First, as many of you know, I am not a “creams and potions” person. I think much of the over-the-counter beauty serums, lotions, and topical agents are over-hyped, over-priced wishful dreams in pretty bottles with cute marketing.
I am very much a science person. I want to see clinical trials, credentials from who developed it, before and after pictures, and the biology of how and why the product changes the skin. My favorite line of medical grade skincare is ZO Skin Health because it checks all of those boxes. Some folks say, it’s “aggressive”. Well, yes, some of the products can be, but you’ve got to have some changes in the skin during the process, to revitalize and CHANGE the skin!
If we think of our skincare routine as a sandwich with cleansing being the top bottom bun and sunscreen being the top bun; all the goodness in between is what makes so delicious! Everyone has different needs but here’s a quick run down of the skin sandwich fix’ns that everyone needs to promote healthy, hydrated skin.
1. Exfoliate - something with a little grit.
My fav = ZO EXFOLIATING POLISH:
Dissolves oil and removes dull skin cells to prevent pores from clogging, adds lipids, and brightens.
2. Force cellular turnover - a retinol/tretinoin.
My fav= ZO RETINOL SKIN BRIGHTENER 1%:
Retinol upregulates epidermal cell turnover (top layer of skin) and optimizes fibroblasts to make glycosaminoglycans that make making our natural hyaluronic acid (HA) which gives our skin its hydration. Retinol also helps defend against blemishes, as well as improve the way other skincare products penetrate the skin.
3. Promote a healthy skin barrier – protect and correct.
My fav = ZO DAILY POWER DEFENSE:
Supports DNA repair, boosts collagen and HA production, provides antioxidant , and just plain feels amazing on the skin.