So much skincare, how to choose the best concoction for your skin care concerns? With skincare cocktailing you can mix premium skin product brands to design the perfect skincare routine for you. What skincare products can I mix together safely? Here is a general rule of thumb with choosing skincare products according to specific skin types.

-Foaming Cleanser- is a great option for that “clean” feeling and preferably those with combination or oily skin.
-Lotion/Creamy Cleanser- gentle enough for all skin types and also a great makeup remover. Preferably those that have dry skin, sensitive skin, reactive skin and using topical prescriptions and retinol.
-Exfoliating Cleanser- not advised for active acne, or rosacea, but great for clogged pores and once weekly exfoliation.
-Antioxidant Serums- designed for brightening and free radical protection. Great for all skin types except acne.
-Hyaluronic Acid serum- perfect for everyone, even acne
-Growth Factor and Peptide Serums – excellent choice for antiaging and overall skin health
-Retinol- recommended to be advised by a medical aesthetician for dosing. Not recommended for pregnant woman, breastfeeding woman or taking Accutane.

Those were just a few standard skincare products to choose from. Let’s get down to the nitty gritty.

Your mom’s neighbor’s daughter is selling a multilevel marketing skincare line and you are interested in learning about the products because you have been on an uphill battle with your skin. This line seems simple, there’s a “kit” for acne, a “kit” for anti-aging, a “kit” for dry skin. Easy peasy pick a kit and abracadabra your skin is fixed! Not quite.

The pre-picked skincare kits sound great, with no thinking required. The trouble with this method is that not everyone can tolerate every product in an acne “kit” morning and night. Or the products in the anti-aging “kit”. Or any of the “kits”. Our skin is so complex. For example, there are a number of different varieties of acne. Hormone related, stress related, diet related, oil production, and so much more. It takes specific training and education to identify them. Along with aging skin, dry skin and sensitive skin.

For the majority of the population, a combination of these categories is typical. We need to take into consideration each individual’s skin type. Do they breakout still? Are they dry or oily? What’s their sensitivity level? Are they reactive? This must be done BEFORE anything else. A good skincare routine is necessary to protect your investment in any laser treatments, chemical peels or photofacial treatments.

For many, helping to erase and prevent fine lines, wrinkles and pigmentation are the goal. Of course, skin care alone can’t turn back the clock, but skincare alongside good medical grade treatments can. But throwing them a cookie cutter anti-aging skincare “kit” isn’t always the answer. Is the individual oily? If they are, the products may be too heavy for them. Are they prone to breakouts? Perhaps this would lead to unwanted blemishes. Then we have to fix acne and aging. A fun combo. Your Medical Aesthetician and Certified Laser Technician can help guide you through the maze of choices.

Even treating acne can be tricky. A standard acne skincare “kit” can be extremely harmful to the skin. Typically, acne geared skincare can contain a combination of glycolic acid, salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, lactic acid, physical exfoliants and retinol. These are all amazing ingredients to help fight acne, kill bacteria and prevent future breakouts. But when these are used every day, twice a day, your results will be the complete opposite of what you were trying to achieve.

The rule of thumb when cocktailing any skincare together is, if you are using any products that are drying, or that compromise the surface of the epidermis (retinol, salicylic acid, glycolic acid, etc.), you should be using a mild cleanser, a sunscreen and a denser moisturizer to balance out the dryness from the more aggressive products. Hyaluronic Acid is another amazing product to incorporate into your routine. Hyaluronic Acid is recommended for all skin types, especially acne. Using products that help to kill bacteria will leave the skin feeling dry and irritated. That’s when Hyaluronic can play a major role is deep hydration without adding heavy moisturizer.

Here are a few popular combinations for skincare cocktailing:

Three Step Simple Routine – Normal/Combination Skin
Epoince Lytic Cleanser AM & PM
Neocutis Bio Serum Firm AM & PM
Skin Medica Mineral Shield Tinted SPF 32 AM
Valmont Prime 24 PM

I Love My Serums Routine – Anti-Aging Routine
Valmont Illuminating Foamer AM & PM
Skin Medica Lumivive System Day & Night AM & PM
Valmont V-Line Lifting Serum AM & PM
Skin Medica Neck Correct Cream
NeoCutis MicroDay AM
NeoCutis Bio Cream Firm PM

High Maintenance 12 Steps – Love my Skin Routine
Valmont Icy Falls Makeup Remover PM
Epionce Gentle Foaming Cleanser AM & PM
Valmont Illuminating Toner AM & PM
Valmont Clarifying Infusion AM & PM
Skin Medica Advanced+ Serum AM & PM
Skin Medica Neck Correct Cream PM
Valmont V-Line Neck Cream AM & PM
NeoCutis Nouvelle PM
NeoCutis Lumiere Eye Cream AM & PM
Valmont Hydra3 Eye Serum
Epoince Renewal Lotion PM
Elta MD Clear SPF 47 AM

Dry Skin
Epionce Milky Lotion Cleanser AM &PM
Neocutis Bio Serum Firm AM
Valmont Hydra 3 Serum PM
Neocutis Bio Cream Firm PM
Neocutis Lumiere Eye Cream AM & PM
Neocutis Nouvelle PM as directed by you Aesthetician

Oily Skin
ZO Gentle Cleanser (AM & PM)
Neocutis Hyalis (AM)
Elta MD Clear (AM)
ZO Complexion Pads (PM every other night or as directed)
Epionce Renewal Facial Lotion (PM)
Neocutis Nouvelle (every other night or as directed by your Aesthetician))
Epionce Lytic TX (as needed)
Neocutis Lumiere (AM & PM)

Are you overwhelmed? Blume Skin & Body offers complimentary skin analysis with suggestions to add to your current routine or start fresh with new products. The Medical Aestheticians are eager to help you maintain your skin health with skin care and skin treatment suggestions. Please check out all services and products on the website.

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The Instagram filter look can mess with our heads majorly. It projects an unachievable goal to not only young girls, but to grown adults too! While we are all trying to raise our daughters with lessons of self love, body positivity and plain old acceptance, there’s no denying we all STILL want to have awesome skin. But our mental health doesn’t have to suffer to get it. Here are 5 habits to get fabulous skin.

Moisturize

Now this may seem too simple, and it sort of is! Many individuals that have dealt with skin issues like acne, or oily skin typically skip this important step in fear of making things worse. It’s actually the complete opposite. When our skin isn’t properly hydrated it creates a thin dead layer of skin on the very surface of the epidermis. Sometimes you can see it and usually you can feel it. What happens is, that dead layer of skin creates such a barrier that your natural oil production is unable to secrete properly. Instead, it secretes slower than normal, creating a shine to the skin, giving the skin an oily appearance. That’s why many think they have oily skin. Since that oil secretion is moving so slowly, the oil can get stuck under the dead skin and form into deep clogged pores. Moisturizing on a regular basis can ease that dead skin helping to balance the entire function of the skin, including oil production.

The same applies to dry, combination and aging skin. Moisturizing is crucial for lubricating the pores, and feeding the skin what it needs. Fine lines and wrinkles will be less visible when they are properly hydrated. So finding a great moisturizer for night time is very important.

Sunblock

Now that we’ve covered the night time moisturizer portion, now we can cover the day time. Ah yes, SPF should be your BFF. Daily use of SPF is a great way to achieve fabulous skin. The best sunscreen to look for isn’t necessarily one that has a large SPF number on the front of the bottle. It’s actually the percentage of the active ingredients on the back of the bottle that give the sunscreen its protection power. High percentages of zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are mineral ingredients that create a physical barrier from the sun. If you are using products that make you more photosensitive, like retinol or glycolic acid, or receiving treatments that make you more susceptible to burn or hyperpigmentation, SPF everyday is imperative.

Retinol

Piggybacking from the importance of SPF, retinol is an amazing product to incorporate into your skincare routine. Retinol based products can come in all different shapes, sizes and potencies. Retinol or Retin-A is a derivative of Vitamin A. It helps with cellular turnover and helps to soften signs of aging (fine lines and wrinkles) and is a key component in helping with acne. It helps with skin texture, dilated pores and general skin wellness. Retinol use can be as simple as using it intermittently a few times a week, or spot treating acne blemishes. It is important to remember that you must limit your sun exposure during the time of use. For example, don’t use retinol the night before you know you’re going out on a hike, swimming, or any outdoor activity the following day. And when you do go out, make sure the retinol has been cleansed off the following day and a proper SPF has been applied.

Serum

So many serums, how do I know which one is best?! That all depends on what your skin is doing at the moment and your goals. Hyaluronic acid, antioxidant, peptide, and growth factor serums all have so many amazing benefits. So to pick the best one for you leads me into the next must-have for fabulous skin.

Medical Esthetician

Establishing a good relationship with a highly trained, knowledgable Medical Esthetican will guarantee the right path for you on your skincare journey. Which serum to invest in, and which treatments you should dedicate your time on maintaining your fabulous skin. Whether is laser, facials, microneedling, peels or microdermabrasions, your esthetician will establish a treatment regimen to fit your needs completely.

Living in a highly virtual world where the filters are at our fingertips, it’s important to remember the true beauty within us. True beauty can’t be seen in a mirror or a computer screen or a phone. We were all born to be real, real people with real flaws. Perfection is such an illusion that we continuously have to remind ourselves of. Luckily the support from trusted professionals can help keep your true beauty shining through.

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How to prevent “Maskne” this summer.

Wearing face masks are now mandatory and essential to keeping us safe in public. I have noticed several skin issues that have arisen due to the wearing of masks. Wearing a face mask for extended periods of time can lead to several unsightly skin problems.

Especially during the summer heat, excessive sweat and bacterial build up between the mask and your skin. This can lead to clogged pores, acne breakouts and increased vascularity or redness with bumps. The masks can occlude the skin and prevent the release of heat that creates your own humidity, which causes dull irritated skin. Masks also provide the perfect environment for bacteria to grow, which can lead to irritation and breakouts. Your normal skin care routine; cleansing, exfoliation, moisturizing and sunblock help the natural shedding process of dead skin and also protects the skin barrier. Wearing a face mask can interfere with the shedding process. Those dead skin cells are trapped in your pores and create a buildup of sebum and bacteria which creates problems. If you are prone to eczema or rosacea, these irritations may trigger your symptoms.

What can you do?

1. Most important is to clean your face often throughout the day when you are wearing a face mask. On the go cleansing cloths are great, Colorescience hydrating cleansing cloths are easy and effective, also ZO Skin Health Complexion Pads and Oil Controlling Pads are both amazing for instant quick cleaning.
2. Don’t skip the exfoliation process, super important with mask wearing. You may use a physical scrub like Valmont Face Exfoliator, ZO Skin Health Exfoliating Polish or Dual Action Scrub. All three are excellent to use in the shower after cleansing your skin to assist in deep cleaning. Another option for exfoliation is chemical exfoliators for nighttime use, try Epionce Lytic TX, ZO Skin Health Enzymatic Peel or NeoCutis Nouvelle Retinol. These exfoliation steps will aid in the removal of dead skin cells, dirt debris and bacteria that can clog pores. Please don’t forget to wear sunscreen daily to protect your skin barrier.
3. Try to avoid wearing makeup on your lower face and focus on your eyes instead. Don’t forget a good lip balm, the lips are in constant contact with the mask and tend to dry out.
4. Take care of yourself with a skin treatment for deep pore cleansing, extra exfoliation and overall skin pampering. Blume Skin & Body has several COVID-19 rescue skin treatments to choose from. My favorites are: ZO Skin Health 5 in 1 Super Facial, HydraFacial and OxyGeneo. All three of these skin treatments will exfoliate, purify, hydrate and promote oxygen to rescue the skin. Blume Skin & Body is a medical skin care center with the strictest sanitation protocols. The safety of our patients and staff is our top priority.

What type of mask is best?
1. Cotton face masks are the best for your skin. Light and breathable, think of your favorite T-Shirt. The mask should be 2-3 layers and cover your nose and mouth to be effective.
2. Wash your mask. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends washing your mask after every use. It is recommended to have several masks to rotate so you always have a clean mask to wear. It is best to wash your masks in gentle detergent that is fragrance free to reduce the chance of an allergic irritation.

To schedule an appointment for a skin treatment or consultation, please call (480) 699-7999 or request an appointment through our website: https://blumeskintreatment.com.

Sandra Caldwell is a Licensed Medical Aesthetician and Laser Safety Officer at Blume Skin & Body.

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Whether we love or hate the heat, it is a simple fact for us Arizona dwellers. Many of us wonder what are the best skincare products for summer use? What should I use for extremely dry skin? How do I get rid of oily skin? What are my skin treatment options? The answers to many of these questions are as simple as scheduling a consultation with our Medical Aesthetician, Sandra Caldwell. With years of experience, Sandra will educate you in depth on the benefits of facial rejuvenation treatments for healthy, glowing summer skin. A simple switch to cleansers for oily skin. A rich nourishing moisturizer for itchy dry skin. Sensitive skin? Sandra has the answers and can recommend products from our wide variety of lines- PCA, AVENE, Neocutis, iS Clinical, Jane Iredale Mineral Makeup, Advanced Mineral Makeup, and many more.

Take the time to learn about summer skincare options. The heat is on.

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Skin that is properly maintained with regular peels and home care stays healthy, youthful and radiant at any age. The “new” peels have unique blend of ingredients that produce powerful results with very little discomfort and no down time. At the Blume Skin Centre we have many different peels to choose from. These new generation aesthetic peels will improve the following: tone, texture, clarity of your skin, reduce or eliminate age spots, freckles, and hyper-pigmentation, including melasma, clear acne skin conditions, soften lines and wrinkles.

Vi Peel
Vi Medical Products offers a cutting-edge line of products that reverse and prevent skin aging for beautiful skin that lasts a lifetime. The Blume Skin Centre offers two fabulous Vi Peels. The Vi Peel Precision Plus is perfect for anti-aging, pigmentation and melasma. The Vi Peel Acne Peel is ideal for treating all types of acne. This new peel is designed to quickly clear acne and the scars it leaves behind, regardless of the patient’s age or skin type.

PCA Skin Peels
The experts at PCA Skin have devoted over two decades to the development of highly effective peels that safely treat all skin types. PCA Skin Peels are essential to overall skin health and provide added nutrients for faster, more dramatic results. The Blume Skin Centre offers custom PCA Peels to effectively treat all skin concerns; they are also great options for maintaining skin health and help prevent visible damage.

These restorative peels repair damaged skin and add a healthy glow. Why wait months for results when you can enjoy beautiful, radiant skin in about a week?Please call The Blume Skin Centre and book an appointment with Sandra Caldwell, Medical Aesthetician/CLT, for younger looking, healthier skin!

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Start planning now by scheduling your skincare appointments so that you have that holiday glow! You deserve it!

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