Starting medical-grade skincare products in your 20s and 30s can be the best thing you do for you skin, and what better time to start than during quarantine! Let's talk about where to splurge and where to save on your routine.

The building blocks of your regimen should be where you spend your money: a good vitamin C serum, vitamin A derivative and a physical sunscreen. Before you start slathering on the ones you find in the drugstore skincare aisle, keep in mind that over the counter products might not work as quickly or actively. Active products are what cause amazing changes in your skin tone + texture, so they should be purchased or prescribed from a medical professional. This will ensure the results are worth the value of the product!

• Vitamin C serum helps to brighten & smooth the texture of skin, while also providing enhanced protection from free radical damage. Since sunscreen should be applied every 90 minutes, which most of us don't do, vitamin C helps to give us that extra protection where we lack!

• Vitamin A derivatives come in many names and many forms. I prefer a retinol in serum form because it's great for both oily and dry skin types. Vitamin A helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines + wrinkles, shrink pores and minimize breakouts. It promotes healthy, glowing skin and offers best results when combined with a Vitamin C serum.

• Lastly, invest in a physical sunscreen that doesn't feel like a job to put on. I lean towards ones that are tinted and act more like a BB cream! I'm biased to SHIELD from my line of course, but EltaMD and Revision make nice tinted physical sunscreens as well. Just make sure whatever you choose contains Zinc + Titanium Dioxide and not chemicals!

Products that make your skin "feel good",instead of causing changes on a cellular level, are where you can save your money. This includes things such as cleanser, moisturizer or certain OTC treatments (masks, chemical exfoliants). They don't need to be expensive to work for you and your regimen. Some of my favorites even come from the drugstore! If you're in your 20s and 30s, you don't need an expensive anti-aging moisturizer (yet) so instead maybe you pick up something from La Roche Posay! This way you can focus spending your money where it counts, on those active medical-grade products that will make a difference.

Things to keep in mind:

Products don't work if you're not using them consistently

Commit to your best skin + the money you invested! Push yourself to utilize your products every AM and PM because it takes 60 days to make a habit.

Exfoliate

The removal of any dead, dry skin will allow for your skincare products to do their best work. Added bonus, it increases radiance and youthfulness!

Don't neglect the neck

Make sure you spread the love not just around your face, but also down to your neck and chest. You WON'T regret this when you're older! If you have extra product, include the backs of your hands as well. These are all areas that will give away your age if not cared for properly during these years.

Sunscreen Every. Darn. Day.

No matter if it's the dead of winter or if you don't think you get any sun exposure sitting at a desk 8 hours a day, still put on your sunscreen. Please!

During this crazy + weird time, definitely take advantage of our complimentary consultation! We can start you on a power-packed regimen that will leave you glowing or even map out a treatment plan for once this is all over (hopefully soon!). After your consultation, you will receive a coupon code for our online shop and a discount on any pre-booked appointments! A little self-care goes a long way towards helping you feel your best these days, even if you don't get out of your pajamas.

Stay safe and healthy #defybabes. Looking forward to seeing you all in the office.