If I can Spend Money on One Product, What Should I Purchase?
As with anything, there is a lot of debate among professionals on this topic. If I can spend money on just one product, what should I purchase? I think we can all agree that it's the products that stay on the face the longest that are the ones that would have the biggest impact. And the ones that you would be willing to invest in.
Which products stay on the face?
Cleansers, exfoliants, and masks are all applied to the skin and then properly removed. So, the products that stay on the skin would be: treating mists, serums, moisturizers, SPF, eye cream. Since these products are on for hours before cleansed off the skin again to reapply, these would be where I would spend my money.
If you ask your esthetician Zoey what you should spend your money on, I would say that there are really 2 of the steps that are worth it and should be considered, even when on a budget. Those 2 products would be serums and SPF. Let me explain.
Serums are a smaller molecule size, which means that this product can penetrate the skin at a deeper level, providing a powerful punch. Most serums are more liquid or gel texture which make the ingredients glide into the skin easily. When the ingredients are able to go past the outer layer of skin, they can really change the skin cells by providing more hydration, calming sebum production, or sending signals to the cells to relax and unwind so that wrinkle production is minimized. Theses are just a couple of examples of what a serum can do for the skin.
When talking about basic steps in a skincare routine though, serums would not be the first up. For clients that aren't doing anything (or very little to their skins, we want to make sure that we start with cleansing, then moisturizing (which includes SPF). After these 2 steps are added, I like to make sure that they would add in the treating mist, exfoliation, serum, then an eye product. Finally a mask would be recommended. If you have a very specific skin concern, the recommendations from you esthetician may also change. At the end of the day, it's all about what we can do to improve your skin.
Sunscreen It Is!
So if serums wouldn't be the first up in a general routine, then that means that having a great SPF would be the ONE PRODUCT that you should purchase. There are 2 types of sunscreen available - chemical and physical. But my unpopular opinion as an esthetician is that the best SPF is the one that you are going to use and love using.
SPF stands for sunscreen protection factor and is the number of the amount of defense from the sun's rays. SPF 15 blocks about 93% of rays. SPF 30 blocks 97%. SPF 50 blocks just 98% and so on. Don't be fooled by large numbers! You want an SPF of at least 15 to wear on a daily basis. If you live in a tropical area, you need a minimum of at least SPF 30 to wear daily.
If you are out and about, or at the ball field all day, you will need to reapply your sunscreen every 80 to 120 minutes. Make sure that you follow the instructions on your specific product. If you are at the beach or pool, you'll also want to apply a water resistant product where possible. Along with apply on your face, make sure that you apply to the neck, decollete, and the back of your hands ladies. (These places show your age more than your face does!)
I'd love to show you my very favorite SPF. It may have taken me 3 years to find it, but I don't go a day without it and you won't want to either!
Don't forget to
Breathe. Let Go. Relax.
Zoey Jolley, LE