Devon’s Top 25 Skincare Tips
Tip # 1
Always layer from thinnest to thickest
Even if you have the best, healthiest, and the most expensive skincare regimen in the world, if you aren’t using your products in the right order, you could be preventing your skin from reaching its full beauty potential.
Here’s a basic product usage roadmap for you to follow:
1. Remove Your Makeup
You absolutely must start with a blank canvas if you want your skin to enjoy the full effects of your skincare products.
2. Cleanse
A bit of a no brainer, this step ensures that your pores are cleaned, prepped and ready to receive the next steps in your protocol.
3. Active Products
For all the products you use post-cleanse – from serums to toners to moisturizers to – you’ll want to apply them in order from the thinnest to the thickest. This will ensure the products deeply penetrate your skin for maximum effectiveness.
Tip # 2
Don’t pick that pimple
There are few things in life that match the satisfaction of popping a pimple.
But…
The number of potential problems that can result from popping pimples far outweigh the immediate gratification factor.
For starters, unless you hold your hygiene to hospital operating room cleanliness standards, chances are you’ll be introducing new bacteria to an already compromised area, which can result in an infection.
To that, any ejected pus, sebum, or grime can easily seep into other pores, leading to further breakouts.
The act of popping itself is very destructive, and can cause damage and sometimes scars.
But the real kicker is that once a pimple has been popped, the pore itself remains irritated and swollen. The damage incurred from the popping, will likely remain on your skin much longer than if you had simply left your pimple alone.
All that said, when performed properly (and especially in the hands of a trained skincare technician), extractions can clear certain types of pimples.
But be warned: bad techniques combined with trying to pick a peck of non-pickable pimples can be a recipe for disaster.
Tip #3
Exfoliate, but don’t overdo it
Want to know our secret weapon to perfect skin?
Exfoliating in moderation
If you’re like us, you might have a tendency to overdo things. After all, if a little of something is good for you, shouldn’t a lot be even better?
When it comes to exfoliation, less is often more. Exfoliate 2-3 times a week with a physical scrub that has lactic acid is a perfect way to achieve beautiful skin.
Your pores will stay minimized, and your fine lines will run for the hills…
Our favorite scrub?
The Veritas Bioactives Pore Perfecting Polish...
>>> https://veritasbioactives.myshopify.com/collections/flawless/products/pore-perfecting-polish-1
Tip #4
Give your neck a break
Studies show that on average, Americans spend nearly 3 hours per day looking at their phones.
All that email reading and Instagram stalking while holding your head at a 45 degree angle leads to a whole host of issues, the worst of which being that you're literally changing the anatomy of your neck.
As far as your skin is concerned, all that looking down at your screen can affect the skin underneath your chin, causing it to sag and look fuller or jowly.
You can, and your should, apply moisturizer (don’t forget the SPF!) to the neck, as a counter balance, but there’s a simpler fix:
Stop looking down at your phone so much!
Bring your screen up to eye level, and stand up tall so there's no curve in your spine. A little good posture goes a long way.
Tip #5
Sleep right to avoid wrinkles
We all know that good rest has a positive rippling effect in all areas of our lives, your skin included.
But did you know? After UV exposure, the second leading cause of wrinkles is sleeping.
We don’t mean that the act of sleep literally causes wrinkles. Specifically, it’s the positioning of your face that’s the culprit.
Repeatedly squishing your head into your pillow (like when you sleep on your side or stomach) promotes collagen breakdown, which can be likened to ironing wrinkles into your face.
As much as possible, we recommend positioning your head so the lower half of your face never touches your pillow. Or even better, sleep on your back!
If neither of those options are possible, another avenue to try is a silk pillowcase, which allows your skin to slide across the pillow (rather than squish).
And at a bare minimum, always aim for 7-8 hours of sleep per night to rejuvenate your skin.
Tip #6
Save face by ditching the foam
If you’re currently using a foaming facial cleanser, heed this one word of advice:
STOP
Your goal in cleansing your skin is to:
Remove dirt, dust, pollen and any harmful environmental pollution
What you don’t want to remove your skin’s own moisturizing factors, and you definitely don’t want to irritate, upset or harm your skin barrier.
This often results in dryness, sensitivity and quickening of the aging process.
Foaming cleansers have high levels of sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) and sodium laureth sulphate (SLES). The more foam these cleansers make, the more SLS and SLES is involved.
Why is it bad?
SLS AND SLES have been shown to trigger skin irritation or cause an allergic reaction in the skin. To boot, there is a by-product that’s born from the creation of Sodium Lauryl/Laureth Sulfates known as “nitrosamines.” Studies show that 90% of these nitrosamines are cancer-causing.
Tip #7
When it gets hot out, stow your skincare products in the fridge.
We’ve had clients report that they love doing this year round with their moisturizers, especially their eye cream.
You’ll get a double benefit with the cool temperature of the product deflating puffiness while also working to wake you up with a quick, invigorating rush!
This can go for more than just your skincare products.
Your nail polish won’t thicken nearly as quickly if it’s kept refrigerated. Your cooling masks will be even more refreshing and relaxing. And, you can be sure that there will be no unnecessary product evaporation due to the sweltering temperatures.
Tip #8
Save the bulk of your skincare routine for bedtime
Here’s a little-known skincare secret that you can implement right away.
Think you need to go big during your morning skincare routine?
Turns out nighttime is the right time for upping your self care game.
Derms agree that the skin repairs itself overnight, so products with active ingredients and thick moisturizers are best used in the evening.
Before bed (or when you get home from work), do a double cleanse, exfoliation (2-3 times a week), add a toner or mask, and finish with a night cream.
Tip #9
Food has a huge impact on your face
Is your diet trashing your face?
While it’s true your diet keeps your body fit and trim, its impact doesn’t stop there.
The food you eat—from wrinkle-fighting antioxidants in fruits and vegetables to hydrating healthy fats in fish—matters to your skin almost as much as it does to your waistline.
Whatever your put into your body shows on your skin, it is a closed system.
If you feed your system well, it will look good!
Stabilizing your diet has a huge effect on the appearance of your skin, so reduce your sugar and caffeine intake and up the H2O.
Tip #10
Eat two servings of omega-3s
No amount of night cream can counteract the skin-damaging effects of a poor diet.
For the best skin possible, adopt a healthy eating regimen with a focus on omega-3 fatty acids (salmon, cod, walnuts, chia pudding).
This encourages the body to produce anti-inflammatory compounds that reduce skin redness, breakouts, and puffiness.
Tip #11
Ditch the dairy
Hormones like progesterone and insulin found in cow's milk increase levels of inflammation, which can trigger acne. If you struggle with breakouts, you'd be wise to go lactose-free to see how your skin responds.
Tip #12
Take preventive measures when working out
It’s fairly safe to assume you wouldn’t purposely apply hair products to your face.
But in certain environments, or under certain conditions, the residue can end up there anyway.
Next time you’re doing your do, cover your face with a clean towel to protect your skin against any errant hair spray.
And when you exercise, we recommend taking a page out of Lebron’s notebook and wearing a sweatband. This will prevent hair products from dripping down onto your face when you begin to sweat.
Tip #13
Don’t apply moisturizer to dry skin
Moisturizers fight the good fight against dry skin, so it seems reasonable that they should be applied directly to dry skin.
Clean skin yes, but dry skin, NO!
Moisturizers are most effective when skin is still damp, as damp skin best absorbs the moisture and will “lock it in” for a longer period of time.
For best results, apply your moisturizer shortly after cleansing – BEFORE your skin is totally dry.
Tip #14
Learn how to apply moisturizer properly
As you age, your skin’s ability to retain moisture decreases.
And lack of moisture = wrinkle city!
Moisturizing is a seemingly simple act, but maximizing your product’s benefits is a nuanced set of steps.
Step 1: Wash your hands and face
Step 2: Distribute a pea to cashew-sized amount of moisturizer to the center of your palms (not your fingertips)
Step 3: Quickly rub your palms together to warm the moisturizer and ensure even application
Step 4: Apply first to cheeks using a gentle circular motions
Step 5: Spread the moisturizer to your nose, forehead, chin, and neck
Step 6: Gentle upward strokes are best – Avoid rubbing hard or tugging and pulling downward on your face and neck skin
Daily moisturizing is vital to any skincare regimen, regardless of your skin type or age. And during the day, make sure you’re using a moisturizer with chemical-free SPF to protect yourself from the sun’s harmful rays.
Our favorite?
Honour Ultimate SUN Defense SPF30
>> https://veritasbioactives.myshopify.com/collections/honour/products/ultimate-sun-defense-spf-30
Tip #15
Coconut is a win for your skin
Hydrating your body on the inside is just as important as moisturizing it on the outside. When you're dehydrated, your skin cells shrivel up, making fine lines and wrinkles more noticeable.
Drinking plenty of water – especially coconut water – can remedy this, giving your skin a hydrated, healthy, and youthfully plump appearance.
And did you know? Coconut water and coconut oil have antifungal, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory properties. You can apply coconut water directly to your skin, or apply coconut oil to challenged areas to soothe irritation and even treat acne!
Tip #16
Patch test every new skincare product
If you have sensitive skin or if you’ve had a bad reaction to a skincare product in the past, pay close attention:
Patch testing is important because a number of products are formulated with known allergens that can cause what’s called ‘allergic contact dermatitis.’
Even with natural and organic products, it’s possible you may experience an adverse reaction simply because your skin doesn’t like a specific ingredient.
Adverse reaction symptoms can include a rash, it can cause your skin to dry out, increase oil production, or even inflammation or a breakout.
Patch test in two different places: 1) somewhere hidden (in case of a reaction), and 2) somewhere close to the area where the product will be applied.
Example: if you’re testing for your face, we recommend patch testing the side of your neck.
Tip #17
Always remove your makeup at night
It’s been said millions of times, but effectively removing makeup is the gateway to clearer, healthier skin.
When makeup is removed, your skin becomes a clean canvas ready to absorb product for your nighttime routine.
PRO TIP: Don’t procrastinate… Clean your face as soon as you get in the door instead of waiting right before you go to bed.
Tip #18
To supercharge your skin health, go green
This is one of our favorite skincare tips:
Drink a green juice every day.
It’s a great replacement for your afternoon coffee and will transform your skin in a matter of days.
Choosing high quality ingredients for your juice will help oxygenate the skin and stimulate lymphatic drainage (translation - It’ll make your skin less puffy!)
PRO TIP: Start by eating a bit of avocado every day or even throwing half of an avocado into your morning smoothie. Avocado supplies the skin with healthy fats and phytonutrients to hydrate from the inside out and bring back your glow.
Need some recipes? Here's one of our favorites:
https://realbalanced.com/recipe/keto-green-smoothie/
Tip #19
Nighttime is the right time to kick dryness
If you wake up with dry skin, change your bedtime routine, not the morning one.
It’s easier to head off dryness at night than to reverse it the next day.
Tip #20
For period skin use salicylic acid
Period skin is real.
Fluctuations of hormones are responsible for many of the pimples, dryness, oiliness, and the blatantly frustrating things that happen on our skin.
So what do you do?
Cleanse your face thoroughly to combat oil production, which can lead to clogged pores and hormonal acne.
We also recommends using a salicylic acid-containing cleanser in the week leading up to your period if you’re acne-prone. It’s particularly effective at penetrating pores and cleaning out the excess oils that build up during that stage of the cycle.
Our favorite salicylic cleanser?
https://veritasbioactives.myshopify.com/collections/flawless/products/sulfate-free-cleanser
Tip #21
Keep your phone away from your face
For the health of your skin, cellphones should never be placed against your face.
Use headphones/hands-free devices instead of your cellphone when gabbing away with friends. During ovulation, oil production increases, which leads to the formation of occasional blemishes.
This no-phone strategy minimizes bacterial growth on your face.
Tip #22
Your skin loves consistency
We can’t stress enough the importance of a consistent skincare regimen at home.
And if we had to distill down a home regimen to the most important takeaway, it would be this:
No matter how tired you are, don’t go to bed with makeup on.
The 3 minutes it takes to clean and prep your skin is nothing compared to 7 days of breakouts caused by clogged pores thanks to oil and makeup residuals.
Tip #23
Skin love and self love
We recommend looking in the mirror and saying “I love you” out loud.
Seriously… it can be hard to feel confident when your skin’s all outta whack, but...
Take a moment to remember that it’s absolutely normal to have imperfect skin.
We’ve all been there. Even the perfectly retouched models on the pages of fashion magazines (and I promise you, what you see on the pages is not indicative of “real life”)
So show yourself some love. You deserve it!
It’s a really good way to boost self-esteem and your mood. And when you feel good, you can’t help but look good.
Tip #24
Consider a chemical peel
A spotless, lineless, flawless complexion is lying just beneath the surface of your skin—and researchers have found that a classic treatment is the fastest way there.
According to Doris Day, associate professor of dermatology at NYU:
“Turns out good old chemical peels can actually deliver certain skin benefits—like reversing melasma and breakouts—better than high-tech devices.”
And these days, you don’t need to hit the doc or dermatologist’s office to get your hands on a great chemical exfoliator.
Our favorite?
Iconic Date Night!
This alpha-hydroxy-acid nighttime repair crème resurfaces the skin for a smooth, hydrated and even skin texture. And it’s perfectly suited for use as an at-home mini-peel.
>> https://veritasbioactives.myshopify.com/collections/iconic/products/date-night
Tip #25
Regular facials are an absolute must
Chances are that you also know about the powerful health and anti-aging benefits of getting a facial at the hands of an experienced technician.
And who doesn’t love getting pampered from time to time… Facials absolutely check the box for “self care,” and more and more people seem to be catching on to the life-changing power of making time for themselves!
However, there’s still an old stigma around facials – that they’re simply a luxury item or a special occasion purchase. But consider this: If you wanted to have a beautiful beach body for the summer, would you hit the gym one time winter and expect jaw-dropping results? Doubtful.
The same holds true for your skin. Consistent facials are the key to keeping your skin healthy and looking luscious, vibrant and beautiful.