Power Hour

That perfectly imperfect no makeup makeup is all the rage right now. You know what I’m talking about; it goes with that tousled but not-too-tousled top knot / messy bun.

If we’re being honest, I’m pretty bad about taking care of my skin. Like shamefully bad. But, every so often, I do something right. I recently went to SkinSpirit in Palo Alto for a medical-grade facial. Now, this is not your average spa facial where they rub around some oil and do a few extractions. This is serious business, including: dermaplaning, enzyme masks and a very light chemical peel. I mean, it’s called The Power Hour, so you know it has to pack a punch.

The result? My skin is probably the best it’s looked in a year. Maybe ever.

Karen Fernandez, the Clinical Aesthetician and Manager of Esthetics at SkinSpirit (who, P.S., has been an aesthetician for over 20 years and REALLY knows her stuff) took care of me while I was there. As she was working hard on my poor, neglected face, she was also able to give me some tips for that glowing, minimal makeup, natural, no fuss skin that everyone wants.

3 tips for radiant skin

1. Get a facial. Treat yourself to a real-deal medical grade facial because the bottom line is this: dead skin is dullness. A medical grade facial will leave your skin refreshed and dewy. Doing this quarterly is effective AND budget-friendly.
2. Try a vitamin C serum. It helps increase collagen production and counteract wrinkles and sun damage.
3. Use a retinol-based product. Retinol promotes collagen and cell growth. It also smoothes skin.

The point that resonated with me most was: you have to fix your foundation first. You can’t just slap a bunch of makeup on and expect glowing skin. The skin itself needs to be healthy.

Bonus tips

1. Alpha Hydroxy (AHA) — works particularly well when paired with the retinol. Retinol works from from the inside out (cell growth) while AHAs work from the outside in, essentially exfoliating the top layer of skin.
2. Hyaluronic Acid — Don’t be scared, the name is kind of a misnomer. If you have crazy dry skin like me, this is a must-have! Hyaluronic acid is a humectant, meaning it’s a moisture-binder, basically keeping moisture in your skin cells. The serums can be a little pricey, but you can also look for it in moisturizers. I like this one (vegan and cruelty-free!)
3. Iron Pills — It turns out that if you have have really dark under eye circles, it could be the sign of an iron deficiency (I totally did not know that!) Iron pills as a supplement could help reduce them.
4. At-Home Enzyme Mask — Think of it as a mini at-home facial to keep you going between your quarterly medical facials. I use visual changes double enzyme mask. It’s made from papaya and pineapple enzymes and is super mild.

And of course, don’t forget that your two best friends are always water and sunscreen. Less stress helps too. Thanks for having me SkinSpirit, and thanks for all the pro tips, Karen!

PS: You can shop all my beauty and skin care recommendations here.

DISCLOSURE: THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED HEREIN ARE THOSE OF THE AUTHOR AND ARE NOT INDICATIVE OF THE OPINIONS OR POSITIONS OF SKINSPIRIT SKINCARE CLINIC & SPA INC.