs in order to carry out and absorb the vitamin-A. A common side effect when first starting retinol is redness, stinging/spicy feeling, flakiness, peeling or any other sensitivities. This is why you have to introduce them slowly. After continuous use, your skin will build up enough retinoid receptors that it’ll stop being so sensitive towards retinol.

Types of Retinoid:

Retinyl Esters (Retinyl Palmitate)- This can be sold over the counter and is the weakest formulation of retinol.

Retinol- Can also be sold over the counter, and is a stronger formulation than retinyl esters. These can be found in different strengths and the higher the strength the more effective. Just remember he higher the strength the more irritant it can be.

Retinaldehyde- The MOST effective over the counter form of retinol. Will be more irritating than retinyl esters & retinol. The strongest formulation you will find over the counter.

Retinoic Acid- Usually prescription only. This is the most studied and active form of retinol. A common example of this is tretinoin/Retin-A.

Some good brands of over the counter retinol:

Obagi Retinol 1.0

PCA Skin: Intensive Age Refining Treatment 0.5%

PCA Skin: Intensive Brightening Treatment 0.5%

SkinMedica: Age Defense Retinol Complex 0.5

Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare: Ferulic+Retinol Wrinkle Recovery Overnight Serum

Remember sensitivities are common when using retinoids but if any are causing severe side effects. Please dismiss the use of any and all products you’ve been using and consult with your dermatologist or esthetician. Have a wonderful day/night! If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to ask 😌

[alizeesthetics]

All about pores & how to minimize their appearance

We all have pores, and sometimes these pores can get clogged with oil & debris. No matter how hard you “scrub” or how clean your face is, pores are stubborn when it comes to how to extract out that build up. I’ve talked about the wonders of chemical exfoliants, these can help unclog your pores. I’d stay FAR AWAY for a pore/nose strip, as these can cause more damage to your hair follicles than they do any good. The way pores appear are solely based on genetics. Unlike the myth of pores being able to shrink in size, avoid any product that garuntees reducing the size of your pores. What products can do for your pores is instead minimize their appearance by getting rid of the dirt, oil and debris built up.

Important facts to know about pores:

Pores are indeed the opening to your hair follicles.

Excessive cleaning can actually cause your pores to produce more oil & buildup.

Regular cleansing can minimize their appearance, but without products with chemical exfoliants in them added to your routine, cleansing can only do the minimum.

Your pore appearance is based off of your genetics. Their size can never increase or decrease.

Environmental factors, dry skin, aging, acne and oil can make your pores APPEAR bigger.

Important tips to minimize pore appearance:

Cleanse your skin 1-2x daily in order to remove any makeup oil or dirt that has built up on your skin through the day.

Choose the right products for your skin type such as non-comedogenic skincare & makeup (won’t clog pores).

Exfoliate 1-3x a week to remove dead skin cells & help unclog pores. Don’t overexfoliate your skin! stay away from face scrubs!

Make sure you’re applying your SPF everyday, UVA damage not only ages your skin quicker but it ages your skin by breaking down your collagen & can cause your pores to appear saggy.

Always be mindful of what products you’re using on your skin. Always read directions and ingredients to make sure you’re using something that your skin will react good with. Also be mindful of what products are safe to use in the day vs. the night, since some products can cause irritation when exposed to sunlight.

My Recommendations for products that will minimize the appearance of your pores;

Obagi Pore Therapy Toner : contains 2% salicylic acid

Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha-Beta Pore Cleansing Gel : A non-stripping cleanser that gently tones & exfoliates the skin.

PCA Skin Pore Refining Treatment: Contains natural enzymes to break down oil and debris from the skin. Can be used 1-2 times weekly.

SkinCeuticals Micro-Exfoliating Scrub: DISCLAIMER- DO NOT USE OVER ANY ACTIVE ACNE!! Perfect for people who like the feel of a scrub but don’t want to damage their skin. I’d use this 1-2 times every other week. Perfect for normal-dry-oily

Invest in your skincare 1 product at a time. I promise you your at home care will visibly do wonders for your skin just give it time. If you have any questions don’t hesitate to ask! I love talking skin 😇 happy holidays to all!

[alizeesthetics]

Exfoliating

Exfoliating is meant to help shed dead skin cells that sit on top of your skin. If your skin feels dull, dry or flakey then these are signs that your skin may need additional help such as a form of manual or chemical exfoliation to help increase your cell turnover. Typically every month your skin cells shed automatically and produces new skin cells. As we age the process of cellular renewal decreases which can cause a more dull look to your skin.

Chemical exfoliation:

Chemical exfoliation is using AHA/BHA’s which helps get deep into the epidermis and significantanly help speed up the process of shedding dead skin. The results from chemically exfoliating your skin leaves a dewy and glowy look. Chemical exfoliating is a much healthier alternative to microscubs as it doesn’t cause any micro-tears in the skin. Therefore if you have acneic skin the best solution would be to use a chemical exfoliant. It may cause purging but with continuous use bi-weekly as well as using other acne catered products such as salicylic acid in your routine, the purging will be kept at bay.

Manual Exfolation:

I personally do not recommend any scrub/micro-bead products to clients for their exfoliation. As these beads and scrubs can cause damage to your skin such as causing microscopic tears in the skin. This leaves your skin and pores open to getting bacteria inside and can even cause damage to your pores leaving them clogged and blocked for long periods of time. There are however modalities that esthetician’s can offer for your skin to manually get rid of debris and dead skin. One of them is microdermabrasion which is a machine that has a crystal tip that almost feels like a cats tounge. It can be used with serums and is non-invasive to your skin. It’s perfect for clients with minimal breakouts or no acne at all. Another modality is the HydroFacial, which cleanses, hydrates and extracts debris from the skin. It’s almost like a vacuum for your skin but a lighter tug that is non-damaging. It does wonders for removing blackheads especially around the nose.