Maintaining the Results of Your Facial Rejuvenation with At-Home Skincare

At Laser Lights Cosmetic Laser Center, we take pride in helping our patients to look their best, whether through laser skin resurfacing, a chemical peel, or SilkPeel®–the newest form of microdermabrasion. But time and again, we’ve seen that the patients who experience the best, longest-lasting results are those who maintain an at-home skincare regimen. So to help our patients get the most out of their treatments and hold onto their younger look, we’ve laid out the basic elements of an effective daily skincare routine.

1. Wash your face twice per day.

Our skin comes into contact with countless tiny particles and debris throughout the day, so it’s no wonder that it can give our face a dull appearance or clog our pores and cause the occasional pimple. But, because excessive face washing can deprive your skin of the oils and nutrients it needs, it’s important not to over-wash, either. That’s why dermatologists recommend washing your face twice per day, plus any time you sweat significantly.

Here are a few tips to make your cleansing sessions as productive as possible:

• Look for a cleanser that doesn’t contain alcohol and is formulated for your skin type (e.g., “oily skin,” or “sensitive skin”).
• Don’t scrub. Simply dampen your face with warm water, apply the cleanser, and gently work it into a lather with your fingers, then rinse and blot dry with a clean towel. Scrubbing can irritate your skin.

2. Use daily moisturizer.

Moisturizer is one of the most effective anti-aging products you can buy. Our skin naturally becomes drier as we age, contributing to the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Just as with a cleanser, look for a moisturizer that is formulated for your skincare concerns. The best time to apply moisturizer is immediately after a shower or bath, because it traps more moisture in the skin and becomes even more effective. But keep in mind that your other skin needs moisture too, not just your face, so make a habit of using body moisturizer as well as lip balm on a daily basis.

3. Use sunscreen every day, not just when you plan to spend time outdoors.

Most dermatologists agree that two of the best skincare products to slow aging before it starts are moisturizer and sunscreen. Not only can sun exposure lead to serious problems like skin cancer, but it can significantly speed up your skin’s aging. Age spots, for example, actually don’t come from age—they come from repeated sun exposure over time. The sun’s rays can be harmful even through windows and on cloudy days, so it’s best to build a sunscreen into your daily morning routine. To save you a step, you can even use a moisturizer with sunscreen included. Just be sure to look for a product that says “broad spectrum” or “UVA/UVB protection” and has an SPF of 30 or higher.

We hear what you’re saying—this all sounds like great advice until you go to the skincare aisle in a drugstore and realize that there are dozens of options for each product. Don’t worry, we can help with that, too! Before any of our cosmetic treatments, the first step if a pre-treatment consultation and skin analysis. During this appointment, our expert aestheticians will examine your skin so that we can determine the right setting and specifications for your treatment. This exam will give you some valuable insight into your skin’s features and problem areas, and we can recommend the types of products that will work best for your skin type. To take the first step, schedule a consultation online. Or, to learn more about the services and products we offer, join us on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.