Products are important to any skin care regimen and considering you’ve spent your hard earned money on them, you want them to last! Nothing is more frustrating than reaching for your moisturizer and realizing you’re all out even though you swear you just purchased it. Even worse, you’re using it every day and seeing no results. Believe it or not, this could be due to a mistake that we’ve all been guilty of. Using too much or too little of a product can either make you run out too fast or can interfere with your wanted results. So we’ve prepared a nice little guide for you to hopefully make that product last a little longer!

• Face Wash: Use only a dime size for cream or gel cleansers. For foam, use a single pump.
  Using too much may dry out your face.
• Retinol: Most are pre-measured to a single pump, but ask your provider just to be sure.
• Toner: Try just a few drops. Always use a cotton round or a cotton ball. Using a few drops ensures that not too much is being soaked up by the cotton and being wasted.
• Serums: A few drops. Serums are usually fairly concentrated, so you only need a few drops. If the serum is more solid, use a pea sized amount.
• Daytime Moisturizer: If it has SPF, quarter-sized. Without SPF, nickel-sized.
• Face Masks: A nickel size is perfect for those problem areas. If it’s a hydrating or firming mask, feel free to use a little bit more.
• Night Creams: Quarter-size. If it’s a heavy cream, be careful not to use too much or it can clog pores.
• Acne Treatments: The size of a pea or less should be sufficient. Using too much can dry you out.
• Eye Cream: Pea size will work for this, too. Make sure to use your ring fingers for application because this finger applies the least amount of pressure so it won’t drag your skin and cause wrinkles.
• Sunscreen: Quarter-size for the face. A shot glass full for the entire body. It’s actually okay to be a little more generous with sunscreen.

If you’re unsure about the amount you should be using, ask your provider for advice. If you feel you’re going through a product too fast, dial back how much you use and see if you’re still getting the results you want. The key to products making a lasting effect is using them consistently and using the right amount.

Makeup can do many things for us and our skin. It can cover, accentuate, hide and highlight any feature on our faces. One thing that we don’t want it to do is harm our skin. Unfortunately makeup can clog pores, give us blemishes, cause irritation and contain oils that we don’t want on our faces. Luckily, we carry an array of Colorescience products that can not only replace your makeup, but can make your skin healthier. From foundations to primers, there’s many choices and benefits to switching to Colorescience.

Foundation, Light Coverage: Sunforgettable Mineral Sunscreen Brush SPF 50– This broad spectrum sunscreen is a powder that’s available in three color options. It contains zinc oxide and titanium dioxide that protect against any sun damage. It’s also water-resistant, non-irritating and helps to smooth any imperfections.

Foundation, Medium Coverage: Even Up Clinical Pigment Corrector SPF 50– A great choice for anyone who is concerned with hyperpigmentation or dark spots. It contains an ingredient called Lumira which was clinically tested to improve and lighten skin discoloration. It’s only available in one shade, so for some it might be more of a base or a treatment rather than a foundation. It’s broad spectrum, containing both titanium dioxide and zinc oxide.

Foundation, Medium to Full Coverage: Tint du Soleil SPF 30- A silky smooth texture that will cover any blemish or dark spot. It’s mineral based and made with peptides that improve skin tone and vitamins that minimize the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. It also contains Lipids that will hydrate your skin and make it look luminous. It does have a slight rose fragrance and is available in three shades.

Lips: Sunforgettable Lip Shine SPF 35– We carry it in Rose, one of the six shades that they feature. It is broad spectrum to help protect your lips, an often forgotten spot for sun damage. It contains Spearmint Essential Oil for hydration and it also adds a nice scent. It has a peptide that is a collagen stimulator that will also help keep your lips from getting dry. It is a thicker gloss and the color is quite pigmented. Because of the SPF, it’s best to reapply this beautiful shade every 2 hours.

Concealer: Mineral Corrector Palette– Perfect to cover every day skin concerns. There are five shades included to cover reds, blues, yellows and purples, so no need to worry about blemishes, veins or under eye circles. The colors can be mixed or used on their own to conceal any problem areas. The powder is very blend-able and natural looking. If some of the colors just don’t match your skin tone, you can use them as blush, eyeshadow or an eyeshadow base.

Primer, Uneven Skin Tone: Skin Bronzing Face Primer SPF 20– Hydrates, softens and soothes skin. The sun-kissed glow evens out skin tone and blurs the look of pores. It also reduces the look of fine lines and imperfections.

Primer, Combination Skin: Skin Balancing Face Primer SPF 20– This one has cocoa extract to help with oil in the T-zone, but won’t dull skin. A lot like the bronzing, it adds a nice illuminating glow and a hint of color to make skin look radiant. It evens out skin tone and helps make pores look smaller.

Setting Mist: Hydrating Setting Mist– Anyone with normal, dry or mature skin will love the hydration from this setting spray. It will keep your makeup in place all day long and keep it looking fresh and vibrant. It has Ylang Ylang and Chamomile which help to soothe skin. For those who dread cakey, powdery makeup a spritz of this can help give you a more natural look.

If you suspect your makeup might be giving you more problems than it’s covering up, look into healthier skin products that double as makeup or be open to choosing makeup that cares for your skin. Talk to our nurses about our products and they can help you find the best solution for your skin.

As technology is improving and advancing, you might be coming across more and more at-home skin care devices. They can promise to replace clinical visits and professional machines, but the question remains, do they really work?

This of course varies on the product, your expectations and whether you continue your in-office visits. As far as technology for at-home devices goes, so far there are no real replacements for the actual machines. Often times the lasers or treatments just aren’t as powerful, and if they were, they might be deemed unsafe for at-home use. Because of this they might be less effective than what you’re used to getting in an office.

Of course many devices do work and are fantastic options for in-between treatments to receive even better results. Acne and hair removers are usually not made for large areas, but are great for spot treatments while you’re waiting for your next appointment. Another great at home treatment is lifting tools that can contour your face, which is perfect when you’re waiting for your next Botox or dermal filler treatment.

Some devices, like the laser hair removers might not be suitable for all skin types, so it’s best to ask your provider before purchasing one. Anti-aging devices should also be brought up to your provider before you purchase due to some of them having some adverse effects. They may not penetrate as deeply as you’d wish, so you may not see the full results you are hoping for.

Whether you’re on the fence or you’re ready to buy, make sure you do your research on the product and speak with your registered nurse about any at-home skin care device to make sure it’s right for you and your skin.

When we think of anti-oxidants, what is the first thing that comes to mind? Is it in our food? Is it a skin care product? Is it a vitamin? Or perhaps we just aren’t sure how to describe what they are and what they can do for the health of our skin and bodies. Anti-oxidants are in the category of vitamins and minerals that impact the condition of our skin cells. If you guessed the sources as food, skin care products or vitamins, all three answers are correct.

Free radicals, environmental exposure to toxins and weather are all contributing elements that cause oxidation. Oxidation is the breakdown of the cellular structure of our skin. Anti-oxidants provide our skin a source of protection against the damaging process of free radicals. Sound a bit too scientific? The best way to describe the process simply is, restoration of existing cell damage, minimizing the aging process of cell destruction by blocking free radicals and protecting our skin from the inside by encouraging new cell growth.

Anti-oxidants need to be part of our daily balanced diet, as well as our skin care routine. Anti-oxidant rich foods are sources such as berries, avocado, oranges, apples, pomegranate, broccoli, sweet potatoes and more. Many vitamins found in food sources are converted to naturally viable ingredients in advanced skin care formulas including nutrients such as vitamin A, C, and E.

The anti-aging benefits of anti-oxidants contribute to the repair or prevention of fine lines, wrinkles, lack of firmness and they contribute to a more toned, healthy appearance. If you want to learn more about the benefit of anti-oxidants for your skin, contact one of our skin care professionals and ask for a complimentary skin care consultation. You will learn what products are right for you and the correct dosage to get the results you desire.

We hear a lot about what sunscreens are best to use and what we should look for when buying one, but do we really know what terms like “Broad Spectrum” really mean? Or what the difference is between UVA and UVB rays? We’re here to help you learn more about what you need from a sunscreen and why.

• UVB: UVB rays are what cause your skin to burn, tan, freckle, hyperpigmentate and can cause brown or age spots. UVB rays are blocked by windows, which is why you can’t catch a tan in your car.
• UVA: UVA rays cause more long-term damage, such as aging, wrinkles, and age spots. Aging is, of course, inevitable, but aging caused by UVA rays is preventable. UVA rays can make it through windows, so it’s good to be protected while driving.
• SPF: SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor against UVB rays. The number stands for how many times longer you can stay in the sun with sunscreen than you could without protection. For instance, an SPF 30 will allow you to stay in the sun 30 times longer without burning than you could without applying any at all. You should use an SPF of 30 for your body and 15 for your lips.
• Classic Sunscreen: Classic sunscreen has chemical active ingredients that absorb and dissipate UVB and/or UVA rays before they enter the skin. You should always apply a chemical sunscreen at least 30 minutes before going out into the sun.
• Mineral/Physical Sunscreen: Mineral Sunscreens, also called Physical Sunscreens, have mineral active ingredients that scatter and reflect UVB and/or UVA rays. Unlike chemical sunscreens, minerals are active as soon as they’re applied.
• Broad Spectrum: Broad Spectrum means the sunscreen protects against both UVB and UVA rays. Sunscreens have to pass an FDA test in order to be labeled Broad Spectrum. Be sure to look for a sunscreen with this label to get the most protection.
• Lotion, sprays, sticks and powder sunscreens: There are some myths out there that certain sunscreens work better than others, but all sunscreens essentially work the same. It’s all about finding the one that works best for you and making sure you’re applying enough. Generally speaking, you want to apply one teaspoon of sunscreen per body part. It’s easier to miss spots with powders and sprays, so make sure you’re thorough in your application.
• Water-resistant sunscreen: Water-resistant does not mean waterproof, but it does mean that these sunscreens will maintain their SPF for up to 80 minutes of water exposure. Even if you haven’t dipped a toe in the pool or ocean, you can sweat off your sunscreen, so always reapply after those 80 minutes are up.

Here in Arizona, it’s important to use sunscreen if you’re going to be out in the sun for more than 20 minutes. You should apply it to any area that will be exposed to the sun and even to those that are covered by clothing. Some of the most forgotten areas are the ears, back of the neck, and our scalp and hair part. Make sure to reapply your sunscreen after two hours of sun exposure and to cover up and protect your skin as much as possible. There are many different options in sunscreens, from tints to textures, so be sure to speak to your provider about sunscreen options and they can help you find the perfect sunscreen for you and your skin.