Everyone loves being outside on a beautiful summer day! Not everyone however realizes the sun's affects on our skin. Studies show that 90% of all visible signs of aging can be traced to sun exposure.

Sunscreens help prevent the sun's (UV) radiation from reaching our skin. Sun damages our skin and increases our risk of skin cancer. It causes wrinkles, laxity, broken blood vessels, pigmentary issues, and rough skin appearance. It is absolutely necessary that we add protective precautions to our daily routine. And it's easy! Sunscreen can be found in daytime moisturizers and even makeup foundations. Ensure that your products have broad-spectrum protection against UVA and UVB rays.

There are two types of sunscreen: Chemical that absorbs the UV rays and Physical that blocks and reflects UV rays. You need sun protection that contains both of these plus antioxidants to give you the full-spectrum protection. Chemical filters can sometimes cause irritation, allergic reactions, and burning eyes when perspiring. Physical filters zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are easier for the skin to tolerate.

The following ingredients protect you from both UVA and UVB rays and are what I recommend to look for in a sunscreen product:

• Zinc Oxide
• Titanium Dioxide
• Benzophenones

NOTE: Avobenzone only protects you against UVA rays and Octinoxate only protects you against UVB rays.

Zinc and Titanium are particles that reflect the UV rays, whereas Avobenzone absorbs the UV rays and turns them into heat and then dissipates it. Avobenzone should NOT be worn by anyone who has rosacea, a skin condition that worsens in the presence of heat.

The problem with Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide you might say, is that they make you look pasty and white. This is no longer the case with transparent micronized Zinc and Titanium. The smaller particle size allows them to go on more smoothly without leaving a white cast on the skin.

I prefer using a broad spectrum sunscreen separate from my moisturizer. If I am outdoors and need to reapply, I reapplying sunscreen and not moisturizer. This way I can use the same moisturizer at night as well. For daily protection, apply moisturizer first and then apply sunscreen.

Limiting sun exposure, wearing protective clothing, and using sunscreen reduces the risks of skin aging, skin cancer, and other harmful effects of the sun. If you'll be outdoors, apply 20-30 minutes before sun exposure and reapply every two hours. Take the necessary step and add sunscreen to your skincare regimen. It's quite simply your best anti-aging product!

Janae Recommends: Advanced Protection SPF 30

PS! A question I frequently receive is "Does layering several SPF products increase my sun protection?" and the answer is it does not. You are only protected to the extent of the highest rating of one product.

Do you have any sunscreen questions?  Post a comment below!

From aging, to the environment, stress, water intake, heating elements, air travel, and exposure to UV rays; all of these affect the rate of water loss from the top layer of the skin.

By allowing the skin to absorb water through hydrating ingredients, the skin can then function optimally and avoid common problems such as: dehydration, dryness, oiliness, fine lines, enlarged or clogged pores, uneven texture and irritation.

This is the purpose of a moisturizer.

Moisturizing the skin following cleansing and toning nourishes, hydrates, and protects the skin. All skin types can benefit whether you need an oil-control formula or a moisturizer that continues to deliver constant hydration all throughout the day.

Moisturizers are formulated by skin type: more emollient formulas for dry skin; non-comedegenic, oil-free formulas for oily skins.

These products contain humectants like sodium hyaluronate and glycerin that attract water like a magnet to our skin. Emollients like shea butter and Vitamin E seal and lock in the moisture, giving our skin a protective barrier. Some formulas have anti-aging benefits as well. Another key factor is the climate in which you live or visit. If you are in a drier climate, you will notice that you will need a product completely different than what would be necessary in a humid climate. Pay close attention to your skin - it will tell you what it needs!

Dry, dehydrated, and aging skin will see and feel a change in the skin immediately after moisturizing. The skin will look plump, fine lines and wrinkles will be softened, and it will feel hydrated and comfortable adding even a youthful look! I have experienced this with clients and myself personally. If your skin is looking parched give it a drink of the right moisturizer and you will see you an instant change in your skin!

Janae Recommends: Super Firming Creme - Normal to Dry
Janae Recommends: Continuous Moisture Creme - Extremely Dry

Combination, Oily, Acne-Prone skin will benefit from an oil free, non comedogenic (won't clog pores) light moisturizing fluid. Because of the products you need to use for your type of skin condition, the surface of the skin can become dry, so to compensate for that dryness and keep your skin barrier intact, even your skin type can benefit from the proper moisturizer.

Janae Recommends: Oil Free Hydrating Fluid

If your skin is consistently oily which can lead to blemishes and acne flare ups, look for a formula that absorbs excess oils, controls oily shine and breakouts. A lightweight oil control formula will keep you from having to add powder or having to blot the excess oils from the skin during the day. Your makeup will stay put and not slide off and disappear.

Janae Recommends: Shine Free Solution (keeps skin shine-free for up to 8 hours)

Moisturizing is a key component to a balanced, healthy skin. Don't miss this step!

We've already talked about the benefits of using a toner or an astringent (improves clarity in skin tone, hydrates the skin, restores your skin's natural pH balance). I've already revealed that using a toner is not necessarily an essential component of a good skincare regimen.

However, if you are looking for a way to bring your skin to the next level, you may be one of the many women I have met who can truly benefit from the addition of a good toner or astringent to their daily routine. Of course, everybody's skin is different and a toner that is right for your friend may not be ideal for you. This is why it's important to match the type of toner or astringent you use to your skin's specific needs.

If you have Dry, Sensitive or Normal skin, your skin may feel a bit taut even after using a proper cleanser. This is especially true in the dry, winter months. I recommend trying a Hydrating Toner. A hydrating toner brings instant hydration and makes your skin feel more comfortable immediately. You may even choose to skip the cleanser in the morning and simply use a hydrating toner - that's all you need for morning skin to feel clean, refreshed, hydrated and prepared for moisturizer and sunscreen.

If you have Combination or Oily skin, I recommend an Astringent with Witch Hazel (which is a natural astringent). You can use this astringent following cleansing or after exercising to immediately remove excess oil and sweat from your face. Or if you want to refresh your makeup later in the day and don't have time to go through the cleansing process, you can use this astringent to revive and clarify your skin, before reapplying makeup. So it's a great product to carry with you in your gym bag or purse.

If you have Acne-Prone skin, you can use an Astringent with Salicylic to help dissolve the excess oil and dead skin cells within the pores, dry blemishes and keep skin clearer. The type of bacteria that causes acne cannot live in an acidic environment. Using an astringent with salicylic will adjust the pH of your skin so that your face will not have the environment for these bacteria to live. You should also use this astringent after a blemish has been extracted to clean out the pore, rid it of any bacteria, and help the skin heal more quickly.

For a Hydrating Toner, Janae recommends:

Janae Recommends: Visibly Moist Toner

For a Natural Astringent, Janae recommends:

Janae Recommends: Herbal Blend Astringent

For an Astringent with Salicylic, Janae recommends:

Janae Recommends:  Pore Purifying Astringent.

If you're unsure which type of toner or astringent is right for you - please contact me! You can visit my contact page or leave a comment!

One of my clients recently submitted a few questions about toners and astringents.

This post is inspired by her questions!

What is a toner? What is an astringent? And What's the difference?

You may know them by a few different names:

• Toners
• Clarifying lotions
• Fresheners
• Astringents

A toner or freshener contains humectants (ingredient that attracts water) that helps restore moisture to a dehydrated skin after cleansing. An astringent or clarifying lotion has a tightening effect on the pore appearance and helps remove excess oil from the skin.

What will using a toner or astringent add to my skincare regimen?

Using a toner or astringent has many benefits, such as:

• Compliments the cleansing process
• Improves clarity in skin tone
• Hydrates the skin
• Removes excess oil and impurities from the skin
• Refreshes a tired complexion
• Skin will feel fresh and clean
• Restores your skin's natural pH balance

How do you use a toner or astringent?
 
Apply toner to a cotton pad and sweep gently across the face and neck. There are some toners that are in a spray bottle that can be spritzed on the skin.

Be careful with spray toners to be sure to relax the face as you are spraying and not scrunching the face which will lead to more wrinkles. In fact, I prefer to put a toner on a cotton pad rather than spraying to avoid the risk of scrunching all together.

 
One final note about toners...
 
You may be still be wondering - is using a toner or an astringent really necessary? And if it is necessary, then which do I need- a toner or an astringent? Stay tuned! I'll be answering these questions and more in my next post!

In my 25 years as an aesthetician, I have met many women that have used a toner religiously and others that never toned at all.

Now that you are on your way to a better skin routine through removing your makeup properly and using the correct cleanser for your skin type, the question remains:
Is using a toner really a necessary step in a good skin care regimen?

First, let's look at what a toner does. Toners restore the healthy pH (how acidic or alkaline) of the skin. Healthy skin has a slightly acidic pH in the range of 4 to 5.5. This is called the acid mantle. The acid mantle is a film on the surface of the skin consisting of lipids, sebum and sweat. This slightly acidic environment fights off bacteria and pollutants. Stress and hormonal changes can cause negative effects to the acid mantle, resulting in a more alkaline skin surface. Soap is highly alkaline and can leave your skin stripped of all the natural oils that are necessary for a healthy skin. Toners bring the skin back to it's natural, more acidic state, which is where a healthy skin thrives.

If you are using a proper facial cleanser for your skin type then a toner is not necessarily an essential component of your skincare regimen. This is because a proper cleanser does not leave a residue on the skin, nor does it disrupt the skin's natural pH balance.

However, even with the best cleanser for your skin some women find that their skin benefits from the use of a toner or an astringent. Some women will use them simply to refresh the skin and others prefer toning instead of cleansing in the mornings.

Although a toner is not always necessary, there are many times where it can be a great option for your skin. My next post will focus on which skin types and conditions will benefit from which types of toners and astringents. It may very well be that your skincare regimen is complete without, or you may realize that a toner is just what you need to bring your skin to the next level.

If you would like more personalized recommendations for your specific skin needs please visit my contact page or simply leave a comment below!

Please don't tell me you go to bed without washing your face! Your body is designed to repair and rejuvenate itself while you are sleeping. In order to allow your skin to do this, it's crucial for it to be clean first.

After removing your eye and face makeup with a gentle, oil-free makeup remover, the next step of your skincare regimen is to cleanse the skin. You've got to remove that makeup, dirt and pollution from the day. In fact, if you're not happy with the current condition of your skin, it may be because you're not using a cleanser with the right ingredients.

In order to choose the right cleanser for your skin, it's important that you always read the active ingredients present in the product before purchasing it.  Steer clear of products containing harsh ingredients such as:  sodium laurel sulfate, petrolatum, lanolin, mineral oil or propylene glycol, synthetic color, synthetic fragrance and comedogenic ingredients.

Cleansers are not "one-size fits all." You need to pick the right cleanser for you!

If you have aging skin, are experiencing dryness or are sensitive to a lot of skincare products, try a cream-based cleanser.  If you have normal, combination or oily skin you should use a gel based cleanser. If your skin requires an anti-acne cleanser then be sure to look for products that contain salicylic or benzoyl peroxide.

After thoroughly cleansing your face, you can apply your serum, moisturizer, night cream, etc. (I'll be blogging on the uses of these products in the days to come). Now that your skin is clean you can be assured that whatever treatment you apply will absorb and penetrate deeper into the skin to do exactly what it is designed to do - correct your skin!

Women often ask me how many times a day they should cleanse their skin- the answer is, it depends on your skin type! (Remember, skin care is not "one size fits all") If you have a Combination, Oily or Acne skin you should cleanse twice daily. If you have a Normal, Dry or Sensitive skin you should always cleanse in the evening. In the morning you could either use cleanser or you could just use a toner instead to refresh the skin before applying moisturizer, sunscreen and makeup.

There are times when Janae recommends two different cleansers. One for evening and one for morning. If you are using a stronger cleanser like an Acne Cleanser at night your skin might not need or be able to tolerate twice a day, so you'd want to use a more gentle cleanser in the morning, keeping your skin from becoming too dry or irritated.

If you are wanting to see healthier more radiant skin and don't already use a cleanser that is suited to your specific needs, try Janae's recommendations for your unique skin type and condition and see what a difference using the right cleanser can make for your complexion!

If you experience dryness, have an aging skin and have sensitivity to skincare products:

Janae Recommends: Ultra Gentle Cleansing Lotion

If you experience an oily t-zone or oily skin and have sensitivity to skincare products:

Janae Recommends: Ultra Gentle Cleansing Gel

If you are experiencing dryness, aging skin or sun damage:

Janae Recommends: AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser

If you experience a normal/comb/slightly oily as well as hyper-pigmentation or sun damage:

Janae Recommends: Glycolic Cleanser (AHA)

If you are experiencing oily t-zone, oily skin, acne-prone or rosacea symptoms:

Janae Recommends: Pore Clearing Cleanser (Salicylic)

If you are experiencing moderate to severe acne:

Janae Recommends:  Acne Cleanser (Benzoyl Peroxide)

If you would like more personalized recommendations for your specific skin needs please utilize my contact page or simply leave a comment below!

The eye area is the first to show signs of aging. In order to maintain a youthful appearance, it is essential that you take special care of the skin around your eyes.

Have you ever noticed that your eyes become irritated, swollen or itchy from either not removing your eye makeup properly or not removing it at all? If you apply any eye makeup it's important to remove it completely. In fact, taking off your makeup each and every night is an essential part of your new skincare regimen.

An eye makeup remover should easily dissolve eye makeup. The skin around your eyes is very delicate and should be treated gently. You should never tug or pull the skin around your eyes, and never use a soap or cleanser in the eye area unless it states specifically that it is gentle enough for the eyes. The makeup remover you use should not burn or sting- if it does burn or sting that means you are doing more harm than good!

I've heard of some women who use oil based products (such as Vaseline or baby oil) to remove eye makeup. This is not recommended.  Oil based products leave a residue and can eventually block tear ducts, keep eyelashes from growing and cause oily bumps around the eyes.

Instead, you should use a gentle, oil free eye makeup remover on a cotton pad. Gently press and hold for a moment allowing the remover to break down makeup and then gently swipe.

My little secret is that I like to then use a clean cotton pad with this same product to remove any makeup on the face before cleansing. By doing this your cleanser can than get deeper into the pores during  the cleansing process instead of having to go through layers of dirt, oils and makeup first.

If you don't already make it a point to take your makeup off every night, then it's time to start- you're already on your way to more beautiful, radiant skin!

Janae Recommends: Gentle Eye Makeup Remover

Throughout my 25 years as an aesthetician, I've seen a lot of people disappointed with not obtaining the results they were hoping for from their skincare regimen. There are two key reasons this happens. One is that the products they use do not contain effective active ingredients. The second is that they lack consistency in using quality products on a daily basis.

When it comes down to it, you are the one who plays the largest role in seeing the results you are hoping to achieve with your skin. It's the time you spend and the products you use that make the difference.

Just by spending a few minutes everyday using skincare products with effective ingredients, you will greatly improve the health of your skin. That is my goal for you!

I assure you, this will be time well spent! Beautiful skin is noticeable, and I want you to begin receiving compliments on the healthy, glowing skin you can have!

In the next few posts I will be sharing with you the purpose and the order of a good skincare routine, starting with the basics. I will also share about the importance of using products with effective active ingredients - what ingredients to look for and which ones to avoid when purchasing products.

After covering the basics, I'll share targeted treatments that give specific results for different skin issues. Whether it's aging, menopausal, tired, sun damaged, hyper-pigmentation, acne, rosacea or sensitive skin problems you might be having, you can have a clearer, healthier complexion with innovative formulas that repair, rebuild and transform the skin and give you the results you want.

But first, consistency! It's the most important first step. It's the key needed for success. No other person but you is responsible for the condition of your skin. So take a moment right now and commit to yourself to set aside a few extra minutes each morning and each evening to maintain a skin regimen that fits your needs - and don't worry, I'll be with you every step of the way.

If you want you to have that beautiful, radiant skin, make the commitment and stay committed. I promise that your consistency will pay off.

Do you know your Skin Type? Your Skin Type is what you were genetically born with.

The 5 main Skin Types are: Dry, Normal, Combination, Oily and Sensitive.

Skin Condition has more to do with how your skin interacts with your environment in the here and now. Sensitivity, redness, irritation, dryness, dehydration, oil production, tendency toward acne - these are all skin conditions. Skin condition can change several times a year in response to stress, hormones and environment.

Though you might know what your skin type is, more importantly is what the condition of your skin is in today and being sure you are using the proper skincare products to maintain a healthy skin balance.

If you'd like help in improving the health of your skin, please contact me for a personal skin consultation. I would be happy to help you choose skincare products that will dramatically improve your skin health and appearance.