Skin Care Simplified: Tips for Healthy Skin Year-round
Skin care today can feel a little overwhelming: so many products, so many options, so many promises. However, a healthy skin care routine does not have to be complicated.
Consistency is key, according to Amy Jo Lillibridge, a licensed esthetician who also works in Clinic Sofia’s business office.
Lillibridge, who has been interested in skin care and make-up since getting her first eyeliner in fifth grade, notes that “doing something on a regular basis yields results. You can have the best skin care system in the world, but it won’t do you any good if you don’t use it consistently.”
Her daily routine consists of cleanser, toner, moisturizer and make-up that contains sunscreen. She also recommends changing out pillowcases a couple times a week, since they can trap hairspray and other things that transfer to the face.
If you’re looking to invest in one or two products, she recommends a serum or moisturizer that specializes in your particular goals (reducing redness or dryness, for example) whereas “cleanser only spends a couple seconds on your skin.” Lillibridge adds that toner can help with additional cleansing, reducing pore size and prepping the skin for moisturizer.
Finally, “when it comes to anti-aging, the most important thing is sunscreen. Even though we hear it all the time, it truly is paramount,” she says. “You can also wear hats, makeup that contains sunscreen or mineral-based powder to help prevent sun damage.”
Skin care from the inside out
Believe it or not, the food we eat can also make our skin look and feel better from the inside out. In particular, fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K2 as well as omega-3 fats and zinc support healthy skin. Physician Assistant Allie Nowak recommends two to three servings of cold-water fatty fish, such as salmon, sardines, anchovies, mackerel and trout, per week as well as pastured egg yolks, shellfish, red meat and organ meats. Another way to boost your intake of these healthy fats includes taking 1 teaspoon of cod liver oil per day.
“One of the most important things to do for your skin, since it is our largest organ, is to be aware of the toxic skin care products, sunscreens and shampoos that we apply each and every day,” adds Nowak, who recommends avoiding products with parabens, phthalates and fragrance. “I recommend all my patients check out the Environmental Workers Group website EWG.org, which has a great resource called Skin Deep that helps people make educated consumer choices regarding the products we purchase and apply on our skin.”
