- Exfoliation is Crucial: Even with a good skincare routine, exfoliation remains a key step to remove dead skin cells and keep your skin glowing.
- Hydration Balances Oil Production: Proper hydration helps control excess sebum and prevents the skin from becoming overly oily or dry.
- Sun Protection is Essential: Consistent use of SPF and collagen-stimulating products are necessary to combat and repair sun damage.
Chances are, you’ve become pretty loyal to your current skin routine—all four, five, or even ten steps of it! And when you look at your post-routine complexion in the mirror, you might think that the reflection staring back at you has totally healthy skin. But in reality, an absence of acne or other obvious skin concerns doesn’t mean that your skin is in great health. On the contrary, there might be signs of skin damage you’ve yet to address!
Take a look at the six signs of unhealthy skin that appear even with a solid skin routine, along with the esthetician-trusted tips to fix them!
Sign 1: Dry and Flaky Skin
What to look for: One of the most obvious signs of unhealthy skin is a dry, flaky complexion. You might not notice how dry your skin has become as you lather on your favorite moisturizer. But you can definitely tell your skin is in need of moisture after applying makeup like foundation or powder. If your skin peels and flakes by the end of the day, you’re most likely overdue for a good exfoliation session!
Solution: Exfoliate Dead Skin Cells Exfoliation is the best way to gently loosen dead skin cells, accelerate skin renewal, and revive dry or flaky skin. I recommend washing with the deep cleaning, foamy CBE Botanicals Scrub Away the Day Cleanser, and following with the Revive Exfoliating Serum once or twice weekly. If your skin is sensitive or dry, try theEnzyme Rescue for a gentle but thorough exfoliation.
Sign 2: Scaly or Rough Texture
What to look for: Rough skin texture does not always present itself as dry, flaky patches. Sometimes, it resembles more a crackled-glass appearance or dimpled skin similar to the texture of an orange peel. A complexion with this rough texture is referred to as glycated skin, and it occurs when natural collagen combines with sugar molecules in the skin to form a stubborn, tough layer of skin.
Solution: Buff Away Build-up Years of sun damage, smoking, and an unhealthy diet contribute to glycated skin, but there are a few solutions to alleviate it. My clients rave about the CBE Botanicals Enzyme Rescue Multi-Purpose Enzyme Mask, which can be applied in a thick layer after cleansing to soften glycated skin.
Sign 3: Dull Complexion
What to look for: Do you follow each step of your skincare routine religiously, yet your skin still lacks a hydrated glow? A dull complexion can be caused by various factors, including dehydration, lack of sleep, smoking, poor diet, or even overworking your skin. Fortunately, you can revive a lackluster complexion and achieve that sought-after glow with the right approach.
Solution: Hydrate and Brighten To brighten a dull complexion, consider a curated skin-brightening bundle to simplify your skincare routine. If you're too attached to your current products, I recommend adding a double-duty product like the CBE Botanicals Triple C + Gold Serum to improve your skin's health and vibrancy.
Sign 4: Overly Oily Skin
What to look for: Do you feel like a grease slick by mid-afternoon? An overly oily complexion could be due to excess sebum, an oily substance produced to hydrate and protect the skin’s surface. Oily skin can be due to factors like diet and dehydration. But it can also result from skipping a daily moisturizer, which forces the skin to produce more sebum. Oily skin can also be due to too-heavy skincare products.
Solution: Find a Happy Medium Those with oily skin require products that hydrate but don’t saturate. The NeoGenesis Light Moisturizer has been formulated for those with oily skin or who live in humid climates to nourish and protect the skin without a greasy residue. Follow with the lightweight sunscreen to shield your skin from UV rays and absorb excess sebum throughout the day!
Sign 5: Milia (Milk Spots)
Those hard, crystalized balls of oil under your skin’s surface aren’t whitehead pimples—they’re milia! Milia form when dead skin cells become trapped in cysts below your skin’s surface. This can happen due to lack of exfoliation or chronically dry skin.
Solution: Super Saturate Skin Most clients with milia across the face also suffer from dehydrated, dull skin. So, give your skin that drink of water it’s craving! I have an entire video tutorial for getting rid of milia on the face, which features star products like the NeoGenesis Moisturizing Mist in place of a harsh toner.
Sign 6: Sun Damage (Photoaging)
What to look for: Sun damage or photoaging shows up in many ways, including uneven pigmentation, sun spots (hyperpigmentation), spider veins, and decreased skin elasticity that leads to fine lines and wrinkles. Even if you already use SPF, these signs might still develop due to past sun exposure.
Solution: Boost Collagen Production While SPF can help shield against future sun damage, you need a collagen-stimulating product to fight the appearance of uneven skin tone, fine lines, and other signs of photoaging. I can’t live without the CaviPLLA Multi-Serum and the Omnilux Red Light Therapy device to repair unhealthy skin!
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How often should I exfoliate my skin if it's sensitive?
If your skin is sensitive, limit exfoliation to once a week using gentle products like the Enzyme Rescue to avoid irritation.
Q: What should I do if I have both dry and oily skin (combination skin)?
Use lightweight, hydrating products like NeoGenesis Light Moisturizer in the oily areas, and apply a more nourishing moisturizer to the drier parts of your face.
Q: Can I Use Vitamin C Serum with Other Active Ingredients Like Retinol or AHAs?
Yes, you can absolutely use Vitamin C in conjunction with other active ingredients, but it's best to apply them at different times of the day. For example, use your Vitamin C serum in the morning and your retinol or AHA product at night.
Achieve Healthy Skin with Personalized Support
Is your faithful skin routine not having the same effect it used to, or is it simply not achieving the healthy skin you’re working towards? It happens to the best of us! Fortunately, we learn better together. That’s why I invite you to join me in the Christine Byer Beauty Club, where I offer my esthetician expertise in the form of personalized skincare support and access to exclusive savings! Sign up for a FREE 14-day preview today.
