Category Archives: Quick Tips: Skin Care

How To Handle Your Skin

While washing your face, you’re probably focusing on achieving a fresh, clean complexion created by the physical cleansing of the skin. But have you ever focused on exactly how you’re cleansing the skin? How you go about washing your face, applying skincare products, and the way you ultimately choose to handle your skin will make a difference in your complexion and overall skin health- including how your skin ages. Remember that the goal of skincare is to achieve a glowing face while also promoting longevity, treating current skin issues, and preventing future damage.

What To Use- With such a large array of skincare products to choose from it can be difficult to find the right everyday facial cleanser. It is critical to use a gentle, non-irritating face wash that will effectively cleanse your face with every use. I personally use Face Reality’s Ultra Gentle Cleanser for everyday use. I follow up with Face Reality’s Calming Facial Toner, 8% Mandelic Serum,
Hydra Balance Gel and Clearderma moisturizer- in that order. Using both a hydrating gel and a moisturizer may seem a bit over the top, but it is an incredibly overlooked yet powerful step in the skincare regime. This is because the gel and moisturizer work as a dynamic duo to 1) first hydrate the skin and then 2) lock in that hydration with the moisturizer. To finalize my routine and lock in all the products I applied, I quickly spray my face with our Hydrating Skin Spritz, which provides an antioxidant boost and immediate moisture drench to the skin for up to 72 hours!

How To Use- It may seem silly to explain how to properly touch your face while applying skincare products, but in reality, many people are unaware of the answer. First, approach your face with clean hands: make sure that there is no dirt, oil, or debris on your hands or under your nails. Then you should gently wet your face using lukewarm water followed with the use of your cleanser. It is important to use the tips of your fingers while gently massaging in an upwards fashion. Being diligent about this step will get circulation going and encourage your skin to always stay tight and naturally lifted. Finally, be sure to dry your face by patting it with a gentle microfiber face towel, as opposed to rubbing it against any regular bath towel (as this can cause irritation).

When To Use- Though it is important to keep a clean face, it is equally as important to avoid provoking skin irritation. Only wash your face once in the morning and once at night, or if you have experienced heavy perspiration such as after working out, then cleanse your face immediately afterwards. Follow up each cleanse with the application of your other skincare products, such as the toner, serum, gel, and moisturizer I listed above. To purchase Face Reality products or find a Face Reality Certified Acne Specialist in your area, go here: www.FaceRealityAcneClinic.com

REF: https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-basics/care/face-washing-101

Maskne and What To Do About It

Masks have evidently become a part of everyone’s new lifestyle, and some are forced to wear them daily for hours on end. In turn, this can cause what is known as “maskne”: a skin condition brought on by the prolonged wear of facial personal protective equipment.

Due to the fact that the wearing of masks is mandatory, the effects of maskne may feel extremely frustrating and ultimately endless. However, there are a multitude of reasons as to why wearing a mask is causing you acne and likewise solutions to make maskne completely preventable.

Prep: Before even putting on a mask it is crucial that you cleanse your face to make sure you aren’t trapping any dirt or oil on your skin. After you’ve washed your face, you should apply toner following with exfoliation such as L-mandelic Acid or Salicylic Acid and lastly, you must apply a moisturizer (preferably one with SPF) all over your face. After your moisturizer has fully absorbed, use either a thin layer of Aquaphor or PRIIA’s acne-safe primer. This will not only keep hydration locked in throughout the day but will simultaneously act as a barrier between your skin and the mask which will greatly reduce acne caused by friction (acne mechanica). If you have active breakouts or just want to be preventative, we recommend using our Calm Down Anti- Blemish Powder. Apply a thin coating of Calm Down Powder over the Aquaphor or PRIIA acne-safe primer from your nose down. This powder will not only soothe any current inflammation you have but it will also act as an extra barrier between your skin and the mask. In addition to these prep steps, it is important to not to wear makeup under your mask unless it’s an acne-safe makeup, like PRIIA minerale-derm. And if you are going to wear PRIIA, we recommend sticking with our LOOSE MINERAL FOUNDATION. Heavy makeup applications and comedogenic (pore clogging) makeup worn under a mask do not allow your skin to breathe properly and may even damage the mask fabric which creates a less effective barrier, according to Cassandra M. Pierre, an infectious disease physician at Boston Medical Center.

Proper Mask Use: Everyone is focused on making certain they have a mask on but they aren’t aware of the type of mask they put on or how it will affect them. When it comes to disposable masks simply throw it away after each use. If you must wear one for a prolonged amount of time it’s best to use a new disposable every few hours throughout the day. If you’re wearing a cotton/fabric mask, wash it after each use because its surface contains dirt and oil and will become a breeding ground for bacteria in the area which your mask touches. However, when washing the mask make sure to choose a fragrance-free laundry soap such as ALL Free & Clear because fragrances may irritate your skin. It’s also important not to use fabric softener or dryer sheets as they leave a waxy chemical residue on the mask which is not only bad for your skin but harmful to breathe in while wearing it. If you have a silk mask, be sure to use a fragrance-free AND enzyme-free laundry detergent. If your job or activity requires you to wear a mask for prolonged periods of time, we recommend that you cleanse your face again during that period. Carry travel sizes of your skin care products with you and take 5 to 10 minutes when you have a break to re-do the previously mentioned prep routine. If you’re wearing a fabric mask (not silk), you can spritz it with alcohol and let it dry while you’re re-doing your skin care routine. This may all seem like a hassle, but your skin will thank you for it!

Incorporate these tips into your daily routine and watch your maskne become no more! For acne-safe skin care products, we recommend the following brands: Face Reality and ClearStem.

A Good Night’s Rest Means More Than You Know

Prepping our skin for the day is something that most people view as a key component in achieving healthy, fresh, and overall glowing skin. However, not many people understand the importance of completing night time skincare and keeping a steady routine for it. Depending on how you handle your skin, sleep can either improve your skin or damage it, let’s look into how we can use sleep to our skin’s advantage!

Sleep Schedule- Judith Hellman, MD, a board-certified dermatologist says “As far as the skin is concerned, lack of sleep causes the stress hormone cortisol to be released, which in turn encourages inflammation in the skin, causing flare-ups in conditions like acne, psoriasis, and even eczema.” The National Sleep Foundation recommends seven to nine hours of sleep per night for adults. Sleeping less than that can play a big role in the development of wrinkles, sagging skin, and dark circles under the eyes. This happens because throughout sleep your body delivers fluids to organs and tissues that need replenishing, while removing excess fluids from other areas. Cutting the sleep process short can also increase levels of inflammation and stress hormones, which can destabilize your immune system, ultimately aggravating skin problems such as acne, psoriasis, and eczema.

Nightly Skincare- A lot of people excuse themselves from accomplishing their nighttime skincare regime due to being exhausted. I have undoubtedly been a culprit of this myself; nonetheless it is critical to avoid this lazy excuse at all costs. Allowing your skin to breathe while you sleep is a vital part of achieving a healthy, youthful looking glow. Removing your makeup at night is not optional because pore-clogging cosmetic products will seep into your skin throughout the night and cause or exacerbate an array of skin problems. Take five minutes out of your time to remove any makeup, cleanse your skin, hydrate, and moisturize before bed. And yes, even PRIIA’s acne-safe makeup needs to be removed before you go to bed! We recommend our best-selling acne-safe makeup remover to make taking off your makeup a breeze!

How To Sleep- When is the last time you washed your sheets? Probably a lot longer than two weeks, which is the longest recommended amount of time you should go without washing them (sheets include your comforter and any other blankets you may sleep with). It is also highly important to wash your pillowcase weekly, if not every three days or so in order to remove any residue left on it. Something most people overlook is the type of pillowcase they’re using and the effects which it will have on their skin. Simply choose a silk case over a cotton one. Natural silk pillow cases, like BLISSY, are less absorbent. Your skin and hair will stay moisturized because the pillowcase isn’t absorbing all of the natural oils from your skin. Silk also naturally contains amino acids that are easily absorbed into the skin. Not only is silk a good choice for skin purposes, but hair benefits as well. Sleeping on silk prevents less irritation, drying, friction, and any overall damage from affecting the skin or hair.

Turn bedtime into your skin’s radiation rejuvenation time!

Sources: https://www.sleep.org/how-sleep-improves-your-skin/

How to Knock Out a Zit

Ah the joys of being almost 46 and STILL being acne-prone. Yes, I’m nearly middle-aged and I can still manage to get a zit. Most of the time this happens when I don’t pay attention to what I’m eating (i.e. acne-triggering foods) and/or or when I’m testing out competitors’ products. I can truly be my own worst enemy at times.

Lately I’ve been craving peanut butter. Specifically peanut butter spread on a banana. I have no idea why (no, I am NOT pregnant). I really try to stay away from peanut products because peanuts are high in androgenic hormones which can cause acne flareups. The proof is in the pictures in this article. As a result of my peanut butter and banana debacle, a big ‘ol zit reared its ugly head right on my chin. I played and therefore, I paid.

This zit hurt- it was raised, very inflamed but there was no ‘head’ on it so I wasn’t able to try and extract anything.  For the record, I do NOT advise anyone to try and ‘pop’ their own zits. I’m a licensed esthetician and a certified acne specialist of over 12 years. I know exactly what to do and how to extract pimples properly so as not to cause scarring or further infection. I also know when NOT to try and extract a zit.  In this case, I had to use a great spot treatment ASAP otherwise this zit was going to get big enough to have its own zip code. Yikes!

How I Knocked Out This Zit

First, I removed my makeup and washed my face with PRIIA’s acne-safe makeup remover. I LOVE this stuff. My skin is left feeling clean and soft- not tight and stripped. After I cleansed, I used PRIIA’s Hydrating Skin Spritz as my toner. Both our makeup remover and Hydrating Skin Spritz are pH balanced. Yay! Then I applied ice to the zit for about a minute. (keep that ice cube moving so as not to cause any ‘ice burns’ on the skin).

Next, I sprayed one pump of Hydrating Skin Spritz into the palm of my hand. I then sprinkled some of PRIIA’s Calm Down Anti-Blemish Powder into my palm and I made a thin paste. I applied this paste to my zit and went to bed. I only slept about 5.5 hours (my cats woke me up waaaay too early) this night but you can see in the picture how the inflammation was significantly reduced. The zit was no longer raised. It no longer hurt. It had basically just turned into a small flat light red spot. I did the same treatment the following night before bed and by the next morning it had faded away almost completely.  I’m thrilled with the results. A bonus was that the skin surrounding the zit did NOT get dry, flaky or irritated from the Calm Down Powder paste. Winning!!!!

I highly suggest giving this blemish spot treatment a try!

*Medical Disclaimer: The contents on this site are for informational purposes only, and should never be a used as a substitute for seeking the advice of a medical professional.  No content or products on this site is intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease or condition.  PRIIA® Cosmetics assumes no liability for any claims arising out of the misuse, allergic reactions, or any injury suffered with the consenting use of the products offered/suggested on this site.

 

Hydrate Versus Moisturize: What’s The Difference?

When we hear the words ‘hydrate’ and ‘moisturize’ most people tend to think that the two terms are interchangeable.  This would be incorrect.

A hydrating product is something that helps to increase the moisture/water content of the skin. Hydrating products tend to be in a water-based formula such as PRIIA’s Hydrating Skin Spritz or a gel-type of product such as Face Reality’s Hydrabalance.

A moisturizer is a product that helps hold moisture/water already in the skin and prevents this moisture from leaving the skin which is called TEWL (transepidermal water loss). Moisturizing products tend to be in a more emollient formula such as Face Reality’s Clearderma moisturizing creme or DermaTruth’s gel/creme antioxidant moisturizer.

Which skin type for which product?

Well, I think both are great for all skin types!  Use a hydrating product product FIRST and then seal in that moisture with an actual moisturizer!  Just make sure they are acne-safe if you’re an acne-prone individual. (the products mentioned in this post are all acne-safe)

 

 

Can Oily Skin Be Dry At The Same Time?

True or False: Oily skin be also be dry at the same time.

Answer: True.  The dryness that is felt is actually dehydration which is a skin condition (not a skin type).  The surface of the skin is lacking water.  This condition is usually caused by using and over cleaning with harsh soaps, too much sun exposure, overly hot water and either using the wrong type of moisturizer or non at all.
Woman washing face To treat this type of condition, stay away from harsh facial cleansers containing sulfates and alcohol that strip the skin’s surface of it’s natural lipid barrier.  Instead, look for a mild foaming cleanser with natural surfactants from plant derived oils and extracts such as Decyl Polyglucose which is made from corn, glucose and starch.

If you decide to use a toner after cleansing, use one that will balance the skin’s pH and is free from alcohol and synthetic fragrance.  Natural hydrosols are wonderful as toners. One of my favorites is organic rose water hydrosol.

For moisturizing and sun protection, look for products that are non-comedogenic (won’t clog pores) and non-acnegenic (won’t cause breakouts).  They should have a lightweight texture to them.  Oily dehydrated skin needs humectants (water binders) not emollients.  Oily skin makes enough of it’s own natural emollient in the form of sebum.  The best humectant ingredients to look for are: sodium PCA, glycerin and my favorite, hyaluronic acid (50 kDa).  All of these ingredients not only attract water to the skin, they bind it there.  Typically these ingredients are found more in serums as opposed to traditional moisturizers.

 

Skin Care Quick Tip: Don’t Waste Your Moisturizer or SPF!

The other day I was at my friend's house and she was putting on her makeup, etc. as we were chatting.  I noticed after she applied her moisturizer with SPF, she wiped off the excess product that was on her hands onto a paper towel.

Waste Not – Want Not

Immediately I yelled, "Why did you do that??!"  She looked at me and said, "Why did I do what?"  I informed her that she shouldn't have wiped the excess product on a paper towel.  She tilted her head and gave me an inquisitive look.  I explained that she could have used the excess product on her neck, chest and the tops of her hands.  At that point, I saw the the lightbulb go off over her head.

Apply skin care First, you should be applying your SPF or moisturizer to your neck and chest areas anyway.  You don't want to wind up looking like some of those Hollywood starlets who have had facial rejuvenation done but neglect to do anything with their neck and chest.  You know what I'm talking about.  Their neck and chest areas look 10 years older than their faces.  Gobble, gobble-turkey neck anyone?

Secondly, most women neglect the tops of their hands.  This area shows aging rapidly because of the constant exposure to UVA & UVB rays all year round.  Hyperpigmentation (brown spots) will show up sooner than you want it to if your hands aren't being protected daily with SPF.

One last tip: always apply your moisturizer/SPF to the face, neck and chest in an UPWARD manner.  Don't help gravity along by dragging the skin down.

Question: Was this tip helpful to you?  Let me know by leaving a comment in the form below.  Got more beauty questions?  Ask me…I LOVE to share my knowledge!

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Cheers!

-The Mineral Makeup Coach

Skin Care Quick Tip: Winter Skin & Hot Water

As an esthetician, one of the most common complaints I hear in the cold winter months is that a client's skin feels dry, tight and dehydrated.

One of the biggest culprits for skin feeling this way is that because it's colder outside, we tend to take hotter showers and baths.  The hotter the water and the higher the foam content of your bath products, the dryer your skin will become. 

Here's a Few Winter Skin Tips For You 

I'll admit it- I LOVE hot showers!  But, I hate what my skin looks and feels like when I go to apply my makeup afterwards.  So, what I do is to wash my face with tepid water at the sink BEFORE I take myWoman washing face shower.  This way, I avoid getting the hot water on my face but I don't feel chilly and uncomfortable when I'm showering .  I also use products that are sulphate-free.  You can find an array of bath products (including shampoos) that have natural, plant-based surfactants so you still get the foamy lather without all the moisture-stripping chemicals.  My favorite sulphate-free body washes are by Bella Lucce.  By the way, PRIIA Natural Skin Care facial cleansers will all be sulphate-free!

Since I'm still guilty of taking a hot shower, my body can feel a little dry and itchy if I fail to hydrate my skin.  So, I follow the "3-Minute Rule".  I apply all moisturizers (face & body) no more than three minutes after showering to help lock in moisture.

Question: Do you notice that your skin changes during the cold, winter months?  If so, what changes occur for you?  Leave your comments in the form below.  Thank you!

Get more skin care quick tips!  Subscribe to The Mineral Makeup Coach Blog today.

If you enjoy reading The Mineral Makeup Coach Blog, please feel free to share the home page with your friends using this link: http://tinyurl.com/5eqd9q.

Cheers!

-The Mineral Makeup Coach