Easy Steps for Glowing, Healthy Skin | Let's GLOW Podcast

With so much information out there, it can be incredibly overwhelming to know what steps to take and why each one is important. By the end of this episode, I want you to have a clear, no pun intended, easy to follow skincare routine that will help you to maintain healthy, glowing skin. Let's get started. Okay, so let's begin with the basics. A proper skincare routine actually involves a few steps, each with its own purpose and benefits.

These key steps we'll cover today are cleansing, toning, performance serums, moisturizing, and protection, which is SPF. Understanding the importance of each step will help you to build a routine that meets your skin's unique needs. We'll also discuss the difference between over the counter and clinical grade skincare products and provide tips for different skin types.

Before we really dig into these steps, I often get asked, if I had to pick the bare minimum in my skincare routine, what would I do? Okay, here's the deal. The very bare minimum that I would love to see you all doing is cleanse morning and night, moisturize after cleansing morning and night. And then during the day, SPF. Now, I would love for you to add a performance serum as well.

And the one performance serum that over the entire board that is great for pretty much every skin type is hyaluronic acid. So there you have it. If you had to choose the bare bones basics, it would be cleanse, performance serum, moisture and SPF. Okay. So your first step, let's talk about cleansing. The first step in any skincare routine is to remove any dirt, oil, excess makeup, and impurities from your skin. This helps to prevent clogged pores and breakouts.

Removing impurities, is important because as we go through our day, we're accumulating dirt, oil, pollutants, germs, all those things that need to be washed away to keep your skin clean and healthy. Cleansing also prepares your skin for other products. It creates a clean slate and this allows skincare products to penetrate better and work more effectively. Now, when you go to cleanse, The amount that you need is only about a nickel size. You don't need to use a whole big blob.

This will waste your product. You'll burn through it a lot faster and you know, more is not always better. So you're going to cleanse with lukewarm water. Using that little bit of a nickel size amount, emulsify it a little bit in your hand with some water, massage the cleanser onto your skin for about 60 seconds and rinse thoroughly again, using lukewarm water, because hot water can really strip your skin of its natural oils.

Now, some tips on what kind of skin type and what kind of cleanser to use. So if you have dry skin, we want to use something gentle and hydrating for oily and acne prone skin. Looking for a foam or gel cleanser that will work best for you. And then for sensitive skin, something fragrance free and gently formulated will be best for you. Normal skin, a balanced cleanser that maintains hydration without over stripping is the most ideal. Next up, let's chat about toners.

Toners actually help to remove remaining impurities after cleansing and prepare your skin to absorb the following products. Not every line actually has toners, but I absolutely think it makes such a difference on pores. I mean, hello, raise your hand if you have pore issues. It helps to. Restore that pH balance. So toners are actually a really great step to add back in.

If you haven't been doing it or have taken it out and I'm obsessed, obsessed with PCAs, nutrient toner as my exfoliator twice a week, or I use the hydrating toner every single day. I just love the way it feels. It makes my skin feel smoother and I really notice a difference in my pores. So, toners, not only, restores pH balance, helps to tighten those pores, giving your skin a smoother look, and adds another layer of protection.

This can help with hydration, protecting against environmental pollutants, it's just a really great addition. So, how to choose the right toner, you want to choose something alcohol free to avoid drying out your skin. And you only need to put enough toner, to dampen a cotton pad or a few drops on your fingertips, and then kind of spread it all around your face and then just let it soak in. For dry skin, look for toners with hydrating ingredients like glycerin or hyaluronic acid.

For oily skin, choosing a toner with ingredients like witch hazel will really help to control excess oil. And you can even use witch hazel. It's a really great option, very cost effective and can be found in most drugstores or Target, Walmart, all the places in the skincare section. For sensitive skin, looking for a toner with ingredients like chamomile or Allo will really be soothing. And for normal skin, we can use toners that just maintain hydration and balance the skin.

Next up are the serums. Now this is where a lot of complication seems to happen. I hear, okay, so. I don't know if I should add the serum after my moisturizer, before my moisturizer. What if I'm using two serums? So after you cleanse and you tone, or if you're skipping that toner cleanse, then your serum goes on. Now, if you are using two different serums, you know, there's no mystical, magical, way to apply them. ultimately the ingredients are absorbing in.

If you apply your hyaluronic acid and then if you're using something for redness, if you switch them around, they're still going to work. So try not to get too caught up in that, Consistency in using them is the biggest, factor in this. So performance serums, this step is involving applying targeted treatments, that are packed with the active ingredients, for specific skin concerns such as aging. Acne, hyperpigmentation, dehydration. There's truly a serum for pretty much everything.

Serums are wonderful because they deliver active performance ingredients. These treatments are formulated to penetrate deeply and deliver high concentrations of these active ingredients to address hyperpigmentation, regular use of them can improve your skin's overall health and appearance, making it look youthful and radiant, depending on what the ingredients are. So the amount.

of serum that you, should be using is if it's in a pump bottle, using literally one pump should cover your face and neck. Maybe one and a half if you're, a little bit larger, everyone's got a different size face and neck. So if it's a dropper, three to five drops typically is sufficient for your entire face and neck. You don't need to overdo it on the serum. More is not always better.

So for a serum, apply a few drops to your face, pressing it into your skin, letting it fully absorb before moving on to the moisturizing step. So when you're dealing with. serums, you want to think about what you're trying to treat. So if you're dealing with fine lines, I recommend looking for a product with hyaluronic acid or peptides. For acne prone skin, a serum with salicylic acid or niacinamide might be the most beneficial.

And for hyperpigmentation, I love a serum with vitamin C or licorice root extract. So a lot of great products out there. One of my, Absolute favorite products is hyaluronic acid . I am obsessed, and PCA has a really, really great one. But there's a lot of good ones out there, for different skin types. If you have dry skin serums to consider adding would be hyaluronic acid or glycerin based serums. For oily skin, I love ingredients like niacinamide. and salicylic acid.

These can manage oil production and prevent breakouts for sensitive skin. Let's look for calming ingredients again, like chamomile, aloe. There's a lot of great products out there for sensitive skin as well. And again, normal skin, a good old hyaluronic acid is kind of the old standby. Next up is moisturizer. It's essential for all skin types, even oily skin. It helps to maintain hydration and lock in moisture.

Hydrating the skin is super important because not only does it help your skin to stay plump and healthy and gorgeous, it protects your skin barrier. This helps to strengthen your skin's protective barrier and protect from environmental damage and moisture loss. Regular use of moisturizer Can prevent your skin from becoming dry and flaky, which can lead to irritation and other skin issues. Now the amount of moisturizer to use. This is a biggie.

So many of my clients will be like, Oh my gosh, I'm going through this so fast. And I'll be like, wait a minute. are you using that nickel size amount, for your whole face and neck? And they're like, no, like the size of a marshmallow. So let's think about using only about a nickel size and it should spread nicely all over your entire face and your neck. And don't forget about your neck. that is our like forgotten area.

And let me tell you, as we age, that is the first tell is our neck looking saggy, so we don't want any of that. So when you're choosing. your moisturizer, first of all, yes, only about a nickel size, applying it all over, gently massaging until it's absorbed. But when you're looking for a moisturizer for your skin type, for dry skin, we want to look for a creamy formula. for oily skin, something lightweight.

Oftentimes, gel based moisturizers are really great for oily skin for combination skin, something balanced that addresses the T zone. Because oftentimes with combo skin, you're going to have some oily areas with some bigger pores, but then some really dry areas. And then normal skin, something that maintains hydration without being too heavy. Again, I feel like a broken record, but I am really into PCA. I think the products are amazing. And there is literally a moisturizer for every skin type.

I do have a link down below if you want to check it out. Otherwise, I'm always here if you have questions as well. So on to protecting your skin or SPF, which as you get to know me, you'll know I'm really big on SPF. And again, for those of you who Fun fact, I shared this in the last episode, but 80 percent on average of our signs of aging come from sun damage. So SPF is our BFF. this is the final and most crucial step in your skincare routine. Protecting your skin is absolutely essential.

Okay, this is going to prevent, of course, premature aging, but also help against, you know, any sort of starting of skin cancer, So, of course, we all know it prevents UV damage. UV rays are very harmful. They cause sunburn, premature aging, and increase our risk of skin cancer. regular use really helps to prevent not only hyperpigmentation, but helps your skin stay younger looking longer. I recommend using about a nickel size amount for your entire face and neck.

Not forgetting about areas like your ears, your neck, the back of the hands, even that part and your eyebrows. Somehow the eyebrows seem to always get missed. If you're going for on your body, use about a shot glass full. I believe that's about two ounces, that should cover your body. You want to reapply every two hours and use a sunscreen that's at least an SPF of 30 broadband spectrum. Or broad spectrum sunscreen is the best in my opinion.

And look for something with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide in it. These are mineral sunscreens and they are reef safe, super clean, great for your skin. Now, let's discuss the difference between over the counter and clinical grade skincare products. I hear this question all the time, you know, what if I just go to Walmart or Ulta and get some stuff, or why should I buy it from a medical spa or esthetician?

Understanding the differences can actually help you to make a more informed choice with your skincare routine. So over the counter skincare products, they're still very good. They're widely available in drugstores, supermarkets, online without a prescription. And are really accessible for a lot of people. Oftentimes, you know, the price point is a little lower, but not always.

These also are those, Instagram pop up ads for bizarro products, which we'll have to tackle that in a different episode, but oftentimes these products have lower concentrations of active ingredients and. The molecular size is also a bit larger as well, which means that really will not penetrate deep enough into the skin, for the performance ingredients to be as effective.

Formulation and testing of these over the counter products aren't as rigorous generally, with the formulation processes compared to these clinical or medical grade products as well. So, when we're talking about those clinical or medical grade products, it has a higher concentration of active ingredients. This means these products are more concentrated. a little tiny bit typically goes a long way because those active ingredients are very concentrated.

This makes them more potent and more effective for treating those specific skin concerns that you have. Plus, they have a smaller molecule size, so they're actually able to penetrate deeper into the skin and get to where they need to be for effectiveness. Medical grade products are also formulated and tested more rigorously, ensuring that they meet the higher standards for efficacy and safety.

So typically, even though they cost a little more at first, they will last a lot longer because you do not need to use as much. So you have to weigh out that cost effectiveness per use. So if something, from, Walgreens costs, 30 bucks, but you're going through it every single month, maybe you're more likely to buy the 100 serum that's gonna last you three or more months. Get what I'm saying? So, usually these professional grade clinical or medical grade products.

If you're buying them through a dermatologist, estheticians, medical spas like they come with that professional advice as well and guidance on how to use them. So it's not necessarily that medical grade or clinical is what you 100 percent need to be using, even though I am. a fan. Over the counter products are still really suitable for maintaining general skin health and addressing mild skin concerns.

And they're a really great starting point for those new to the skincare world or looking for basic maintenance. You know, like I said, the medical grade is more targeted, but you have to go with what is best for your skin. So before we totally wrap up a few additional tips to enhance your skin care routine are exfoliating regularly. Of course, I'm a fan of exfoliating one to two times a week. This helps to remove dead skin cells and keeps your skin smooth and glowing. Using a gentle exfoliant.

Suitable for your skin type is preferred. I love toners for exfoliants specifically nutrient toner. I, I love it because it has like pumpkin enzyme in it. Different enzymes are great. I just really like to avoid those physical exfoliants. So things that have the shells ground up and more abrasive. So we really want to try to avoid those. Next, staying hydrated. Again, as you get to know me, you know, I'll be always hydrated.

all about drinking water for that perfect, beautiful lit from within skin. So the rule of thumb is to take your body weight, cut it in half, and that's how many ounces a day we want to be drinking for the best skin ever. And next up, I mean, I wouldn't be a good Nutrition coach or exercise physiologist. If I didn't mention that a healthy diet is really important to, we literally are what we eat, so thinking about adding fruits and veggies and healthy fats can actually really improve your health.

And the skin appearance and sleep, sleep is super important. Quality sleep is essential for skin rejuvenation and overall health, but six to eight hours a night is what we want to shoot for. And really consistency is key. Stick to your routine consistently to see best results. I recommend giving a product at least four weeks before you decide it's not for you and you chuck it. I don't know about you, but I have a whole drawer of basically skincare rejects, if you will.

I'll use something for a while and either it will make my skin really angry, which probably won't. If something does make your, your skin itchy, hot, red, inflamed, do not power through for four weeks. That's not right for your skin if it's doing that. But, if it's just that you're like, Oh, I'm not really seeing results yet. Give it some time. Your skin really needs a little bit of time for you to really see, The benefits of whatever skincare product you introduce.

And that's all for today's episode of Let's Glow. I hope you found this breakdown of proper skincare empowering and easy to implement. Remember that each step in your skincare routine has a specific purpose and when done correctly can help you to achieve healthy radiant skin. If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast and tune in next time. This is Jaime signing off. Stay radiant, stay informed, and until next time, let's glow! Mhm.