The essential steps of a skincare routine

Fall is an excellent time to revisit your skincare routine. For instance, you may need to add a pharmaceutical-grade antioxidant to address sun damage or switch to a richer moisturizer when it’s time to turn on the heat.

Before we delve into product tweaks, let’s review why it’s important to take care of your skin.

Your Skin’s Role

In our quest for glass skin, it’s easy to lose sight of the purpose of skin. Skin is the largest organ and your body’s first line of defence against pathogens. Your skin:

• Acts as a protective barrier

• Helps regulate body temperature

• Produces Vitamin D when exposed to sunlight

• Aids with moisture retention

For health and quality of life, it’s critical to preserve the skin barrier. This can be challenging, especially if you have sensitive skin or conditions such as eczema and psoriasis; however, a personalized skincare routine tailored to your needs can help protect even the most reactive skin.

Steps of a Basic Skincare Routine

CLEANSE, PREVENT, TREAT, PROTECT

Step One: Cleanse

The first step in your skincare regimen is to cleanse your skin. Cleansing removes debris and impurities from the surface of the skin.

Almost all cleansers contain a surfactant. Surfactants, also known as surface-active agents, enable the cleanser to emulsify dirt, makeup, and impurities, allowing you to rinse away grime without stripping your skin’s moisture barrier.

Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser is an excellent, affordable cleanser that won’t irritate sensitive skin and helps protect against dryness. CeraVe, a dermatologist-recommended brand, offers a range of cleansers suitable for various skin types.

There are plenty of superb high-end cleansers on the market, but if you’re cost-conscious, Cetaphil and CeraVe cleansers won’t break the bank.

Step Two: Prevent

During the second step, your goal is to proactively prevent any further damage within the layers of your skin. The key important ingredient in your step two product is an antioxidant. Vitamins C and E are common antioxidants that are most effective in serums; they work synergistically and excel at fighting free radicals.

Free radicals bounce around and cause damage at a cellular level. The main culprits in oxidative stress are pollution, UV radiation exposure, unhealthy habits such as excessive alcohol consumption or smoking and personal stress.

Oxidative stress plays a major role in aging and disease.

Antioxidants can help repair damage and restore cellular health. An antioxidant will lend electrons to free radicals, which slows them down and prevents cellular damage.

My favourite antioxidant is Vivier’s CE Peptides. It’s an antioxidant serum formulated with 10% L-Ascorbic Acid USP (Vitamin C), Vitamin E, and 3 Peptides to combat the signs of aging and address environmental damage. The price tag can seem steep, but it’s worth every penny. Plus, it’s made in Canada! If you're a Visage VIP member, you will receive a 15% discount.

Step Three: Treat

Your "step three" or treatment will be dictated by the current condition of your skin.

If you have oily skin, your treatment will involve removing dead surface skin cells, reducing inflammation, and clearing out the oil.

The key ingredients in your products will be alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) and beta-hydroxy acids (BHAs)

AHAs, such as lactic and glycolic acid, gently exfoliate, soften the skin, and reduce the appearance of fine lines.

BHAs, such as salicylic acid, also act as exfoliants but penetrate deeper than AHAs. Salicylic acid reduces inflammation and increases cell turnover. It works well for acne-prone skin.

If you have normal to dry skin, your treatment will involve removing dead surface skin cells and adding moisture.

The key ingredients in your products will be AHAs and humectants such as hyaluronic acid and glycerin.

Step three should be personalized to your specific needs. Acne, rosacea, sensitive or antiaging products can be reviewed. There are many suitable products at different price points. Let’s discuss what will work for your skin and your budget at your next appointment.

Step Four: Protect

The final step is to protect your skin from the elements. The key ingredients in this step are a chemical SPF or a mineral sunscreen that acts as a physical barrier. You should use a minimum of 30 SPF.

CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizer Lotion has an SPF30 and a time-release MVE delivery for all-day hydration. My go-to sunscreen is a mineral physical barrier. I love Vivier's tinted SPF 30 and SkinCeuticals’ Sheer Physical UV Defense SPF 50. It evens out skin tone and feels weightless.

As always, I'm here to help. Let's discuss how we can fine-tune your skincare routine.

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