10 Pro Skincare tips for Summer!

SKINCARE SKINCARE SKINCARE!!!!

You have probably seen me post about my "Skincare Fairy Godmother" who happens to be my sister-in-law Racquel Frisella. Racquel has been caring for my skin for years. What I love is that it's never this 3,596 step process. I actually spend less time on my skin by using medical grade skincare which is more concentrated (aka-effective) so I use less, don't have to have as many products, it lasts longer and I get great results...seems pretty obvious it's the right decision! :) I wish so badly I had a good "before" photo when I started working with her but I never took any because my skin was just dull and "blah" so I didn't want a photo of it but I did find a photo of me from around that time when one of my nieces were born that will allow you to see the difference in my skin (and my eyebrows-or lack thereof- before microblading caught on! :) I also stalked Racquels Instagram to sprinkle in a few to show you all just how amazing these skin transformations are!

Racquel is an Aesthetic Nurse Practitioner, a Mom to 1 boy and twin girls, wife to Sal, and lover of all things beauty, skin, family, fashion and fitness. She has over 13 years of experience in the aesthetic nursing field. Racquel specializes in both facial injectables and skincare. Her mission is to help people feel amazing in their own skin with her philosophy to aesthetics stemming from her belief in the "look good, feel good" mentality.  When we feel our best we project the best version of ourselves into every facet of our lives; making us a better partner, parent, co worker, and friend. Helping other people feel beautiful inside and out is her passion & it shows! She's amazing at what she does.

She posted a great blog on her site with TONS of Summer skincare tips and I asked if I could share them because you guys ask me about my skin and this is the woman responsible for it! :) So take notes because this is packed with great tips for your skin!

Ok- so lets get into it!...but first a before & after of absolute gold hearted Laura Novotny :)

1. Apply SPF Daily...and then Reapply! 

You probably don’t need me to tell you how important it is to lather yourself in SPF, it is 2022 and I think most people have picked up on that fact that baking your face in the sun is out and sunscreen is in. But, if you still need a quick reminder, listen up: wear your sunscreen. Please. At least SPF 30. Without SPF, you’re exposing your skin to an array of preventable and potentially dangerous effects, including fine lines & wrinkles, dark spots, and skin cancer.

If you need help choosing a sunscreen my personal favorite (which is also the top recommended sunscreen in my practice), is RFA Prime + Protect SPF 40. This is one sunscreen that will give you full protection. Physical Block SPF 40 ( instant protection, blocks, reflects UVA & UVB rays) will not cause breakouts. It is 4% Titanium Dioxide and 4% Zinc Oxide for a natural SPF. It is also tinted with the use of iron oxides which helps to create a cosmetically elegant SPF without the looking “white” due to high zinc oxide. Of course propylene glycol, fragrance, paraben free!

This is a universal color tint - looks good on all skin types. Works for the fairest of fair and the darkest of dark, even my Indian and African American clients love it because it gives them just a little bit of glow. The texture is so silky smooth and great for using as a primer before makeup or just using as a light cover on no makeup days.

Other ingredients that will leave your skin feeling great are: Vitamin CE, Ferulic acid, Argan oil, and Iron Oxides- (better photoprotection). 

Even though you should be wearing SPF everyday (even in the cold months) I especially recommend an SPF 40 as soon as it starts to warm up! Prime + Protect is non sticky, non greasy, light in feel due to high zinc oxide)

A half a pump is all you need to use on your face and neck meaning the bottle last 3 months!!

Do your skin a favor and protect it from the sun….your older self will thank you later! I always say the BEST way to prevent permanent damage to the skin from the sun is by wearing SPF when outdoors as much as possible. You will not see me at the pool or beach without my hat and SPF! 

Read more about Sunscreen here.

2. Avoiding and Treating Sun Burns, Heat Rash, & other Inflammation

What should you do if you have taken all the necessary precautions but still end up with a sunburn?! I know, you’re probably asking for a friend ;) 

Mild sunburn symptoms typically include skin redness and pain. After about 4-7 days, skin peeling may occur. You definitely want to stay out of the sun until the redness fades. Stay hydrated, and keep your skin cool. Helpful home remedies for sunburn and heat rash include cool compresses and baths, loose fitting clothing, and over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers. 

Use a medical grade lotion like our Rescue Cream that combines aloe vera with a pop of hydrocortisone to soothe and moisturize sun-burnt skin. You can use the calming cream twice daily to alleviate symptoms and promote healing. Petroleum jelly, Aquaphor ointment, or Vaniply from the drugstore will help sunburned lips and areas where the skin has peeled and is raw. Keep those areas coated while they epithelialize and heal. You can layer the calming cream with ointment. 

My skincare "before" photo..and before eyebrows and before I learned to not wear eyeliner! 

3. Exfoliate with Acids or Scrubs

While it's important to exfoliate all year long, your skin may need an extra boost over the summer, as it clogs with sunscreen, sweat, and dead skin from dehydration. Exfoliating your face is priority, but you can exfoliate the rest of your body, too! I love our RFA Exfoliating Scrub. Without getting too technical, it uses a combination of amazing acids which brighten and keep the skin hydrated. Acids do not always dry out your skin! This scrub also helps to exfoliate the skin and improve pigment, without irritation.

The tiny beads are man made hydrated silica that is non-abrasive, which feels like tiny crystals brushing over your skin. I LOVE the feel, I've never loved a scrub more and it gives you a really deep clean. RFA Exfoliating Scrub is a great addition to any skincare routine and can be used 2-3 times per week. It is great to alternate this with your everyday cleanser. It also doubles as a mask simply by leaving it on for 5-10 minutes for an even deeper clean before you rinse.

1. *Fragrance Free, Paraben Free, Propylene Glycol Free.

Pro-tip: Pair with RFA Lux Pads or other weekly pads, to allow the scrub to offer a deeper cleanse! This due acts as a great at-home facial tool in place of microdermabrasion!!

***I interrupt these tips for another before & after of the beautiful and sweet Jenna Fail  :) 

4. Hydrate Daily 

Drink water to hydrate your body, as well as your skin. A well-hydrated body keeps skin looking dewy, and leaves you feeling energized, too. It is generally recommended to drink a minimum of 8 cups (8 oz) of water per day for adults. This is a minimum and does not consider sweating, working out etc. So you likely need more! When I’m drinking 12+ cups a day I feel more energized, my skin is brighter and my digestion is better. Water is so powerful! 

Some ways to get your water in:

• Commit to 3 cups before your morning coffee
• Drink another 3 cups during your workout 
• 3 cups post workout 
• 1 cup with every meal 
• Carry around a reusable water bottle at all times! Look for 24oz minimum (3 cups) 

That’s 10 right there!

5. Give Your Skin a Vitamin C Boost

Vitamin C heals our skin from deep within by fighting free radicals that damage our skin and can even lead to skin cancer. Although you should be using an antioxidant serum year round for optimal skin health - summer is definitely the time to start if you haven’t yet! If you’re looking for a recommendation, RFA Radiant Vitamin C, is a high potency antioxidant formula. It combines Vitamin C with Vitamin E and Ferulic Acid to brighten the skin, smooth texture and protect against the effects of photo-aging (sun caused damage). Antioxidants protect the skin from oxidation and elemental damage. This Vitamin C stimulates new collagen growth and fortifies the skin’s dermis which is the second layer. We know if the dermis is being affected that the serum is penetrating down through our pores and providing additional benefits to the next layer. This is a sign of good, potent products!

6. Learn Tan Safety 

It’s 2020, make the healthy switch. Although we all know a good tan makes us happier and feel 5 lbs lighter (or maybe that’s just me!) we live in an era with plenty of research to support the dangers of overexposure to the sun. No more sunbathing (guily!) or tanning beds (also, guilty!) We’re talking wrinkles, brown spots, and even skin cancer - it’s not worth it! It is also a myth that having a “base tan” will protect you from a sunburn. A base tan does not provide nearly enough protection for your skin, even on the cloudiest day.

In all honesty, a tan signifies the skin’s response to being damaged by the sun. Sit poolside and read your book, just make sure you shade under your hat & umbrella. Make the switch to self-tanners or professional spray tans to achieve that skin-baring summer glow. 

Pro-Tip: Do not use spray tan or self tanner on your face. It is normal for your face to be a shade or two lighter than the body. To build color on the face, use a tinted moisturizer + bronzer, foundation or BB cream. The pigment from self tanner can bind with sun damage pigment and leave the skin looking uneven for weeks after the self-tanner is applied. I spray tan regularly from the neck down.

7. Try a Hydrating Serum

Hydrated skin is happy skin, and sometimes 12 cups of water in a day just doesn’t cut it. Think of your moisturizer as giving your skin a big drink of water (our skin is almost always thirsty!). I recommend moisturizer in the AM & PM. For normal to oily skin types choose a hyaluronic acid serum moisturizer called RFA HA Peptide Serum. 

This lightweight moisturizing serum really absorbs into the skin to improve hydration, glow, and fine lines and wrinkles. For more dry skin types I love to use RFA Hydralipid Lotion or RFA Silk Serum. For very dry skin the best trick is to layer both! Apply RFA HA Peptide first and then layer the Hydralipid lotion or Silk Serum on top!  

Whats that you ask? You want another before & after? DONE! :) This one is of badass babe & sweetheart Erin Bean

8. Don’t neglect the lips and eyes

When you are ready for the next step, we add hydration and anti-aging products to specific areas of the face like our eyes. While there are several signs of aging skin near the eyes, fine lines and wrinkles are the most typical initial symptoms of the aging process. Sun damage, UV radiation, lack of collagen, toxins and lack of hydration all cause damage to the skin around the eyes. 

Medical grade eye creams are going to contain the most powerful ingredients that are scientifically proven to penetrate and CHANGE the skin around the eyes. If you are especially concerned with fine lines, wrinkles or milia around the eye I suggest an eye cream with retinol and I absolutely love RFA Youthful Eye Cream Retinol + Niacinamide. 

Let’s talk about the RFA Youthful Eye Cream Retinol + Niacinamide 

Say goodbye👋🏼 to looking tired and say hello to looking energized, refreshed and youthful! 

✨ Why we love this product…

It delivers rich hydration to the delicate skin around the eyes! 

It deeply moisturizes and helps to smooth fine lines & wrinkles while minimizing the look of dark circles & puffiness. 

This product is gluten-free, paraben-free, oil-free, fragrance-free, hypoallergenic, and non-comedogenic.

✨ Who is it for…

Everyone who is looking to prevent and combat that “tired and ageing” look. The eye area is one of the first to show signs of ageing such as sagging skin, fine lines, and crow's feet! 

✨ The key ingredients...

All-trans Retinol - which helps increase firmness and elasticity 

Hyaluronic Acid - deeply hydrates and seals moisture in, plumping visible lines and wrinkles 

Ceramide & Peptide Complex - nourishes and tightens skin, reducing the appearance of bags and dark circles 

Niacinamide - smooths skin and helps brighten discoloration 

Caffeine USP, Arnica & Vitamin K - help to reduce the appearance of dark circles and puffiness 

✨ How to use…

Apply 1/2 a pump to the surrounding area of the eye at night & get your beauty sleep girl 

Little pro tip – you can always use your eye cream on your lips for anti-aging and extra hydration there too!

9. Treat Pigmentation

Do you suffer from uneven skin tone? This is known as hyperpigmentation, which is the darkening of pigment on the skin due to sun damage or melasma. Another form of hyperpigmentation is PIH or Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation. This type is when you see small little dark spots left behind old acne marks. 

Uneven complexion isn’t fun and I’ve seen how it can really affect self-esteem. I know this because I’ve suffered from it before. After my son was born I was dealing with a combination of sun damage and melasma and my skin looked horrible. 

I went on a mission to get my skin pigmentation restored which meant little to no sun exposure and my saving grace, RFA Koji-C Pads! It is easy to feel like you are “stuck” with bad pigmentation or uneven skin tone, but no matter how minor or severe – it can be improved. It takes both time and effort, but it can be done! Time and effort. If you ever need help or advice – I’m here to help.

10. Consider an in-office Treatment

If a cosmetic treatment is going to make you feel better about yourself and more confident then of course you should do it! Take the time. Make the investment. You ARE worth it.  Here are some of my top treatments to mix in throughout the summer: 

1. Botox every 3-4 months (see my Botox 101 blog for more info)
2. Fillers to enhance your natural beauty or correct volume loss (Fillers 101 blog here too!)
3. Hydrafacials + Dermaplaning 
4. BBL +Moxi  therapy at the end of every summer 
5. Microneedling with PRP or Exosomes
6. Chemical Peels

This post is packed with tons of info! You absolutely do not need to go invest in 20 new products and try and implement these 10 tips overnight. I’d definitely suggest starting with good sun care and tanning safety, then consider high quality products or in office treatments based on your unique needs. 

Thanks so much for having me Emily! I’m available for free skin care consultations, just Fill out the Skin Consult Form  through my website! 

 

The original content of this blog is posted on Racquel’s website but she also consented to sharing it with us here!