If I Can Only Use One Product, What Should I Spend My Money On?

So you are on a budget, but skin care is important! How do you decide which product that you should spend your money on? The choices are limitless, but there is one that will help make more of a difference.

How about I give you clues and you see if you can guess what it is?

Clue #1 - This product is one that stays on the skin. So you don't rinse or wipe it off.

Clue #2 - This product is always the very last one to put on the skin.

Clue #3 - This product is considered either physical or chemical ... though some of them are both.

After reading clue #1, you should have eliminated a cleanser, exfoliant and mask, since these products are taken off of the skin. Maybe with clue #2, you thought moisturizer, so that means that the serum is out (serum is always applied BEFORE a moisturizer.) Did clue #3 trip you up?

Well, if you only have money to spend on ONE PRODUCT, the product that will be most beneficial to the skin is ... (insert drumroll here) SPF! That's right! Sunscreen! Did you know that SPF stands for sun protection factor? We'll get into the numbers in a minute. It stays on the skin, is the very last thing you should put on, and they are classified as either physical or chemical.

How can you tell the difference between physical or chemical? The first thing is to know how they work. A physical SPF acts like a SHIELD and BLOCKS the UV rays. A chemical SPF allows the UV rays to ABSORB into the skin and then SCATTER the harmful rays. Ingredients that constitute a physical sunscreen are titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. Popular chemical sunscreen ingredients are avobenzone, homosalate, octinoxate, octisalate, octocrylene, and oxybenzone.

An SPF 15 to SPF 30 is recommended for daily use. A broad spectrum SPF 15 protects you from 93% of the rays while SPF 30 protects up to 97%. Just 4% difference! An SPF 50 protects up to 98%.

My unpopular opinion is to use the one that you LOVE (regardless of if it is chemical or physical.) If you use a product you love, you will be sure to use it right! I offer two that are both amazing and would love the opportunity to show them to you!

Don’t forget to

Breathe. Let Go. Relax.

Zoey Jolley, LE

Why You Should Be Treating Your Skin Topically

Have you ever wondered why you should treaty your skin topically instead of just through diet and supplements? The hierarchy of the food chain in your body goes something like this. You eat, drink or take a vitamin and your body decides where it should go and who should have first dibs at the nutrients. Well, that stands to reason that heart and lungs get first dibs, followed by organs like kidneys, liver, etc. Everyone gets a piece until it’s done. The organ that gets the scraps and leftovers? You guessed it! The skin! But which organ is the largest? Right again. The skin.

So if the skin gets the leftovers of anything put inside of the body, it stands to reason that the best way to treat your skin to nourishment would be to treat it from the outside in. We do this through picking the very best skincare. This ensures that you’ll get the highest quality ingredients at the top of the ingredient deck list. The first eight ingredients are the ones that you should pay most attention to, as these should be the active ingredients.

There can also be a huge range in cost of products. For example, vitamin C is one of the least shelf stable ingredients in skincare. But, if you get the right versions of vitamin C (ones that your skin can absorb and utilize), you’ll be amazed at what that can do for you! Remember, there is ALWAYS a reason why something is cheaper!

Once you have picked a quality skincare routine, stick to a routine! Don’t just let those pretty bottles sit nicely in the bathroom cabinet. For best results, follow the directions on the bottles and use within the amount of time stated. Most are 12 months, but some are 6 months or even 3. Note this when starting a product.

Finally, your skin cannot out work your diet and other factors. If you eat poorly and use quality skincare, your skin will still show that. Try to eat clean, exercise, drink a proper amount of water … you know the drill. And then pick the right routine that goes with your lifestyle and will help you reach your skincare goals! You can do this! And your Esthetician will be there every step along the way!

Don’t forget to

Breathe. Let Go. Relax.

Zoey Jolley, LE

My Skin Care Philosophies in the Treatment Room

Every Esthetician that I meet has different beliefs in the treatment room. They have services that they know and love … as well as ones that they steer clear of. These have been not only ingrained in us from schooling, but also from our real world experiences. They are essential why we do what we do.

I am a blend of many treatments, products lines that I have worked with closely plus through experiences. My philosophies continue to grow and evolve over time. In fact, I don’t think that they will ever stop changing. My main three skin care philosophies are:

Knowledge opens the mind to know why to do something different

Skin care at home is paramount and will help you achieve your goals

More is not always better

KNOWLEDGE

It’s been said, “You don’t know what you don’t know … until you know.” I challenge myself often to take continuing education (both hands on and online), to try new products, and to step outside of my role as an Esthetician. Asking the question WHY also sparks interest to learn a different approach.

I believe that one of my most significant role as an Esthetician is in the process of explaining WHY you would choose a specific service, product, home care routine, etc. Knowing WHY allows you to start that same process to understand. When we know better, we do better.

AT HOME SKIN CARE

I make parallels all of the time about the gym/trainer and the dentist/brushing. In case you haven’t heard them, let me quickly tell you.

Meeting with a trainer and not returning to do the workouts on your own only allows your trainer to do so much with you on your next visit. Unless your trainer is with you every time, you’ll only be able to progress so far with your physique.

You get your teeth cleaned every six months … but this doesn’t replace the brushing twice a day that you have to do on your own.

The real change and magic doesn’t happen in the treatment room with you. It happens with your CONSISTENCY in your routine at home. You are responsible for 80% of the changes we make. I will be able to get that 80% up to 100% in the treatment room by BOOSTING everything you are doing. If you slack at home, I will also not be able to do as much at your appointments.

MORE IS NOT BETTER

As Americans, we are programmed for faster results with little to no effort. Amazon Prime has ruined our patience. Rome wasn’t built in a day. Likewise, our results with our skin will happen overtime. Our skin cell turnover is ideally 28 days (and slows as we age.) You would need at least 3 skin cell turn overs to start seeing results. Therefore, it stands to reason that you start to see results 3 to 4 months down the road which then progress from there.

There are times to push your skin and times to back off. It’s important for you to listen to your skin and the cues it is telling you. I will do the skin. We may tweak your home care routine and the series of treatments that have been recommended to you. Or we may stay the course. But remember that more is not always better… even though most want to ‘feel’ like a product is working.

I hope to partner WITH YOU in reaching your skin care goals over time. Seek to learn why, be consistent in your home care routine that has been set up for you by your Esthetician, and remember that more is not always better. Thank you for trusting the process and having patience!

Don’t forget to

Breathe. Let Go. Relax.

Zoey Jolley, LE