Therapy for better skin is both preventative and restorative. The use of good skin care products and the avoidance of excess sun exposure and smoking could make a vast difference in the condition of your skin.

STEP 1 ~ CLEANSING
Skin is not inert – it is a living organ protected by a hydrolipidic film (water & oil), which is constantly rejuvenating itself and producing dead cells, perspiration and sebum. For healthy skin and a fresh complexion, the epidermis must be cleansed. Proper cleansers should remove perspiration, sebum and particles that have accumulated from the air and make-up, without harming the skin’s natural protective barrier.

STEP 2 ~ EXOLIATION
Clearing the epidermis of dead cells by means of thorough exfoliation: makes the skin more receptive to the active ingredients in skin care products; helps improve skin conditions related to clogging; facilitates the clinical extraction of blackheads. Exfoliation is generally performed once or twice a week depending on the condition of the skin. A properly performed exfoliation rejuvenates the skin, allowing it to breathe better and maximizes the effectiveness of corrective products applied afterwards.

STEP 3 ~ TONING
Toning leaves the skin feeling fresh, but it is also an indispensable preparatory step, because water is the skin’s vital vehicle. Toners penetrate the corneous layer, saturating it with aqueous substances that promote delivery of active ingredients in the toner as well as in care products applied afterwards, maximizing their effects.

STEP 4 ~ HYDRATION
Once the epidermis has been cleansed, exfoliated, and toned, it is time to ensure that it is sufficiently hydrated. Water is as essential to skin as it is to a plant. The soil must be moist enough before the fertilizer is added; otherwise the roots might burn. It is the same with skin. The epidermis must be sufficiently hydrated- moist -before it is fed any active ingredients used to treat specific skin conditions; otherwise the treatment would produce no tangible results, or the skin could react with a burning sensation or redness.

Lack of hydration equals dehydration. Hydration means allowing the epidermis to increase its water reserves. There are two things to do to properly hydrate the skin: First, use moisturizers that ensure water retention in the cells of the epidermis. Second, use anti-dehydrant products that help the epidermis retain water by forming a film on the surface of the skin that prevents epidermal water from evaporation. Thus, the skin remains moist and supple and skin care products diffuse easily in the epidermis.

STEP 5 ~ TREATMENT
There are many products available aimed at treating conditions such as dry-alipidic skin (a lack of sebum), oily skin (acne), sensitive and/or couperose skin, mature or tired skin, or skin lacking in tonus. Proper treatment for specific skin conditions means first preventing any loss of epidermal water. There are many things that can cause loss of water: weather conditions, pollution, health problems, and so forth. In addition, a failure of the skin’s natural protective barrier or lack of proper care can aggravate water loss.

So how do you know what to do? The good news is that science has merged with beauty, so know that there is something you can do for yourself to improve your skin and give you a healthier, fresher look. Start by booking your first facial today! An analysis of your skin, by a trained aesthetician, can help you to understand your specific skin type and/or condition and establish a treatment that is right for you.