spa therapies
days to not stress out my skin’s protective barrier,” says Rouleau. 18. Change up your look with new makeup,hairstyle, and clothing.
understand this difference when choosing the right products; consult with a skin professional for guidance,” she says.
well-formulated product, go to work immediately to perform its function. As a living organism, skin can change over time and require modifications and tweaks for optimum care.
21. The good skin diet. 25. Finding Self-Confidence.
An image consultant once told Rouleau: “There is nothing more aging for a woman than never changing her look.” Shortly after receiving that advice, she changed her blonde hair to pastel pink. “I really try to keep it fun and open-minded when it comes to my appearance—never getting into a rut,” she says. “Fear of change could be what is holding you back from being your best, most vibrantlooking, youthful self.” 19. Be sure to use a vitamin A product like retinol or a prescription retinoid for the rest of your life. Early in Rouleau’s career, she had the opportunity to meet Dr. Thomas Fitzpatrick, a renowned dermatologist who created the “Fitzpatrick Skin Type” system. “It was then that he showed me his hands and asked, ‘Can you see the difference in my hands?’” she says. “I couldn’t believe my eyes; one hand appeared so much younger with fewer wrinkles, brown spots, and less uneven texture.” Why? Fitzpatrick made a point of demo-ing to his patients how to use Retin-A, a popular prescription acne medication, to counteract its harsh side effects. By applying it repeatedly on the same hand, he started to notice retinol’s anti-aging benefits and then went on to become instrumental in the FDA’s approval of retinol to reduce wrinkles. Since then, Rouleau always promotes and practices using retinol for the long term. Experiment with retinol before you upgrade to prescription-strength.
You are what you eat? Eat clean and your skin will glow? Not quite. Rouleau knows plenty of people with a poor diet and perfect skin and vice versa. Although it’s always worth experimenting with your diet to observe patterns, you can’t eat your way to great skin. However, there does seem to be a link between consumption of dairy and cystic breakouts on the chin and jawline area. If this is your issue, try cutting out dairy and see if your skin shows improvement. 22. All blemishes are not equal. Pustules, whiteheads, papules, closed comedones, cysts, and nodules are all various names for blemishes and clogged pores. Each unique in how they appear, they need to be treated that way too. “The biggest mistake I see people make is using a blemish spot treatment on all of these and then wonder why their skin isn’t responding,” says Rouleau. 23. Don’t wait to perform your nighttime routine right before going to bed. Try to perform your nighttime skincare routine in the early evening versus bedtime. Here’s why: • You’re less likely to be lazy; meaning, you might skip out on doing a post-cleanse mask or applying eye cream if you’re exhausted. • You’ll increase nighttime products’ benefits. It was previously thought that the skin’s repair processes kick in during sleep, but it’s now believed to occur when the day goes from light to dark.
20. Dry and dehydrated aren’t the same. 24. Skin doesn’t get bored. Usually lumped together, dry and dehydrated skin types are very different. Dry skin is lacking oil and requires richer products to keep it feeling moist and looking flake free. Dehydrated skin can produce oil but lacks water, requiring more lightweight, humectant-rich formulas. “It’s so important to
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Skin doesn’t build up an immunity to skincare products over time and stop working. There is no direct mechanism for skin to become immune to the effects of products. When product is applied, the skin’s receptors will take it in, and, assuming it’s a
Les Nouvelles Esthetiques no’82
“At age 51, I’m noticing changes in my skin, and ones that I don’t particularly like,” says Rouleau. “Because I’m the face and the spokesperson for my brand, people will inevitably judge my product line based on how my own skin looks. This can put some pressure on me to have the look of perfect skin.” However, she insists that she keeps a good, healthy balance of continuing to pursue treatments that can improve her skin, but not overdoing things that make her look unnatural. “I don’t only focus on my looks and book a dermatologist appointment every time I see a wrinkle,” she says. “Instead, I do things for myself that bring me pure joy and confidence like riding my Triumph motorcycle, setting a fitness goal, or challenging myself to new experiences like moving to Austin six years ago just to change things up. I try to embrace all that life has to offer and the fuel this gives me on the inside is what brings me confidence on the outside.” About: Julie Keller Callaghan Julie is the co-founder of Well Defined and a longtime influencer and advocate in the wellness world. Along with her work at Well Defined, she is an executive recruiter and marketing specialist for Hutchinson Consulting. She is also a consultant and content strategist for numerous wellness brands. She is the former editor-in-chief and publisher of American Spa and was named a 2019 Folio Top Woman in Media in the Industry Trailblazers category and a 2018 winner of ISPA’s Innovate Award. She is also a seasoned journalist, specializing in spa, travel, health, fitness, wellness, sustainability, and beauty. She has been published in Departures, ForbesTraveler.com, E! Online, Gayot.com, Insider’s Guide to Spas, Luxury Travel Advisor, Marin Magazine, Ocean Home, Smart Meetings, Spa Asia, and Travel Agent.
