Figuring out your skincare routine can be intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. Setting up for success means discovering the best routine for your skin type.
At LONGEVITY by Elizabeth Renee we offer expert suggestions on how to layer your products for maximum benefit. The best way to discover your routine is during a Skin Therapy treatment, or you can choose an Online or In-Person consultation with Elizabeth. When you come in for Skin Therapy we update your product needs each time. Talking to a professional lessens the difficulty in choosing the right products. Here's the easy hack: Online you will find a workable strategy just by going to our Skin Types page. This can be adjusted seasonally to meet the ever changing needs of your skin. The seasons definitely create a change to the products one should be using, so keep that in mind. To find out which products work best for your skin check out our Skin Types page at LONGEVITY by Elizabeth Renee. Here is a list of some favorite layering tips and tricks to help your skin look and feel its best:
Always begin your regimen with clean skin.
I love to start off my regimen with a double cleanse at night to ensure that my skin is totally clean and able to accept the nutrient rich actives to follow. Double cleansing not only removes makeup and impurities but a double cleanse helps emulsify and remove daily sunscreen buildup.
When not addressed, left over sunscreen will block the pathways in your skin that allow performance ingredients to get to where they need to be delivered. To double cleanse, you need an oil rich cleanser which will break down today's long wearing makeup. It also should contain emulsifiers created to change the character of the cleansing formula into its rinsable form - this insures fresh, clean skin. If you wear makeup your should also use a soft (preferably bamboo) baby washcloth to help this process. For your second cleanse you can repeat this step or choose a lighter milky or gel cleanser depending on your skin type. When done cleansing rinse, rinse, rinse and then pat dry.
Don’t skimp on toner.
I am a huge believer in using a hydrating, calming, skin balancing toner every time water touches your face. Make sure it contains no alcohol, no witch hazel, no menthol or other drying ingredients in the formulation. The purpose of your toner is to create a moisture barrier on the skin that will be sealed in by your moisturizer. Maybe even more important is that the tap water you used contains fluoride, chlorine, and other skin dulling ingredients that must be removed following cleansing. The best way to tone your skin is to lightly spray your skin first to form the moisture layer. Then spray your cotton pad and wipe. The wiping effectively removes the drying impurities from tap water. Adding the toning step to your regime almost instantly creates a complexion that is less dull, more hydrated and vibrant and it should help quell inflammation.
Exfoliation is Essential.
We're not talking scrubs here, although using a smooth surfaced scrub occasionally can offer many skin types a little extra boost to exfoliation. However, the most effective products for inducing exfoliation, clearing pores, softening lines and reducing the risk of breakouts (which tends to happen most in the fall) is by alternating exfoliating serums nightly. Use an AHA (alpha hydroxy acid) a couple nights a week. On alternating nights apply a retinol (retinoid). The retinol can be applied one night a week, then build up to three or four nights a week if your skin can tolerate it. Note: Exfoliating acids should only be used at night to reduce possible damage during the day due to sun exposure. After applying any exfoliating acid one should wait a minute for the product to sink into the skin. This way the acid pH of the product stays intact. Otherwise, Introducing a repair serum immediately following the exfoliating serum will neutralize the acid pH, making that product ineffective for exfoliation.
Alpha Hydroxy Acids.
Mandelic Acid - This non-irritating AHA brightens all forms of visible hyperpigmentation, helps clear pores, controls surface blemishes, increases cell turnover and dissolves unwanted surface cells for an immediately fresher, smoother after-feel. Find this in Getting Even.
Lactic Acid - A Lactic Acid complex ensures maximum AHA penetration with minimum discomfort while delivering the skin benefits of exfoliation, brightening and excellent hydration. Find this in Boost.
Glycolic Acid - Glycolic Is the most powerful of AHA exfoliants. Because Glycolic has the smallest molecule it can penetrate deeper than other AHAs. Excellent for pore clearing of thicker skin types.. Find it in our Glycolic Serum.
Salicylic Acid - (which is really a BHA) This keratolytic BHA dissolves dead cells and impactions deep within the pores. Because it is oil soluble it can mix with oil in your pores and help break up impactions. Salicylic also has a great antibacterial effect making it an effective ingredient to fight acne breakouts. Find it in Getting Even as well as Clear Skin Solution.
Retinoids.
Retinol Esters - Like retinal palmitate are the weakest retinoids and have questionable efficacy.
Retinol - This starter retinoid works well, albeit more slowly than retinaldehyde or Retinoic Acid. This is where you should start if you are new to these Vitamin A products. Also, it's the best choice for sensitive skin. Find it in Retinol Resurfacing Treatment.
Retinaldehyde - This retinoid takes only one conversion to become retinoic acid in the skin. It's more effective than other retinols because you bypass the irritation that comes with using Retin-A. Find it in Getting Even. Most clients choose this product once they've been using a milder retinol for a while.
Retinoic Acid - This is the prescription version known as tretinoin. It can be very effective for certain skin types but is also very irritating. Other forms of Vitamin A can be just as effective but need a little more time to work.
Once you've done your exfoliating technique, that is when you want to nourish and repair your skin. Layering skin care products correctly means visualizing how deep you want that product to go to address the changes you want it to make. Nighttime (during REM sleep) is repair time for the skin. Exfoliation has just cleared the way for better penetration of the performance ingredients you'll apply next. First apply serums that are addressing the production of new cells, therefore they need to be formulated to penetrate deeply.
What should be layered first?
Stem Stim provides exosomes that attach to fibroblasts; stimulating the production of repair factors found deep in the dermis.
Ageless Longevity Serum provides architectural peptides that don't penetrate as deep but do send chemical messages down to the dermis which are excellent for stimulating collagen.
Revitalize Cell Therapy provides energy boosters using ergothionine and niacinamide that are imperative for all cells to function, particularly effective in jump starting metabolism for post menopausal skin.
Serums that stay nearer the skin's surface.
Hydraessence is a hyaluronic acid based serum that stays relatively near the skin's surface to bath your skin in moisture.
Firming Peptide Serum is an emollient serum for dry skin that does not penetrate deeply but still sends the correct messages for healthy skin.
Zen Zone is a wonderfully calming serum. It stays close to the skin surface which ensures its soothing properties for sensitive skin.
Eye creams, then night creams should be applied next as the emollients they contain create a wonderful moisture barrier that actually increases penetration of the serums you first applied. Not only do moisturizers help add hydration into the skin, they seal in the benefits of serums, helping them achieve maximum results. But, these creams will block out your precious serums from getting in if applied them before your serum.
Finally, one can apply an occlusive barrier over everything if you are particularly parched. This may only happen at certain times of the year and for other times you may want to skip this step. Environmental Protection contains light, anti-inflammatory oils like evening primrose oil and borage seed oil. Environmental protection gives skin a smooth as glass finish with added hydration and the anti-inflammatory benefits provided by these oils.
Serums that are particularly beneficial during the day:
C & E Antioxidant Serum focuses on protection from the environment. While it aids in collagen production, it's also a vital antioxidant that reduces risk of skin damage.
Sunrise Solution is another protective serum that uses super foods which contain mega doses of skin protecting antioxidants. It also increases the efficacy of your sunscreen. Both these serums can be cocktailed together for the ultimate protection against environmental aging.
Elizabeth believes in "Longevity Skincare", the idea that beautiful skin can endure throughout one's lifetime when utilizing the best that science and nature has to offer. LONGEVITY is a science-based skincare line that appreciates skin of all ages. LONGEVITY by Elizabeth Renee provides hydration, nutrition and protection from environmental aging. Your skin will receive high performance ingredients to help energize and repair its cells, resulting in a healthy skin with an enduring, vital glow.