I INTERVIEWED AESTHETICIAN, PROFESSIONAL SKINCARE AND BODY CONTOURING SPECIALIST PATRICIA BALBUENA OF THE NATURAL SKINCARE STUDIO IN HOUSTON, TEXAS, AND GATHERED TIPS ON PREPARING YOUR SKIN FOR THE CHANGE OF SEASON. WE ARE PROUD TO SHARE ALL OF THEM, WITH SOME ADDITIONAL TIPS FROM VILAU ON CARING FOR YOUR SKIN IN SPRING TO BETTER ENJOY YOUR SUMMER.
THE BIG FIVE SECRETS OF NATURAL SKINCARE
We all know that beautiful skin begins with the care we take of our bodies… and good genes, but for those of us who were not born with porcelain Korean skin, we need to put some more effort in it. Actually, according to the science of epigenetics, it is more important which genes we turn on (or gene expression) rather than alteration of the genetic code itself. So, here is the compilation of the Big Five, that we managed to compile based on research, interviews with the pros, and traditions passed down from generations of beautiful women from around the globe.
- Eat fresh natural (not processed) seasonal food
- Stay hydrated, drink lots of water
- Supplement with hyaluronic acid and collagen
- Exfoliate once or twice a week, and always go to bed with clean skin and use only clean natural products
- Humidify your air or move to Texas! An added benefit to the last one is that ViLAU is based in Houston as well.
WHAT DO THE PROFESSIONALS SAY?
Patricia Balbuena, Aesthetician
Now that we got the general rules of skincare out of the way, let’s dig into the subject with Aesthetician Patricia Balbuena (Patty) of The Natural Skincare Studio in Houston, Texas. Her studio is classy, cosy, and jam packed with the latest skincare and body contouring technology. Her shelves display a variety of natural and clean products that she masterfully uses in combination with her high-tech instruments. She puts you immediately at ease with her wealth of knowledge and experience, backed by dozens of diplomas displayed on the walls. We asked her what she would recommend for this spring season. I have to add that in Texas, spring really is a short transition between winter and summer.
“The winter season usually leaves your skin dry and flaky and dehydrated – says Patty – the best way to start the spring season is to visit your professional skin care specialist. I also recommend exfoliating and using a lightweight moisturizer and sunblock.” Most of our skincare is done at home, and she goes on to explaining the importance of exfoliating carefully, up to three times a week. “Be gentle with your skin you don’t want to over exfoliate, because you will remove the new skin cells. And always look for natural exfoliators.”
I love seeing our ViLAU products amongst the arsenal of natural skincare that Patty works with, but I still have to ask about product recommendations. “There are a wide variety of serums and moisturizing creams depending on the need of your skin. I will always recommend the most natural version you can find.” In case you are not sure which way to go, she recommends to see a professional skin specialist to guide you and help you with the selection of the most appropriate care for your specific skin type. She says that you can not go wrong with fast absorbing natural hydrating serums for pretty much any skin type, since everyone can benefit from some additional hydration. “Hyaluronic acid, clarifying or blemish removing salicylic acid, zinc, niacinamide – these are good for oily skin and clogged pores.” Some of the antioxidant serums that Patty recommends are vitamin C, CoQ10, vitamin E, retinoids, and also green tea. Her favorite anti-aging serums contain peptides, retinoids, and a variety of vitamins. “Moisturizers are chosen depending on your skin type and your age. There are creams, lotions, gels, and ointments. Cream is used on dry or irritated skin, lotion for oily skin or combination skin.” Gel is good for all skin types, but she finds it best for oily skins since it has a magnifying effect. And finally ointments are used to treat specific skin conditions, as well as extremely dry skin.
I asked about the recommended professional treatments and their optimal frequency. “My recommendation is to visit your skin professional once a month, if you are not in skin treatment or preventive anti-aging treatment or have a skin condition.”
Patty has her favorite treatments, the ones that have shown best results in her experience:
- Hydrafacial, for deep cleansing, it exfoliates, hydrates and nourishes the skin;
- Dermaplane, it removes dead cells and allows the skin to better absorb the products in its deeper layers;
- Microcurrent, it is an anti-aging treatment to diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles;
- and last, but not least, mild peels.
When it comes to preparing the skin specifically for the seasonal change, our skincare specialist says: “Dermaplaning and hydrafacial treatment is a wonderful combination to remove all the dead cells and flaky skin. It deeply exfoliates and renews your skin.” She recommends it accompanied with an antioxidant or hydrating mask. “And ALWAYS look for natural options!”
Beautiful skin comes from the inside and it is crucial to feed your body the right foods. The famous saying ‘You are what you eat’ has never been more true than nowadays, when we are surrounded by easy options in the form of processed foods. However, the nutritional value of those foods is close none most of the time, and all the real nutritional ingredients have been replaced by a synthetic version of themselves, that is cheaper to produce. We all know that, and we are all guilty of chasing the more convenient option, most often due to the lack of time. Patty is passionate by everything skin-related, and really knowledgeable on the subject, so we asked her about her advice on the best foods for beautiful skin.
“Greens!!! Green juices, avocado, papaya, berries, salmon, tomatoes everything with a high content of antioxidants and vitamins. And water, tons of water!”
SUMMARY
As women, we know that it is not easy to be pretty. We torture ourselves with waxing, fake nails and hairspray. We have to have a tiny waist line and are pretty much on some sort of a diet non-stop. But skincare is yet the most complicated of them all. It requires a different approach to every season, every skin problem and different stages of life. We have to take into consideration everything covered in this article: seasonal diet, environment, personal hygiene, professional skincare and personal skincare products.
Good luck, Ladies!
Rosie I. A little sample of the skin treatments done at the Natural Skincare Studio