Know Thy Face
Skincare has always been something I found to be fun and relaxing for myself. While I love a makeup look, my goal is to have that effortless look sans makeup just glowing skin. That being said, there are many ways achieve that dewy, youthful look. Other cultures have an alternative way to view the lines on our face…Traditional Chinese Medicine offers insight to the stories our skin is telling. For example, creases across your forehead indicate an adventurous decade during your 20s. While we may see imperfection, I believe a healthy balance of acceptance and optimization make taking care of your skin a soothing endeavor. My night time routine of cleansing and moisturizing will always be a moment of self care I look forward to. But outside of your daily skincare regimen, it can be difficult to figure out what monthly facials you should be getting or what devices will help any premature aging. I see new treatments and tools trend every month and even I have to research the validity of some. If you’re not sure if you should be doing microcurrent, gua sha, acupuncture, dermaplaning or just a plain old regular facial, I am here to help!
To understand what additional skincare you want to invest in, having a goal in mind is the best way to start. If you’re looking to lift and tighten the muscles of your face or reduce signs of aging, a microcurrent device may be what you’re looking for. Microcurrent devices like NuFace send an electro current through the skin to the muscle to lift the face by tightening the muscle. Similar to a muscle pump at the gym, microcurrents can make water and blood accumulate in muscles. How does this work? As you age, your muscles start to shrink, and you lose the plumpness of your skin, giving it a saggy look. The microcurrent stimulates those muscles so that the plumpness can return and give you a younger look. Larger muscles also mean tightened skin, helping to reduce fine lines and wrinkles. Since the muscles are firmer and larger, your face will also become more toned and lifted, with the contours being more pronounced. I made the jump and purchased one for myself and immediately notice the difference. An internal glow, lifted neck and sculpted cheek make this a Holy Grail for me. This is also a great alternative to Botox and fillers for those looking for a chemical free lift. I will say there has been one study that shows overuse causes muscle fatigue, and that overtime your muscles may not react the same. Since I can’t do much to that level of consistency I’m not worried about myself, but like anything don’t over do it.
Another way to increase blood flow in the face is gua sha. This is an ancient Chinese technique that is known to have many healing benefits, including helping with migraines, neck pain and chronic pain. The technique involves scraping your skin with short or long strokes to stimulate the circulation of soft tissue, increasing the blood flow. A gua sha stone is the tool used in this technique as well as massage oil. Gua sha was originally used to address stagnant energy, or chi, which is thought to cause inflammation. The stimulating of the skin with the gua sha stone is supposed to break this energy and promote healing. Recently, this technique has been seen all over social media and the reasoning behind it has been mostly lost. I would recommended finding a licensed acupuncturist or practitioner of Chinese medicine to perform this technique for the best results, and train you as well.
Facial acupuncture, or what some consider another safer alternative to Botox, is (again!) traditional Chinese medicine, used to treat signs of aging. An extension of traditional acupuncture, the procedure helps the health of your skin while making it look smoother and younger. The needles create tiny wounds or microtraumas that cause the body to go into repair mode. Your body then delivers extra nutrients and oxygen to your face giving it a nice, healthy glow. This also helps promote the production of collagen, which improves the elasticity in your face and reduces fine lines. This is a less invasive version of microneedling, where the device has hundreds of needles prickling your face; this only uses about 40 to 70. It is recommended to do facial acupuncture along with a full body treatment so that the energy does not build up in your face. This can be a relatively pricey treatment, so that’s something to keep in mind when weighing if this is worth it for you.
After all this talk of needles, dermaplaning is going to seem like cake in comparison. This is where you use an exfoliating blade to shave off the top layers of your skin. Think razor going over the surface rather than a needle piercing it. This will remove dead skin cells, peach fuzz and can help with acne scars and dull or dry skin. Lots of people claim to have an easier time applying makeup after this treatment, but this could be because the small hairs of your face are removed. Dermaplaning is something that I personally have tried and seen a difference with, but that is not a guarantee that you will. I found my skin to be brighter and more glowy, with a softer finish, but different people have different results. This is a temporary treatment, lasting less than a month, so it would be something that you would have to keep up with.
There are people who have had success with all of these treatments, and I’m sure there’s also people who didn’t see enough of a difference to justify the costs of the treatments. I tend to find an esthetician I trust and share my goals, and they help create the roadmap for me. While I don’t have the budget to overdo it, it should be said that sometimes simplicity is best. No need for 5 serums, and a major monthly budget for glowing skin. You can start small; stay hydrated, drink your herbal tea, and do a facial massage with your fingers and hands. As your skincare becomes more of a priority in your budget the best step forward is to try out what targets your goals and interests and see your results. As long as you’re enjoying and benefitting from the self care, there’s no wrong way to do it!
