Self-care is trending and we (an
d our skin) couldn't be happier. By now, you have hopefully developed a skincare routine that works for you and delivers glowing, consistent results. However, you may have been wanting to take your skincare to the next level and try an in-office treatment to increase your product's efficacy or combat any plateau in your glow.
Whether you've been skipping steps in your nighttime routine or have been following every step religiously and are simply ready to graduate to something a little more GLAMOROUS *cue the Fergie song*, it may be time to consider a professional facial.
THE CASE FOR SIMPLE AT-HOME ROUTINES
So, when does your at-home regimen make the cut, and when may it be worth it to spend your hard-earned savings, you may ask? Let's unmask it all.
It is SO important to have both a morning and night skincare routine, and that you commit to it on a regular basis. Consistency is key, and your skin will thank you.
Whether you've mastered a 13-step Korean skincare masterpiece or are just beginning to invest in a line of skincare products, there are 3 key points you should be hitting for the best return on that hard-earned $$$ you're spending: cleanse, exfoliate, and hydrate. These are the foundations of any quality skincare routine and should be the absolute NECESSITIES of anyone's routine.
However, skincare doesn't begin and end at the sink – so many of our self-care decisions throughout the day have huge impacts on our appearance.
Among the list of self-care checklist items are: sufficient sleep, drinking enough water, diet and exercise, and more that can have a direct effect on your outward appearance and the condition of your skin. When you have an unbalanced diet, a poor sleep schedule, skip removing your make-up in the evenings, or any combination of these things, your skin is often the first place to show the signs of neglect. When you've been slacking on your self-care (we've all been there), it is critical to treat your skin to some TLC.
At-home pamper evenings (or mornings) should be a priority; we recommend scheduling your pamper sessions and blocking out time for it each week – giving it just as much importance as that workout or that study session. But, you may be thinking, "I have to work, meal-prep, STUDY, who has time to pamper their skin?"
To you I would introduce STUDY BUDDY® Detoxifying Bentonite Clay Mask - the best solution if you're looking for efficiency and results. STUDY BUDDY® is a powerful, yet easy to use face mask that makes elevating your skincare practices a snap. It takes but moments to apply, and while it works hard clearing and brightening your skin, you can work hard cleaning up your apartment or finishing that paper to meet your deadline. Packed with bentonite clay to draw out impurities, lactic and glycolic acids to exfoliate, as well as olive oil to ensure your skin is not stripped of essential moisture, this multi-tasking marvel is certainly a rockstar product that delivers visible results in just one use, and increased improvements in skin texture and tone over time.
BTW: Did I mention that STUDY BUDDY® Detoxifying Bentonite Clay Mask received the 2019 Teen Vogue Acne Award? Cool, Right?! To check out more about this awesome accolade head to Teen Vouge's article.
WHAT ABOUT OFFICE TREATMENTS?
But what if you want to switch it up or you're ready for some serious enhancement? Whether you've got a special event coming up, or you just simply haven't been making your skincare (a la self-care) a priority, it may be time to indulge in an in-office facial.
I recently had the pleasure of booking a professional facial treatment for myself at a local skincare boutique. Professional facials can lean towards the expensive side, however I wanted to give you guys the 411 on my professional facial experience and break down exactly what it does and if it's worth your cash money. The treatment I chose was recommended by my esthetician for all skin types and can improve a wide range of skincare concerns. Consult your esthetician or dermatologist before you book an in-office treatment.
A facial is a multi-step process that consists of a family of treatment combinations on the skin that may include cleansing, exfoliating, and hydrating, steaming, extractions, etc. There are many different types of facial treatments to choose from and the experience and results may differ based on the type of treatment you chose.
The best part of the facial was not even how I looked leaving the office post-treatment, but how my skin continued to improve over the following day (not to mention escaping the world for an hour). It was relaxing, efficient, result-driven, and certainly worth the splurge in my opinion.
It is SO IMPORTANT to highlight that the esthetician that performed my facial could not emphasize to me enough the importance of having a good at-home skincare routine - especially post-treatment. Follow-up care is important after a deep cleanse because you are putting your skin through a workout and you want to treat it gently and keep it clean and moisturized in the coming days to avoid any breakouts. Your pores are also freshly purged, so you want to be thoughtful about what you're putting on your skin as to not clog them or irritate them as they restore.
Any products that you use post facial are also said to work better because they are better absorbed and able to penetrate to deeper layers of the skin. Following up a facial treatment with a great cleanser like HIGHER EDUCATION PRE-REQ® Purifying Facial Cleanser and protecting it's moisture barrier with DOUBLE MAJOR® Hyaluronic Acid Gel Moisturizer with Multi-Molecular levels of Hyaluronic Acid are incredible options and you may see them work even better now that you've got a clean slate post-facial.
HOME VS. IN-OFFICE
Bear with me now as I create an analogy to help you decide when to treat your skin at home, and when to book an in-office facial:
Think of your skin as a beautiful hand-woven rug. Your daily skin routine (AM & PM) are like your quick daily maintenance chores of vacuuming and spot treatment to keep that rug looking clean and cared for on an ongoing basis. A facial, on the other hand, is like a seasonal deep-cleaning you do bi-annually to professionally clean and refresh that rug for a deeper, more robust clean.
To recap: NOTHING can replace the necessity or efficacy of cleansing, exfoliating and hydrating your skin on a daily basis. Giving your skin the royal treatment and booking a specialized facial with your local esthetician with your graduation money is not only bougie and Instagram-able, but a worthy investment of both that hard earned money and your time. However, don't expect to recover weeks worth of skincare neglect with one in-office treatment- there is no skincare magic trick to perfect skin. Like all good things, good skin takes consistency and investment in everyday rituals and products to see lasting results. And hey, the Higher Education Skincare packaging is just as Instagram-worthy as any in-office facial selfie, and much more affordable for all those gals with student loans.
