skincare ROUTINE

By Leslie Peck

1. Never sleep in makeup. I repeat, NEVER sleep in makeup. Most people think makeup will cause breakouts – it can, if you are allergic to an ingredient. Makeup sitting on the skin night after night will build up and clog pores causing breakouts, stretching the pores and aging skin. Always wash and moisturize your face at night. Even if you don’t wear makeup, your skin is still dirty from impurities in the air.

2. Do not use too many products at once, it can cause more harm than good and clog pores. Make sure to rotate products that have the most active ingredients to reach their full potential. Once you find your go-to cleanser and moisturizer, the other products can take turns throughout the week.

3. Never leave the house without sunscreen on. It doesn’t matter if it’s sunny or not, or if it’s summer, winter, spring or fall. The damage UV rays cause to the skin is much harder to treat later on. It is always best to protec with broad spectrum SPF 30 or higher, hats and sunglasses.

4. Don’t touch your face. Many of us have habits of touching our faces in different ways throughout the day. Try to be aware of how much you touch your face and hair. Every time you do it, you are only putting germs and oils directly on your skin.

5. Leave blemishes alone. Over picking can be so tempting but it most certainly will leave a mark. Reversing the damage from scarring is painful and costly. If a pimple isn’t ready to release, leave it alone.

What Not To Do What To Do

1. Find a cleanser that works for your skin. If you are oily, a cleanser with salicylic acid is best to clean pores and calm red, inflamed pimples. If you are dry, there are several cream and oil cleansers to choose from that will keep moisture in the skin as you cleanse instead of stripping it away. Always take time when cleansing your skin and use small circular motions.

2. Change your moisturizer as the weather changes. The weather can throw off your skin’s pH balance very quickly. In the warm months, use lighter, mattifying moisturizers to help control oil and allow your makeup to stay put. As the weather gets cold, slather on the hydration, especially at night so it can soak into the skin as you rest.

3. Clean your makeup brushes often, as least once a month. It is best to shampoo them with a gentle cleanser and rinse until no makeup is left in the brush. This will keep your makeup and skin looking its best.

4. Hydrate your body and skin. Drinking plenty of water is a staple to promote all around health. When you are dehydrated, so is your skin. Water helps the cells thrive in all parts of your body.

5. Create good skin from the inside out. Eating a clean diet with lots of green veggies, fruits and proteins can improve the texture and appearance of your skin, especially as you age. Our bodies need less sugar and processed foods. Adding more antioxidants and natural probiotics will keep your skin as healthy as possible.

Leslie Peck is a local makeup artist, aesthetician and lash artist with almost two decades of experience. She has worked 11 seasons of NYC Fashion Week as well as several beauty shoots while living in New York City. Leslie also has experience in TV, film, print and celebrity makeup in Los Angeles. She specializes in bridal makeup, skincare education and was featured on the front page of the Wall Street Journal in 2007.