I asked a client last week what she used to moisturize her skin, and she just kind of shrugged and said, "Ummmm..."
If she were 25, I would have explained the benefits of a good skin care treatment system and just moved on.
If she were 35, I would have given her the lecture on why she should have started using proper skin care over a decade ago.
This particular client was 55 years old. I stopped her right there, because there is no excuse for anyone over 30 to not be conscious of what they are putting on their face. There is absolutely no excuse for that type of neglect. She has been bouncing from counter to counter trying out (and returning) different brands of foundations and concealers, looking for the miracle cure to put the dewy glow back in her skin.
This drives me up the wall. Here's a little tough love for some of my readers and clients... and please take these words to heart.
* Stop expecting makeup to be a quick fix for all your problems. Women book makeup lessons with me because they want glowy, even skin. If the first thing they ask for is a full coverage foundation, I usually respond with, "What are you trying to hide?"
* Cleanse. Hydrate. Exfoliate. We are not plastic surgeons. We are here to enhance your natural beauty to make you look your best. I cannot perform my best work on a canvas that hasn't been properly cared for. Meet us halfway. This is supposed to be a basic part of personal hygiene, like brushing your teeth or combing your hair.
* Your skin is as vital an organ as your heart, liver, and lungs. Treat it as such. You see a dentist for a yearly cleaning. You are aware that you have to perform self-exams for breast health. Your general practitioner is probably on your speed dial... but when was your last visit to a dermatologist?
* Be prepared when you go see your skin care professional. We are not psychics. How can we help you find proper answers to your complexion dilemmas if you can't answer a simple question about your daily routine?
* Stop thinking that you know everything. Most skin care professionals have been extensively trained in product ingredient knowledge and contraindications. Do we show up at your place of work and tell you how to do your job?
* Just because something doesn't show instant results doesn't mean it's not the right product for you. Many things aren't made to work overnight. Any doctor can tell you that some prescription medications, especially the ones intended for long term use, take time to build up in your system before you start to feel a change in your symptoms. This is also true for skin care. Unless you are severely allergic to a product, allow your skin one month to adjust to it before you assume "it isn't doing anything."
I'm going to repeat something I've written over and over, and unfortunately, have to keep repeating until people get it into their heads...
Your skin cannot be replaced, like your kidneys or your knees. Take care of it.
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