4 Tips for Starting Your Skin Care Journey

In the world we live in today, we're told we need to take care of ourselves in many aspects of our lives. We need to focus on:

* Physical health - what we eat and how we exercise our bodies on a daily basis.

* Mental health - our own thoughts and emotions, if we're dealing with trauma and how to talk it out in a positive way.

* Spiritual health - getting in touch with ourselves beyond our physical form, and nourishing it.

But how often do you really stop and think about how you can care for your body's largest organ, the shell that protects your insides from the outside world? Here are 4 tips to get you started on your skin care Journey:

1 . Do your research

It’s very important to make sure you do some extensive research on your own before you step into this journey. This would be the time to look up why you should care for your skin, who you can go to to help you get a better understanding of it, and how you could make little every day changes that can contribute to your process. This is especially beneficial in the age of DIY skincare online which may not always be your best bet if you want a more individual experience.

This would also be a good time for you to research the different skin types there are, so you could get a general understanding of where your skin may fall on the list.

Esthetician - also known as aesthetician; a specialist in the cleansing, beautification, and preservation of the health of skin on the entire body, including the face and neck

Dermatologist -physician who specializes in diseases and disorders of the skin, hair, and nails

Skin type -classification that describes a person’s genetic skin type

2 . Book for a consultation

If there’s anything I have learned in my own professional Journey, starting off with a consultation is the best way for you to not only get to know your Esthetician, or Dermatologist, but it’s an awesome way for you to get to know your own skin. This will give you the opportunity to ask questions, take notes, and connect with the person whom you will be on this journey with for the long haul.

3. Book for your first facial

I personally think (this is optional) that starting off with a classic or a basic beginners facial is the perfect way to dip your foot into the skincare world. Of course after you and your professional have your consultation, the following step would be to book for the actual facial process, this is where all of the good stuff happens. Not only do you get to find out about what your skin needs, but you get to enjoy the relaxing experience. Most people don’t know that facials come with massages, and steam and some spas even give you light therapy. These are a few of the many things that make the experience memorable.

Now keep in mind that this is not the case for everyone, which is why I said it was optional. Your professional could recommend a different treatment for you.

4. Start small (per recommendation)

I’m sure we all know by now that creating new habits doesn’t happen overnight, it’s something you have to work on, to build up day by day. When it comes to having a skin care routine, I can understand why one would think there needs to be 10-19 steps, based on what we see in the media. But as I’ve learned since becoming an esthetician, the words “A little goes a long way” (credit to whoever came up with that) has never been more true. Having 2-3 products to start off makes a significant difference, but only if you commit to them. At most you need a good cleanser, a moisturizer, and the #1 recommended product worldwide, SPF. Now, testing is a huge part of this process, it may take a few tries before you actually find the right brand that really works for your skin, but it’s all worth it in the end for those amazing finishing results.

No one has a perfect journey, just one that works for them. And there will most certainly be times where life will get in the way of basic everyday care, but staying committed and consistent is the key to reaching your goal. And the goal is not to stop when your skin looks and feels better, but to continue to take care of it as it, and you, change through the course of your life.