Clients are always asking her opinion on which products to use but have you ever wondered what products this landlocked Brazilian swears by for that glow? We asked our Spa Manager & Marketing Coordinator Ana to share her skincare routine with us. By the looks of it, the woman does know a thing of two about treating combination skin in this dry Colorado weather. Ready to find out what products she can’t live without? Read on for all of Ana’s skincare secrets!
Because I have combination skin that is oily on the t-zone and chin but dry on cheeks, I alternate between “active” exfoliating products to target build up oils and dirt and fight acne as well as more gentle products to soothe and nurture skin. Since I get a monthly treatment and exercise my skin often, I have developed pretty resilient skin that can handle more than those with sensitive skin.
MORNING
In the morning, I like to use a serum before putting on my sunblock in order to give my skin some extra nourishment. Right now I’m really liking the Ormedic Balancing Anti-Oxidant Serum. If I have any breakouts, I like to use the Clear Cell Medicated Acne lotion as a spot treatment on the acne prior to applying the serum. Then I make sure to protect my skin from the sun with the Prevention+ Daily Tinted Moisturizer mixed with a pea sized amount of the I Conceal Flawless Foundation to mask any skin imperfections and give me a flawless effect.
My favorite thing about the Ormedic Balancing Anti-oxidant Serum is how it immediately calms down my skin when I put it on. Although I don’t have sensitive skin, the dry weather in Colorado does tend to make it feel dry and irritated at times, so I love using this serum to soothe and balance my skin.
The Clear Cell Medicated Acne lotion is my secret weapon to combat any breakouts I may be having! Once every month (I’ll let you ladies guess which time that is) I get breakouts along my jawline so I put a little bit of this lotion on my problem areas and I definitely see a difference. It can be super drying though, so you won’t want to overdo it or use it all over your face. Remember, when it comes to using powerful ingredients like salicylic acid, less is definitely more.
I used to never wear sunscreen until I discovered the tinted one by Image! The tint blends in perfectly without looking like makeup and it gives my skin just a little bit of coverage. Not to mention it’s oil free, so it doesn’t clog my pores and lead to breakouts.
Once I heard Image had launched their own line of foundations and got to try a sample, I immediately tossed all my other foundations in the trash and made the I Conceal Flawless Foundation my go-to. Not only does this foundation give me awesome coverage, a little bit of it mixed with the tinted sunscreen goes a long way in making my skin look flawless, hydrated, and glowy. I also love that the formula is clean and actually contains botanical and oxygenating ingredients to keep my skin healthy, instead of just covering imperfections with questionable ingredients like so many other foundations on the market.
THROUGHOUT THE DAY
I love the Ormedic Balancing Lip Enhancement Complex because it’s a one-stop-shop for hydrated and glossy lips- one application and you’re done! I use it throughout the day and it’s definitely become a product that I cannot do without! It’s the only lip treatment I’ve used that actually heals dry, cracked lips instead of just masking the dryness.
A hydrating, healing lip balm is a must have for this dry Colorado weather!
EVENING
In the evening, I alternate between “active” products that exercise the skin like the Md Cleanser & serum and the Max creme and more gentle, balancing products on the following day, like the Ormedic Cleanser, Vital C Serum, and the Ormedic Creme. Since moving to Colorado I’ve learned the importance of not being too rough on your skin, because overdoing it can lead to inflamed skin and breakouts. After learning to alternate between active and non-active products, I’ve seen a big difference in my skin! Especially in this dry Colorado weather, it’s important to nourish skin in addition to exercising it with active products. I also only wash my face with a cleanser once a day, at night time. This allows my skin to hold on to all the healthy oils it creates overnight while I sleep so that it stays hydrated. I was afraid of switching from my twice a day cleansing routine to once a day at first, but it really does make a HUGE difference in our harsh climate. I also was scared that cleansing my skin only once a day would lead to breakouts, but I’ve found that the opposite is actually true- now that my skin is properly hydrated it’s less prone to breakouts, since inflamed dry skin leads to an over production of oils which is a big cause of acne.
I love the minty feel of this cleanser and how smooth it makes my face feel. It exfoliates my skin without any harsh beads or seeds, which is super important when you’re looking for an exfoliating cleanser! It also helps keep breakouts at bay.
The MD Reconstructive Serum is great for keeping my skin hydrated while also fighting off aging skin with its high concentration of antioxidants like resveratrol and peptides for collagen renewal.
Like all of the products in the MAX line, this creme works to support my skin’s natural defenses and helps with collagen regeneration. I apply it to face, neck, and décolleté area after the MD serum and wake up to smooth, hydrated skin.
I use a gentle cleanser like the Ormedic Balancing Facial Cleanser every other day to help balance out my skin. I love the gel formula and that it makes my skin feel clean without any tightness or itchiness. This cleanser is especially great to use right after some of our powerful treatments like IPL, Microneedling, or Peels since it has a blend of chamomile, green tea and oat kernel extracts to deliver essential nutrients to help heal and restore skin.
I’m not a big fan of super thick and heavy moisturizers, since I find that unless it’s the dead of winter and my skin is feeling super dry, I don’t really need them. This Vital C Hydrating Anti-Aging serum is great when I want to add more moisture to my daily skincare routine without using a super heavy moisturizer. It has an almost velvety consistency and immediately makes my skin feel rejuvenated and moisturized.
On days when I don’t use an active moisturizer, I turn to the Ormedic Balancing Bio-peptide creme. Like all the products in the Ormedic line, this creme is super gentle, healing, and moisturizing and it’s great for when skin feels irritated. I especially like using this if I happen to get a sunburn- it soothes my skin right away while also delivering powerful antioxidants to help keep it healthy.
MONTHLY
Monthly, I receive a Microneedling treatment with our human growth factor. This helps stimulate my collagen, which in turns works to regenerate new and healthy skin cells. It may sound scary, but I promise it’s not! You can learn more about Microneedling here. I also like to alternate Microneedling with Microderm/Facial combo treatments, which helps get rid of any dry, flaky skin and leaves my skin glowing and me feeling very relaxed- it always feels like a treat! In the Winter months, I’m a BIG fan of our peels. People tend to think that Peels are really intense, but it really just depends on the type of peel you decide to do. Because my skin can handle a lot more than others, I like to do our strongest peel- the TCA peel. Seven to ten days after the peel, my skin looks smooth and even, and the peel helps so much with any breakouts and skin texture issues. If there’s one thing I wish everyone knew is that there is the right peel for your skin type and that not all peels are created equal. Always consult with your aesthetician before deciding on the right peel type for you, but do give them a try!