Skincare Rule #3

SKINCARE RULES This series focuses on concepts I’ve learned after 25 years of running a professional skincare practice that apply to everyone. See all our Skincare Rules on Instagram

III. Oil dissolves oil

1. Most retail facial cleanser, exfoliants, shampoos, and shave creams are made from Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) because it dissolves oil
2. SLS have an alkaline pH which is drying to human skin
3. Professional skincare uses botanical lipids (oils) instead of SLS because oil also dissolves oil without drying
4. A well formulated lipid based cleanser will not leave your skin feeling oily!
5. Healthy skin has a radiant glow because of something called an Acid Mantle
6. Your Acid Mantle is your skin’s natural lipid barrier, acidic in pH, which holds water in (prevents evaporation) and keeps infection out (like the acne bacteria)
7. When our skin is young, many people seem to be able to use products containing SLS without experiencing their drying effects.
8. By the time our clients are in their early to mid 30’s they begin to notice their skin is changing and can no tolerate Sulfate based cleansers
9. This is when they begin to seek Professional Skincare alternatives to retail skincare
10. If you are in your early to mid 30’s or older and are beginning to notice changes in your skin, then it is time to try something new
11. Not all oils are created equal
12. Just because a cleanser says it uses oil, doesn’t mean it is appropriate for your age, skin type, or skin condition
13. Professional skincare provides skin analysis to determine the best course of treatment
14. The goal of Professional Skincare is to balance the oil and water; not too much or too little of one or the other. This cannot be achieved on your own at home. It requires Professional Skin Analysis, Exfoliation, Extraction, and deep hydrating methods to determine the correct course of treatment.I love this photo because it really shows well what a healthy acid mantle looks like; radiant and glowing, not oily or dehydrated.

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