Darienne’s Do’s and Don’ts of Skincare

Words By Darienne Arnold | December 21 2020

It’s easy to be fooled by companies selling you “perfection” in a bottle. Maybe the packaging is beautiful, or the brand is held in high esteem. Perhaps, you feel that the sticker price somehow legitimizes the claim. You could be a longtime skin-junky, or just getting started. Let me save you a lot of time and money… YOU are the reason YOU have bad skin.

My name’s Darienne Arnold. Born in a small town in Northern California, I made a name for myself as a runway model in Paris, Milan, New York, and Tokyo. I remained one of the most successful runway models for over 20 years, which is extremely difficult to do in one of the most highly lucrative and competitive industries known to man. Since then, I’ve played a key role in the placement of models at agencies such as LA Models, Wilhelmina, IT Model Management, and Industry LA. In 2005, I developed NTA Talent Agency’s print division. Currently, I am one of the producers of the international event, “World Championships of Performing Arts.”

This is when you wonder… why me? What could I possibly know about skincare? For the last 15 years, I have turned my lifelong passion into a Beverly Hills business. My skincare empire of 1000+ personal clients was built solely on word of mouth, hard work and customized treatments. It is for that reason that my dear friend, Editor in Chief of M. Citizen Magazine, Bec Doyle, invited me to share some of my professional insights on how to get perfect skin.

These are a collection of my “tricks of the trade.” Enjoy.

Health Equals Skin Wealth

The first time we get a pimple, what do we do? We cover it up with makeup. But that’s exactly what it is… a coverup. If you want good skin, you have to take care of your health in its entirety. You need to eat, drink water, and sleep well. Remember, skin is the largest organ in your body. Like any organ, your skin is telling you what it needs if you’d only listen to it. Chances are if your face is flaring up, there are a lot of other health concerns that could also be at play.

If It’s Not Broken, Don’t Fix It

As tempting as it can be to just “try” a product you’ve seen on your Instagram Feed, remember that marketing is deceiving. Advertising is the business of profiting off insecurities. If you’ve found a routine that works, do not change it. Don’t be afraid to quit if a product isn’t reacting well with your skin (even if it’s very popular). If you have a persistent issue, maybe it’s time to see a professional. Whatever you do, don’t make careless decisions with your skin out of fear of what 50 may look like.

Don’t Overpay for Skincare

Many stores such as CVS, Rite Aid, and Amazon, offer the same quality product as the companies they’re out marketed by. Don’t be fooled by overpriced products in expensive packaging. If there’s a specific brand you like, my recommendation is to always buy directly from them; it will guarantee the best price and quality.

You Are What You Eat

Plain and simple. My body, for example, does not react well to nuts, dairy, or fast food (except for my Taco Bell Bean Burrito guilty pleasure). Even just one bite of Gouda sets my skin back for weeks… and I mean weeks. Inflammation to your Gastrointestinal track will result in a less than becoming skin appearance.

Water is a Game Changer

You’re never going to meet your skincare goals if you don’t drink water. Dehydration wreaks havoc on skin. Not only will your body be unable to rid itself of toxins, but it will also make the appearance of wrinkles more noticeable, and give your skin a dull appearance. If you have acne AND you don’t drink water, you’re in for a rude awakening. Your acne will get trapped under a layer of dead, dry skin which means your expensive lotions/serums/treatments won’t be able to penetrate and hydrate. What a waste! So how much water are we talking about? Take your body weight and divide it in half. Drink that in ounces. Remember, it’s okay to start slow.

Look, Don’t Touch

Trust me… I know how tempting it is but whatever you do, don’t pick or scrub your skin. See a white head? Leave it alone. If you touch it, the active acne infection will spread across your face. Even just a lightly scrubbing can send your entire face into a breakout battle.

Sleep More, Stress Less

Stress releases the hormone Cortisol. Cortisol, among other factors, can negatively impact your sleep. A quality night’s rest is absolutely necessary if you want to improve the health of your skin.

Less is Not Always More

Think you can skimp out on moisturizer just because your skin is oily? Think again. Your skin absolutely needs it. Just make sure you select an “Oil Free” alternative.

The Sun’s Your Enemy

Sunscreen only lasts 1.5/2 hours before you need to reapply. Despite popular belief, only apply it before exposure. This means that if you have an office job, for example, apply immediately before lunchtime.

Winter Skincare

Winter skincare can be tricky. If your moisturizer is not soaking in your skin within 5/10 minutes, it’s either too much or too heavy. Before you return it, try watering it down. Run the hand that has the moisturizer on it under water (briefly). Mix it together then apply to your face. Experiencing the opposite? Double-down on your moisturizer on at least extremely dry areas.

Summer Skincare

Oily skin in the winter means oily skin in the summer. The difference? Dry, dead layers on top of the skin have been subject to inside heaters, hot showers, wind, and worse. As skeptical as you may be to this information, 10,000+ facials have taught me that you can basically use the same moisturizers you’ve been using all year (Shhh don’t tell the corporations you know!). All you need to do is adjust the amount you’re applying. Get samples and test/return products to see if it works for you. Make sure to also exfoliate 2x-3x a week to get all those dead skin cells off that beautiful face (but remember, not active acne).

When in Doubt, Get Checked Out

It never hurts to see a dermatologist. If you have a problem that persists or that your skin has gotten out of control without probably cause, it’s time to see a doctor. Maybe your hormones are out of whack. Do your homework and compare reviews. Seeking medical attention for your skin is not where you want to cut corners.

Darienne’s Recommended Products

Dr. Grandel: Derma Pur (oil free), Hydro Soft (medium-normal skin), “Regeneration” (dry skin), Hyaluron Filler Caps, Hydro Active Filler Cream

Charles McKnight (USA): Oil Free Moisturizer, Serums, and Cleanser. Charles is a master with ingredients his products contain AHA’S, peptides, retinol, plant extract and many more. One of my favorite things is his products contain NO water. Charles is also working to personalize products for individual clients. I am in love with his cleanser. I love, love, love it.

Whamisa: “Organic Flowers Water Cream”, Organic Flowers Toner Deep Rich (New Design)

Lerosett: Spot Treatment, Face Masks

Shu Uermura: ‘Ultime8 Sublime Beauty Cleansing Oil’ Hands down the best I’ve ever used (30+ years I’ve used it). Without water pump into hands rub over the face lightly. It will dissolve like magic!! It’s water-soluble so just rinse then use cleanser.

Serious Skincare: “Olive Oil Emulsifying Cleanser” (Sensitive Skin), “Olive Oil Hydra Flash Marine Algae Hydra Gel” (Extremely sensitive skin)

doTERRA: “On Guard Protective Blend” This is the best spot treatment for pimples I have ever used. A tiny bit goes a long way. Dab on the pimple, wait three minutes, then add a tiny amount of water. This will help penetrate it. Don’t be alarmed, you will feel it working. Do morning and night until the zit clears. It’s not designed for this, but it should be! Best happy accident I’ve ever fumbled upon.

Simply Porceline: Overnight Rejuvenative Performance Night Cream, Lavender Clay Masque

Having an effective skincare regiment is more intuitive than you’d think. Trust yourself, and don’t judge a bottle by its cover. And remember… hydrate!

For all questions and inquiries, please visit @DarienneArnold on instagram