With the long-anticipated arrival of spring, it is now time to assess your product stash and purge the clutter, Marie Kondo style. Out with the ineffective and deceitful, and in with the potent and proven, keeping in mind that the essential first step toward achieving healthy skin is a simple system that includes cleansing, exfoliating and toning. SKN BAR Rx is dedicated to helping you find the best at home treatment for your specific skin type and concerns.
The beauty industry markets over-the-counter skincare products to all ages and skin types, promising a simple solution to tackle aging, acne, dullness, and dehydrated skin. Influencers on social media get paid to promote these products, and the Clean Beauty industry hides behind labels like “organic” or “chemical-free”, but what they fail to mention are the clinical studies, or proof, that these products truly work to give consumers the results they are looking for, let alone any sort of approval from the FDA. These dishonest marketing tactics leave consumers with multiple products that originally gave lofty expectations but are now taking up space in bathroom drawers and cabinets.
Our cosmeceutical medical-grade skincare lines go through many tests and studies to produce specific lines that work most effectively together as a whole. So, to receive the best results out of your skincare ritual, we recommend using products within the same brand family, as you will get the most benefit out of how the ingredients react with each other. Follow us on this journey of Getting Spring Ready with our ZO Essentials Skincare set, plus some additional products we recommend to further treat specific skin concerns.
STEP 1: CLEANSE
When considering what cleanser best works with your skin type, first clean your face with a gentle cleanser, pat dry and wait 25-30 minutes to analyze how your skin looks and feels. If it feels tight, dry, and flaky, your skin is most likely dry. If you are noticing excessive shine, you are most likely dealing with an oily skin type, and if you experience both dryness and shine together, you fall under the combination skin type category.
- For dry skin, our cleanser of choice is the ZO Hydrating Cleanser that contains sodium hyaluronate, panthenol, glycerin, sodium PCA and urea and is a multi-humectant blend that helps to retain and replenish hydration to support you skin’s barrier.
- For oily skin, we recommend ZO’s Exfoliating Cleanser as it works to rid the skin of dirt and surface oils, while micro-beads exfoliate to unclog pores and vitamin E provides antioxidant benefits. Don’t let the term “exfoliating” fool you, as many exfoliating cleansers can be harsh, this cleanser has a silky gel texture that is extremely soft on the skin.
- For combination sensitive skin, ZO’s Gentle Cleanser may be best for you. This botanical blend, silky gel formulation is ideal for all skin types. It gently, and effectively, cleanses away impurities leaving the skin refreshed and hydrated, while also providing antioxidant benefits, supporting the skin barrier function and preventing post-cleansing dryness.
STEP 2: Exfoliate
Exfoliation is so important in your skincare routine because it helps to remove dead skin cells, improves circulation and product penetration. Your skin naturally sheds dead skin cells every 30 days or so (this number increases as we age), and new skin cells form the top layer of your skin. By exfoliating 2-3 times a week, your products will absorb significantly better, leaving your skin smooth and hydrated while also allowing your makeup to set flawlessly.
- Exfoliating Polish: A ZO fan favorite at SKN BAR Rx that contains magnesium crystals that exfoliate dead skin cells to create a clear, smooth and even-toned complexion. It is recommended to only use this no more than 3x a week, because over exfoliating can lead to heightened irritation and redness. Esthetician and ZO Expert, Jill, recommends using this product in the shower to avoid any of the crystals sticking to the hairline.
STEP 3: Tone
Toning may seem like a non-essential step in skincare, but a toner is filled with soothing, brightening, and anti-aging ingredients. It is meant to gently refresh the skin without stripping any moisture and prepare the skin to absorb the moisture that will be added afterward.
- Complexion Renewal Pads: A ZO product we can’t live without! Named one of the 12 best treatments for acne scarring, these moistened pads help minimize surface oil, and exfoliate pore-clogging dead skin cells and dirt. Glycolic Acid and Salicylic Acid work together to give you a smooth, brightened, and decongested appearance.
- Calming Toner PH Balancer: This calming, pH balanced toner removes impurities and invigorates weak and sensitive skin. This ZO product is highly recommended if you deal with redness and sensitive skin as it infuses the skin with hydration to support skin barrier function.
STEP 4: PREVENT AND CORRECT
If you’ve ever seen an apple turn brown, you have witnessed a process called oxidation. Oxidation is caused by free radicals, which are unstable molecules that damage healthy cells and come from exposure to environmental factors such as pollution, UV rays, cigarette smoke and other chemicals . Studies show that by incorporating antioxidants in your skincare routine, your skin can fight free radical damage and recover from oxidative stress.
- Daily Power Defense: Designed to diminish lines and wrinkles, and address future damage, this powerful antioxidant serum supports the skin’s natural DNA repair process and helps to restore barrier function and skin health.
ADDITIONAL PRODUCTS BASED ON SKIN CONCERNS
The essential products listed above work synergistically to restore skin to a healthy state and to optimize the effectiveness of any preventative and corrective products. If you struggle with acne, signs of aging, or discoloration, here are some of our favorite products to help you love the skin you’re in!
Acne
Our number one recommendation for recurring acne and acne scarring is Vitamin A. We love ZO’s retinols becauswe they are a true Vitamin A that is not blended with other ingredients. It is available in .25%, .5% and 1% potencies and we recommend introducing this powerful retinol slowly into your skincare routine, such as using retinol in smaller doses every other day, to allow your skin to adjust to the rapid cell turnover benefits. Once your skin is adjusted, you can use this product daily, and increase potency. You will noticea. brighter appearance, a smooth tone and texture, and diminished lines, wrinkles, scarring and dark spots.
Aging
It is easier to avoid damage than to fix it, which is why we believe the best anti-aging product is sun protection as it will keep your skin looking younger, longer. We love ZO’s Smart Tone because it automatically adjusts to the shade of your skin, so you won’t even notice you are wearing sunscreen. To protect throughout the day, try the Sunscreen + Primer, which is a powder form of mineral sunscreen that can be used as a mineral powder makeup foundation.
To tackle aging and damage that has already taken place, we strongly recommend trying ZO’s Growth Factor Serum!
Pigmentation
The BrightAlive Skin Brightener is ZO’s technologically advanced skin brightener and is clinically proven to increase luminosity, visibly improve skin clarity, and fade the appearance of dark spots for a brighter, more even complexion. This mild and gentle formula contains peptides, niacinamide, tranexamic, papain, beta glucan and licorice derivative to effectively lighten and brighten the skin, while also providing light hydration and soothing benefits. BrightAlive works great for patients with melasma, and helps brighten skin tone during gloomy winter months!
Purchase a kit To explore products
If you’re ready to spring clean your skincare routine, but don’t know where to start, we recommend starting Daily Skincare Essential Kit, and then adding products based on your skincare needs!
This set includes:
- Exfoliating Cleanser
- Exfoliating Polish
- Complexion Renewal Pads
- Daily Power Defense Serum
We love this kit because it includes all of the powerful essentials, and it is priced at $124 ($64 value). And remember, when you sign up for our memberships, you can save anywhere between 10-20% on all of your retail product needs! Let’s purge our skin, and purge our bathrooms of all of the bad, and get Spring Ready with a skincare line that leaves you feeling confident and radiant!
At SKN BAR Rx, our expert aestheticians are here to help you address your specific skincare concerns, and guide you towards the most beneficial skincare treatments and products. Let’s make your skincare regime feel less like a routine, and more like a ritual.
Reserve your complimentary consultation or call SKN BAR Rx at 414.488.7900 to start your best skincare journey!
