Did you know 1 month of bad skincare habits can age you?

I have a confession to make: I have gone to bed WITHOUT washing off my makeup. "NO!" I hear you gasp (got pretty amazing hearing haven't I?) Sadly, it's true. As an esthetician with 18 years experience I too am guilty of the #1 BAD for your Skin habit.

"It can be THAT bad" you say? Oh but it is! According to a heartbreaking article "What sleeping in your make up does to your skin: Our shocking experiment exposes the truth" they performed an experiment over one month that had horrible results; it proved that the skin aged 10 years in just 30 days! 

After 4 weeks of not cleansing at night and doing a superficial cleanse in the morning the brave experimenter had:

1. Drier skin -to the point of cracked skin on face and lips
2. Deeper appearance of wrinkles especially on sides of her face
3. Red, spotty and blotchy skin due to skin irritation
4. Blocked and enlarged pores with generally bumpy skin 
5. Tiny cysts around her eyes
6. One eye so swollen it could barely open
7. Looked tired, as if she lacked sleep, friends kept commenting on how tires she looked

And yes, expert analysis estimated her skin had aged 10 years in just 30 days of not washing her face at night.

Lovely, right? She basically looked like ...shi*.. well, ... insert your favorite negative word here. 

Is this permanent damage? Fortunately no, NOT YET. Since it was only 4 weeks it is reversible. But as a long-term habit this can become permanent. You cant say I didn't warn you.

Now that you know, what can you do?

• 1. Get your skin thoroughly and professional cleansed.

This is the perfect time to get your deep pore cleansing and exfoliating facial to remove all that "not-cleansing-your-face-at-night" damage. I have 3 amazing estheticians that will do an incredible job of clearing out the debris in your pores, removing the dry, scaly layer and brightening your skin. Book Online or Call 818-248-5500 and schedule an "Our Choice Facial" so we can customize your facial.

• 2. Cleanse your skin every night

Just do it. Here is a trick I have learned - DON'T WAIT TIL RIGHT BEFORE BEDTIME!. Why? Because you are often just too darn tired to bother. Wash your face right after dinner before you getting into your evening routine or as soon as you get home. Apply your night time skincare treatment and moisturizers after you wash. That way you can just crawl into bed later.

• 3. Exfoliate your skin, GENTLY, twice a week

Use your Exfolia microfiber cloth or facial brush over your cleanser at least once a week. It will get your cleanser to do double duty- clean and reduce scaly layer.  Then use a surface scrub like Dermalogica's Microfoliant for your 2nd exfoliation that week. 

You should exfoliate your skin not sooner than every 3 days, more than that is too soon and can be irritating your skin.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU STILL MISSED YOUR NIGHTLY CLEANSING?

The next morning you need to:

• Change your pillowcase

• Remove your eye-makeup completely

• Wash your face with a milky cleanser and soft cloth to thoroughly remove the left-over face makeup, pollution from the day before and accumulated debris.

• Wash your face AGAIN. The second cleansing can be with a gentle foaming cleanser or if you are acne prone than exfoliating cleanser like the Pelasante GlySal Acne wash. 

• Apply your daytime skincare routine especially your moisturizer and sunscreen.

When you get back into the habit of cleansing your face every evening you will find your skin will appear brighter, healthier and your friends will stop asking you if you have gotten enough sleep.

For more tips on how you can improve and maintain the health of your skin join our VIP list. You will get weekly updates, free downloads and be the first to hear about our Spa Deals and VIP-Blog-Only-Special.

Have a great week. I look forward to seeing you at the Spa
Michelle

Resources: 
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2380419/What-sleeping-make-does-skin-Our-shocking-experiment-exposes-happens.html#ixzz3bMCOj2te