FALLS BEST ACCESSORY, GLOWING SKIN
Each year, I look forward to fall’s newest fashions, not just the clothes. Let me explain. I am a medical esthetician, so healthy skin is my passion. I look through the magazines 
for not just the newest shapes in eyebrows and looks in makeup, but for the newest trends in skincare. The trend in the last few years for healthy, sun-damage-free skin – void of freckles (sun damage) – had me wondering….. Why are women so quick to rush out for the latest hair color or nail polish yet neglect their skin? Skin after all is the one thing everybody sees. Why cover your face with the latest foundation if you did not give your skin the care and protection it needs before? It turns out, with so many products claiming great results, women don’t want to waste time and money figuring out what really works. I am going to give you a better understanding of the terminology used in a basic skin care routine.
• Cleanser. Look for cleansers free of sodium sulfate, but full of lactic acids, glycolic or alpha hydroxyls, these ingredients gently exfoliate and cleanse the skin without the wear and tear of a manual scrub.
• Daytime Moisturizer. A good moisturizer multitasks. Look for products with peptides. Peptides are chains of amino acids the help the product penetrate the skin. A good daytime moisturizer will also have a physical sun block. The gold standard is titanium or zinc oxide. If you look for these, the SPF will naturally be high.
• Eye cream. Yes you need it. The eyes are the fi rst area to show age. There are no oil glands in the eyes so eye cream is essential. If you are oily you may prefer a gel. They penetrate the skin without a greasy topical feeling. Eye cream can be heavier at night since you won’t be applying eye makeup.
EVENING
• Retin A or a Retinol. Retin A is prescription and retinol is over-the-counter. Retinol is best for first time users because it is gentler and sometimes the skin needs to adjust. Retin A comes in different strengths and a doctor will determine which is best for you.
• Night Moisturizer. Dry skin should use a product with ceramides and hyaluronic acid. These ingredients protect the lipid barrier and bind moisture to the skin. Oily skin does best with a product containing hyaluronic acid since it does not have a greasy feel and will bind the skins’ own moisture to it.
• Night Eye Cream. Chances are if you are dry you will want a heavier eye cream for night. Look for stem cells and ceramides to do double duty protecting and giving long term results. Last – but not least – fi nd a good dermatologist for both maintaining good skin and your yearly mole check. Don’t forget to visit your esthetician for a deep cleansing facial as needed to remove blackheads, milia and helping with hyperpigmentation.
