Spreading awareness about lip cancer and using my voice to share my story means everything to me. Through my journey I discovered there is not enough awareness of lip cancer and the importance of SPF on the lips. We are all versed in the importance of daily SPF, but we neglect our lips. Sunburn, premature aging, and peeling are most talked about, the skin on your lips is thinner, more delicate than the rest of your face, making it more susceptible to the sun's damaging rays. Trust me when I tell you, I have tried just about every lip balm, lip balm WITH SPF. Investing in a lip scrub, good lip balm with SPF is a must!
Lips truly are just a more delicate extension of our facial skin. I have always been passionate about my skin, but since my lip cancer diagnosis, I am now educated. I have collected all my tried-and-true skin care products from lips, eyes and entire face that have worked for me.
First, I am going to cut straight to the point. Below I have listed my true, can’t live without products and other favorites. I go into detail on use and other great products below!
Tried and True Favorites
(mainly lip care)
Emollient treatment helps improve environmental damage while smoothing and refining the lips surface.
Keep your lips as smooth as your complexion with. Crafted with reparative and nourishing oils, this sugar scrub melts on contact to provide gentle exfoliation. As a bonus, its rose flower wax imparts a feminine and elegant aroma.
Regenerating, moisturizing, and intensive-care lip balsam with a pleasant refreshing effect. Minimizes signs of premature skin aging.
is a rich, nourishing formula that supplies comfort and hydration to chapped, cracked, and rough lips. Using nourishing ingredients such as castor seed oil and shea butter, this lip treatment restores the skin's moisture barrier to protect against extreme weather and environmental aggressors. The result is smoother, healthier, and more comfortable lips.
5. Avène mineral tinted compact SPF 50 (recommended by Skin Cancer Foundation)
100% Mineral filter sunscreen in a light, cream to powder formula enriched with a powerful photostable antioxidant. Provides broad-spectrum SPF50 UVA/UVB protection. I apply this after my lip moisturizer, before applying lip balm SPF, double protection.
This creamy, long-lasting moisturizing sunscreen soothes and protects dry, chapped, and sun-exposed lips. EltaMD UV Lip Balm contains 5% Hydromanil™ for immediate and long-term moisturization. Powerful UV protection and super hydrating power make EltaMD UV Lip Balm the ideal protector for all skin types and lifestyles.
More Favorites
(more skin care)
Alastin Skincare:
(Scientifically proven skincare)
Eye Treatment
Restorative Neck Complex - SO important to not forget about your neck!
MBR Medical Beauty Research
Enzyme Cleansing Booster - love love this!!
Skinceuticals:
CE Ferulic - apply first, then apply tinted SPF
Natura Bisse
Cellex-C
New Complexion Cream (night only)
SkinMedica
Chanel
*I mix these two together, really beautiful!
Cosmedix
Mystic Hydrating Mist - My fav! Apply before any products and during the day if needed.
MYSKINBUDDY
MYSKINBUDDY 6X- a revolutionary facial device that utilizes four proven technologies to help you achieve a clearer complexion, brighter and even skin tone, and a more youthful appearance.
For the Body
Glytone
Daily Body Lotion SPF - For body only! It has a glycolic acid complex which leaves the skin looking silky and hydrated.
Natura Bisse
MBR Medical Beauty Research
The Details
Okay, now let’s get into it. Building a successful skincare regimen needs an essential starting point. However, with so much information (and misinformation) out there, it can be difficult to know where to begin. While everyone’s complexion is different, there are some
core principles to follow, whatever your age or skin type.
Cleansing is key
Cleansing properly is vital for keeping skin healthy and functioning well. Correct cleansing techniques remove the grime that can lead to breakouts and enables other products to penetrate effectively. Insufficient cleansing is also one of the frequent culprits for dull skin, as a layer of dead cells and debris will absorb light and give the complexion a flat appearance. Double cleansing isn’t always essential but it it very effective to ensure skin is truly clean – particularly if you live in a busy, polluted city. Your first cleanser removes any surface-level debris, while your second treats the skin on a deeper level. Incomparably soft and yet deep-pore cleansing such as MBR Enzyme Cleaning Booster. Your skin radiates in purity, clarity, appears refreshed, matted, is incredibly effective at breaking down dirt and makeup in the evening.
Protect and defend
Your skin goes through a lot, so using the correct ingredients and products to shield against damage will help to boost your complexion’s radiance and resilience. Lifestyle and environmental factors such as poor sleep, sugar, stress, sun and pollution can all cause signs of premature aging, including hyperpigmentation and collagen breakdown. Antioxidants are the first line of defense to protect the skin – and a must in your morning routine. Vitamin C is often touted as the most powerful and is known for its brightening effect. However, ingredients such as green tea, turmeric or resveratrol are also potent. The final step is always sun protection – even on cloudy days, as UV rays can still penetrate. And gone are the days of heavy SPF: now, clever formulas are completely weightless on the skin but still offer maximum protection.
Moisture is a must
Whether your skin is on the dry or oily side of the spectrum, adequate hydration is a non-negotiable for optimum health and radiance. Due to central heating, air conditioning and lifestyle choices, most of us have dehydrated skin that increasingly loses moisture as we age. Using a suitable moisturizer acts as a sealant to prevent moisture loss, and most are formulated with powerhouse ingredients, such as soothing ceramides or resurfacing acids. Texture is crucial: dry skin can use rich, buttery creams for ultimate comfort, whereas combination to oily skin will undoubtedly react well to lighter lotions and gels. Don’t neglect the area around your eyes, either – this is often the first place to show signs of aging. A dedicated eye cream will help to plump up fine lines without weighing this delicate skin down. It can also be layered over a hydrating serum, which works best when applied to slightly damp skin. A retinol serum at night 2-3 times a week will do you wonders!
Added extras
With the basics covered, anything supplementary takes your results to the next level. At-home acid peels are the most effective addition, addressing a plethora of concerns such as breakouts, hyperpigmentation, fine lines and large pores. Glycolic acid is often referred to as the gold standard, but there are gentler acids out there, too, including lactic, for those with sensitive skin. Masks are the other expert-approved upgrade, as the ingredients are often more concentrated, for instant results. "Masks are full of actives, so they’re a great way of nurturing your skin to decongest and hydrate. Not only do masks have a therapeutic, self-care element, they also help you create an at-home facial experience. Adding a few extra steps before applying your mask can help yield better results, cleansing, then using a gentle exfoliator to remove any dead cells before application. To go one step further, invest in an electronic facial device to sculpt and leave skin with a glow. The MYSKINBUDDY is my absolute favorite!
*Bonus Summer Recommendations
As the upcoming summer months approach, I have a few simple recommendations.
Morning Routine:
After washing skin for the SkinCeuticals LHA, (use your favorite face wash) I tone with SkinCeuticals LHA toner or one of your choice, apply SkinCeutials C E Ferulic-Serum, to the face and neck, pat all over, never rub. I love the Mystic Hydration before and after any serum or cream. Always apply an eye cream, I like Alastin eye serum, but change it up sometimes. Neck cream is a must, never forget! Use the MYSKINBUDDY, one device that utilizes four proven technologies to help you achieve a clearer complexion, brighter and even skin tone, switch between level of red, blue and green. I love how it infuses your serums and fights inflammation.
Another favorite, Obagi Hydrate, wait a bit, apply SPF (no higher than a 50- 30 is ideal). If you’re out and about and exposed to an all-day event, reapply every 2-3 hours, that goes for all SPF products. I like to combine the elastiderm eye serum and the eye cream together, feels pretty amazing.
Nighttime Routine:
Repeat my morning ritual, I use retinol 2-3x week followed by a rich cream, my favorite is the MBR Cream Extraordinary. Night creams are generally thicker in consistency than day creams, not only does a night cream soothe and hydrate skin after a long day, mostly importantly they help induce repair by amplifying cell turnover.
Obagi:
To Sum It All Up
I know all of this put together can be overwhelming. I wanted to provide a comprehensive list of everything that truly works. I hope you can pick one group of my recommendations and try them out. Our skin is an investment for beauty, sure, but more importantly, it is investment for protection against carcinogens in our quest for a long and healthy life. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions at all. Again, I've been there. ;)
-Regina
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