My Skin Wins (& Sins!)

Looking back on 15 years of skincare

With 15 years of hands-on experience as an esthetician and skincare lover, I’m familiar with the ins and outs of the trade. However, like most of us, I do have a history of skin habits I’m not so proud of. After years of trial and error (and a few cringe-worthy mistakes), I’ve mastered the art of good skincare.

Keep reading for my skincare secrets, past skincare sins, and what I do now to ensure my skin is at the top of its game.

My Skin Secrets

Airplane Shade Patrol
Window seat? Shade down.

Airplane UV rays = 20 minutes in a tanning bed. Not worth it.

Sunscreen 24/7/365
Rain or shine, my face, neck, and hands are covered in SPF. I double up with an SPF mineral powder for easy touch-ups.

Hanging Out (Literally)
I hang my head upside down for three minutes daily to boost blood flow. It’s like a mini glow session for your skin!

Dairy Ditching
I love cheese so this is the hardest one for me. But cutting back on dairy keeps adult cystic acne away from me.

My Skin Sins

Tanning Tragedies
Oh, the late ’90s. I remember buying many a tanning package from Planet tan.

Picking Blemishes
When I was a teen I was always in front of the bathroom mirror picking. It left scars and spread the acne bacteria without my realizing it. These days, I try to leave the picking to facials, not my fingers.

Skipping Professional Facials
Life is busy. I don’t have time to book facials now, but man, I wish I did it more before the kids. Now, I do a DIY mini-session at home (mini-session weekly challenges coming in 2025!) Think exfoliating peel and a hydrating mask.

Forgetting Hand Sunscreen
I’ll admit it: I sometimes forget SPF on my hands. But sun damage doesn’t discriminate. Now, I make sure to bring it down to my décolleté, hands, and all exposed areas.

My Go-To Products

Oil-based Cleansers
It’s my holy grail for smooth, acne-free skin.

Toners
When I was young, I thought toning was just an unnecessary extra step. Now I use Alcohol-free toners to hydrate and prep my skin for serums.

Damp skin absorbs products better.

Exfoliants
For a quick glow, I use a gentle scrub. If I didn’t live in a climate where the sun beats down morning ‘til evening, I’d do it everyday. But for now, I like to exfoliate once a week and never when I know I’m hitting the beach or boat the next day!

It’s never too late to level up your skin care. Learn from my mistakes, steal my tips, and love the skin you’re in!

What’s your biggest skin sin? Tell me in the comments.