Skin Consultation

Cycle Syncing Your Skincare Routine

Skin Consultation is a series, on Reena’s Edit, all about skincare. We will cover product recommendations, daily routines, proper skin care, and the newest research for bettering your skin. Taking care of your skin is more important than covering it up.

I’m a new fan of cycle syncing to support your health and proper hormone function.

Your monthly cycle ushers in major shifts in your hormone levels, particularly the big players in skin health: testosterone, estrogen, and progesterone. This can have a big impact on your skin care needs.

This goes way beyond your monthly pre-period breakout: your hormone levels are changing throughout your entire cycle, and your skin care needs change with it.

MENSTRUATION (DAY 1-6)

All hormones level drop—skin is dull!

Focus: Reducing inflammation and cell turnover

Skin nutrients: charcoal, salicylic acid, with hazel, apple cider vinegar, resurfacing acids

FOLLICULAR + OVULATION (DAY 7-15)

Estrogen rises and peaks—skin is glowing!

Focus: Nourishment and treatments

Skin nutrients: fatty acids and nourishing oils, resurfacing acids, vitamin C, zinc oxide

LUTEAL (DAY 16-28)

Progesterone rises—sebum and sweat increase!

Focus: Reducing oil and gently clearing out pores

Skin nutrients: salicylic acid, squalene, phytic acid, charcoal, corn starch (for body)

Photo by @tamaraclaren

When To Toss Your Makeup & Skincare

Featured Muse, Skin Consultation

Makeup and skincare products expire?

Yes, makeup and skincare products expire. And just like you wouldn’t want to drink expired milk, you don’t want to use expired products on your face. But when should you get a new mascara or new SPF?

WHEN TO TOSS YOUR MAKEUP AND SKINCARE PRODUCTS

mascara → 3 months

self tanner → 6-12 months

perfume → 1-4 years

lipstick → 1.5-2 years

concealer → up to 2 years

foundation → up to 2 years

lotion → 2 years

spf → 2 years

moisturizer → 3 years

eyeshadow → 3 years

deodorant → 3 years

photo by @clairerose

Try These 5 Body Care Hacks for Great Skin

Reena's Edit, Skin Consultation

The skin on our face gets the most attention, but we like healthy skin all over our body. Here are 5 body care hacks to try that take no extra effort at all.

• Apply moisturizer while your body is still damp from the shower. This helps to lock in moisture. Plus, applying lotion to damp skin takes half the time rubbing it in.

• Use coconut oil or hair conditioner as a shaving cream. Coconut oil is all-natural and leaves skin smooth and moisturized. Hair conditioner helps with a clean shave and no razor bumps!

• After applying SPF to your face, wipe the remainder on the tops of your hands and chest. These areas get overlooked, but they’re in desperate need of SPF as much as your face!

• If I try out a serum or cream for my face but don’t necessarily love it, I’ll use it on my body so that I’m not being wasteful.

• If we are going out at night and, especially, when showing skin, use body oil for extra glow.

photo from Pinterest

Eat These 4 Foods For Clear, Glowing Skin

Featured Muse, Skin Consultation

Supplements are a great way to get all the vitamins and nutrients your body needs, but we cannot solely depend on them. Your body is meant to break down your food and take the nutrients we need out of the food. There is a saying “You are what you eat.” We all want to be healthy as well as healthy-looking, and a big role in this matter is the food we digest. Here are 4 foods you should eat to help maintain clear, glowing skin.

PISTACHIOS

Pistachios contain vitamin E. And vitamin E works to reduce inflammation, it helps minimize oil production, freeing up pores and preventing oil buildup. This helps to prevent acne. Try pistachio oil for sauce or vinaigrette (it’s not the best for cooking). Pistachio oil’s high levels of Vitamin E also help to improve the skin’s elasticity, which helps block fine lines and wrinkles from forming.

AVOCADOS

Avocados can be eaten in salads, on toasts, in smoothies, and in many more delicious ways. For your skin, avocados keep your skin plump and moisturized. How? Eating avocados weekly may help with an exfoliation from the inside. The antioxidants and minerals present in avocados are known to remove dead skin cells, unclog pores and exfoliate the skin all from within.

BLACKBERRIES

These berries contain tons of antioxidants like anthocyanins and aid in collagen production. A diet rich in antioxidants can decrease mild to moderate acne. These antioxidants help the skin fight the effects of free radicals, reducing damage to the skin cells. Just to clarify, free radicals are thought to have a major role in the aging process.

70% DARK CHOCOLATE

The antioxidants in dark chocolate improve blood flow to your skin, but also eating a small portion can protect your skin against sun damage. How is this possible? “Cocoa, or dark chocolate, contains 4 times as much phenols and catechins as tea — antioxidants that protect our skin from sunburn and skin cancer,” says Frank Lipman, MD, founder of Eleven Eleven Wellness Center in New York City, who recommends fitting 2 ounces of dark chocolate into your daily diet.

photo cr: @taniceelizabeth

Skin Consultation: My 7 Steps To Perfect Skin

Reena's Edit, Skin Consultation

Disclaimer: Everyone’s skin is quite different. Everyone has a different complexion. You might have a different reaction to a product than I will. A product has done wonders for my skin but may not be useful to yours. However, someone reading may get similar to the same results as I have now.

I have inserted a before picture, and you see my skin without foundation makeup pictured as well. It took 7 steps to achieve this result in about 6-10 months. Keep in mind, your results may vary, but I thought I’d share for those looking for a boost.

Note: See our post here on double cleansing—equally as important to these products.

Left: Feb 2019, no makeup. Scattered acne spots and blackheads all over. Right: March 2020, no foundation on, only under-eye brightening concealer and bronzer. Smooth, silky, glowing skin with no spots, blemishes or blackheads.

Step 1: Curology

Many of you have heard of Curology — a custom made formula for your skin. It took around 6 weeks to see results, and I will thank Curology for getting rid of my scattered acne. Ever since using their custom formula for my skin, I never had one pimple pop up! My blackheads disappeared as well!

Skin Consultation: My 7 Steps To Perfect Skin

All photos by @reenasedit

Step 2: Neutrogena’s Acne Stress Control Toner

I started using this at the same time as Curology, but I used Curology in the nights and this toner in the day time — first thing after cleansing. It’s the combination of these two that altogether cured the breakouts on my face. This toner never irritated my skin and feels very light as it’s oil-free.

Another great toner I’ve been switching out to use is Paula’s Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant. It’s a leave on exfoliant with 2% salicylic acid to sweep away dead skin cells, unclogs pores and smooth uneven skin.

Step 3: OleHenriksen Vitamin C Serum

A powerful age-defying serum with 15% vitamin C, 5% PHAs, and hyaluronic acid — that instantly brightens, visibly firms, plumps skin with hydration, and reduces the appearance of dark spots, pores, and wrinkles.

Overtime, this serum helped bring the natural glow back to my face. I use this right after the toner.

“

Taking care of your skin is more important than covering it up.

Step 4: Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream

My skin was dehydrated and looked — well — bland, you can simply put it. This moisturizer leaves skin hydrated, and it is very lightweight, giving your makeup a more natural look. It’s also the best seller worldwide, so I’ve got people on my side!

Moisturized skin is everything. Face, body, all of it. Your body looks refreshed and alive (!!). Many face creams work brilliantly too.

Step 5: Glossier’s Futuredew Oil Serum

In just two weeks, my face saw immediate radiance on its own. This serum has nourishing oils that don’t feel greasy but gives skin a well-moisturized look. It does not interfere with my makeup either — makes my skin dewy — which is the healthy glow we all want, am I right?

Most days I mixed a pump in with my moisturizer. Applying it directly to your face — for a glowing base under makeup — works also!

Step 6: La Roche-Posay Anthelios Clear Skin Dry Touch SPF 60

On top of the moisturizer and Futuredew combo, adding an SPF to finish off the skincare routine is a must! Many SPFs cause breakouts, however, this one is oil-free and designed to not cause breakouts. With SPF 60 on the face, it works well to prevent aging — you’ll thank yourself later!

Step 7: Olay’s Retinol Night Eye Cream

Only recently I noticed my concealer going on patchy and that my eyes would not absorb it properly. I never cared for eye creams, but now I did! A few blogger ladies wrote about this eye cream, and why Retinol is essential in your routine, so I gave this Olay Night Cream a try. It did not irritate my eyes, but it is heavy, so thankfully — it’s a night cream! During the night, it nourishes and hydrates the eyes and gives noticeable results quickly.

Skin Consultation: 5 New Things To Try For Great Skin

Reena's Edit, Skin Consultation

1. Do an oil cleanse every once in a while

Clean your face as you do, then spend 10-15 minutes massaging your skin with the oil of your choice in circular motions. Once you’re done, take a clean hand towel, dampen in warm to hot water and gently remove the oily residue from your face.

2. Steam your face every week

Steaming your face allows your pores to open up to deep clean your skin. Your serums, masks, and creams also absorb better. Recommended for all skin types.

3. Incorporate oils into your skin — even acne-prone skin

Oils are rich in nutrients, moisturizers and antioxidants.

4. Sleep mostly on your back

If you can control it, sleep on your back to protect your skin. Pillow cases collect bacteria and residue from hair products. When your face lays on your pillow cases, your skin may break out. (Bonus: try silk pillow cases to reduce this risk!)

Sleeping on your side or on your face can promote the formation of wrinkles and saggy skin.

5. Wear heavy skincare products and nourish your skin at night

No one likes to feel cake-y during the day. Since you’re sleeping, wear heavy moisturizers and serums during these hours.

@ryandestiny

Skin Consultation: What are the Dark Circles Under Your Eyes?

Featured Muse, Skin Consultation

Why does the area under my eyes appear darker?

It may be due to the constricted blood vessels causing hyperpigmentation or from thinning of the skin around the eyes.

What are the common causes of dark circles?

The first you may guess—a lack of sleep or poor sleeping habits. Other causes may be allergies, including hay fever, or excessive sun exposure!

5 Easy Remedies To Try

Sleep with your head elevated.
Use an eye cream nightly.
Pat in a drop of sweet almond oil every night.
Soak your eyes with cold tea bags for 20 minutes.
Make potato juice by grating a potato and straining the juice, and combine it with a teaspoon of honey. Leave on for 30 minutes.

@oumaymaboumeshouli

F29030FB-F35C-46BB-8CBE-809CA8197D7E_1_201_a

Skin Consultation: Beauty Hack for Cheek Acne

Reena's Edit, Skin Consultation

Get The Look is a series on Reena’s Edit. See expert fashion advice, hair styles and tips, and beauty tips. Get The Look is an instructional segment for you to achieve our looks.

Did you know?

Your cheek acne may be caused by bacteria.

Change your pillowcases every 3-5 days.

Sleep on one side of the pillow each night or so. Then change and wash. We like our clean skin to be on a fresh pillow!

“

Since I made this switch, I don’t break out as much on my cheeks anymore—dirty pillowcases can cause some serious pimples.

-R

@neelamkg

2F3800E8-333D-49D9-9F37-F9AFF1130AA0_1_201_a

Skin Consultation: 5 Reasons to Drink Hot Water with Lemon

Reena's Edit, Skin Consultation

1. Cleanses the Body of Toxins

Drinking hot water can help eliminate toxins from your body by purifying your blood stream. Lemons contain enzymes that support your liver, which is the body’s main detoxifying organ. Less toxic build-up! You will notice your skin clearing up as you flush out the toxins.

2. Glowing Skin

When the body is free of toxins, your skin shows it. You will notice your skin will have a healthy glow to it after the lemon water works its magic. Try this method especially if you suffer from breakouts! That is a sign that your body is holding onto toxins.

3. Aids in Digestion

Lemons act as a digestive boost by helping the body absorb food and reap all the nutritional benefits. Also, hot water breaks down food easier than cold water which makes the food easier to digest.

4. Boost of Antioxidants

Sipping on hot lemon water is a powerful way to increase your antioxidant intake. Antioxidants help neutralize free radicals, which can damage the body’s tissue. This damage can lead to heart disease, cancer, and other illnesses. Lemons are rich in Vitamin C and other antioxidants that help support the body’s immune system.

5. Cleanse the Liver

The more efficiently the stomach breaks down food, the less work the liver has to do. Lemons are a natural cleanser, so it helps eliminate toxins.

We challenge to you to drink a glass of warm lemon water every morning for 2 weeks and see how your body feels and how your skin looks.