Come fall, it’s not uncommon for the tan (real or fake) to wear off, and for us to look at our skin and wonder “what happened?” Fine lines that we’re sure weren’t there before, and the odd new spot can mean that the time spent on the patios ended up doing more damage than we thought it could. What to do?
Turns out that a fix isn’t difficult to find and nor is it a temporary one. We headed to The Spa Ritual to check out their Enhanced Anti-Aging Facial Treatment. The key to the treatment, we learned, was a medical peel that helped exfoliate the skin. Removing damaged skin can help skin look more refined – surface wrinkles seem to disappear and over time, dark spots can be lightened. We loved that the peel wasn’t too intense – there was no actual “peeling” of the skin, and no redness once we left the spa. Having a trained aesthetician do the peel meant that we were carefully monitored the entire time the peel was applied to make sure that it was something that our skin could handle. The facial also included doses of Vitamin C serum applied to the skin after each wash. Vitamin C has been shown to actively protect skin from damage, and even repairs DNA so that new skin cells are healthier.
We left the spa glowing – but before we came home, we made sure to find out how we could prolong the effects of the facial at home.
Turns out, there’s lots that can be done at home.
Firstly, you can use AHA and BHA containing products at home. These come in a variety of formulas so find one that’s easy to fit into your existing skincare routine. We like Paula’s Choice 8% AHA Gel because it’s oil-free and super light and works well applied before a moisturizer. We also love Neostrata lotions which are formulated with a mix of AHA and BHA’s and are perfect for skin that needs a dose of hydration.
The other way to keep the effects of the facial is to use a vitamin C serum at home and for that we prefer a serum like Philosophy’s new Time in a Bottle. It addresses the fact that Vitamin C needs to be used “fresh” and so lets you pour it into the serum yourself when you first open the bottle.
Finally, make sure that you’re not exposing your skin to the sun as it can cause skin to become damaged and show signs of aging. Use a sunscreen daily and one that’s built into a moisturizer can make it easy. We love Neutrogena’s Rapid
Tone Repair moisturizer because it has an SPF 20.
We’re happy to know that caring for our skin doesn’t have to be left to the professionals!
