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Daily gentle exfoliation is a very important step in any highly effective skin care regimen. As we age, our skin’s natural exfoliation process becomes very inefficient leading to dull, dry, sensitive skin and clogged pores. The outer layer of skin, the epidermis, is comprised of dead skin cells and as this thickens, the skin’s natural oils are not able to penetrate and moisturize the surface. With proper exfoliation, your skin will become healthier and more radiant.
There are 2 forms of exfoliation, physical and chemical. Physical exfoliation consists of scrubbing the skin with abrasive substances such as salt, sugar or apricot seeds. Physical exfoliation is not recommended on the face because the skin is very delicate and this type of trauma causes the skin to form a grainy, bumpy texture. Chemical exfoliation is the most effective, but be careful to choose a non-irritating product.
Chemical exfoliation can be achieved with certain topical ingredients. My favorite is topical Vitamin A in the form of Retinaldehyde (Retinal). These work by increasing cell turnover allowing for the body to remove the dead skin cells and replace them with new healthier skin cells. Retinaldehyde is a potent alternative to Retin-A. Retin-A can be a great exfoliator, but for many it is too irritating and drying. Retinaldehyde is a must for everyone because not only does it exfoliate the skin, it stimulates collagen and prevents sun damage and acne.
Other effective topical exfoliation ingredients are Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA) and Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHA). These have been a part of skin rejuvenation for centuries. AHAs and BHAs work by loosening the glue-like lipid bonds of the dead skin cells of the epidermis. The most common AHAs are lactic acid and glycolic acid. These are gentle exfoliators that can be used for all skin types. The most common BHA salicylic acid is also highly effective. BHAs are oil soluble and are best for acne prone, oily skin.
My favorite Mikel Kristi exfoliation products:
Vital A Rejuvenating Serum with
Rejuvenating Swipes with:
At this point, your basic skin care regimen should include the following:
Stay tuned for Step 4: Collagen Stimulation
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A new ailment to add to these pandemic-times…. MASKNE!
What is it? Mask acne (aka maskne) is a real thing, and it’s plaguing a lot of us wearing masks on our faces everyday for work, errand running, and day to day outings. It is especially stubborn and relentless during these hot summer months. Breakouts and blemishes are happening on our faces along the areas where the protective material is sitting on our face, by trapping dirt, oil, and sweat. But the solution is not to stop wearing that mask! It’s imperative to protect yourselves and others during these times. What you CAN do is take some steps to minimize the not so fun side effects of facial coverings.
Natural Skincare….Clean Skincare… Just what do these phrases actually mean??
Hello MK Beauties! Hope you had a fabulous Fourth and are enjoying your summer. Summer months usually mean less makeup and a simple skincare routine that really helps enhance our skin and give us a beautiful and natural look. Last week we talked about summer skin issues and how to combat them. Because the truth is we want to feel beautiful all year long but especially in the summer when we aren’t as covered up!!
