Skincare Basics

When your skin is supple, hydrated and clear your makeup goes on smoother and you need less of it, which saves you precious minutes in the morning.That's not to say it's easy to have perfect skin, but it takes less time and effort than you think.

What products do I absolutely need to use?

It is important to cleanse the skin, exfoliate on a regular basis, moisturize if you are dry, and use SPF.

Is toner essential? Or is it a step I can skip?

Toners are not essential but newer toners are alcohol free and also contain ingredients that help balance the skin and remove any residual make up and cleanser.

Do I need a separate eye cream? Or can I use my regular face cream?

I do prefer a separate eye cream. The under eye area is more sensitive than the skin on the rest of the face. I look for products that contain niacinamide, caffeine, and sepi-white- which can even out skin tone in this area and help with dark under eye circles.

I often grab whatever is in the shower or in my medicine cabinet on my skin. Do I need to use all the products from the same line (face wash, toner, moisturizer)?

You can use products from different lines however if you are using products that contain ingredients such as salicylic or glycolic acid or other ingredients that can irritate the skin, then you need to be careful in terms of the concentrations of these ingredients because if they are all at the highest strength it can increase the risk of irritation. For this reason it might be safer to stay with one line that is matched. If you have sensitive skin, you should also look for products that have certain consistencies such as being fragrance free and dye free.

Do I need to use the same product line day and night? Why or why not?

Night products are usually more emollient since you lose more water from the skin at night. Also some ingredients are light sensitive and are better used at night. Day creams also usually contain SPF, which is not necessary at night.

In your opinion are Botox and fillers time-savers?

They are time savers now, and they save you from time as well... When your skin is smoother you need less make up and any makeup you use will stay looking good all day and into the evening. Also you make fewer lines and wrinkles over time so the benefits are that you truly age more gracefully and stay looking younger which saves you from "father time."