Skincare 101

The past year has been a real challenge for my skin. The hormonal shifts that come with going off of birth control (and then back on again) have taken their toll – I’ve experienced breakouts, excess oil, dryness … you name it! I’ve tried numerous skincare products, essential oils, supplements, even weekly acupuncture treatments in an attempt to get my skin back to normal. Some things have worked better than others, but I’ve yet to find the magic cure-all!

I reached out to my friend Megan, a Master Esthetician, for some help. On a sunny

Sunday morning, I hopped on a train out to meet her at her practice in Pleasanton, CA. Currently, Megan offers a variety of skincare services inside local hot spot Top Shelf Beauty Bar. A quick visit to her website will give you the basics – a list of facials, chemical peels (and even mobile spray tanning!) options. But, her approach to skincare is anything but basic.

“My approach to skincare is totally customized,” says Megan. “I base your treatment on the condition your skin is in on the day that I see you.”

She began my treatment with not one but two cleansers – one to remove any excess products (moisturizer, makeup, sunscreen, etc), and one to get rid of any dirt or oil. Then, she put chocolate on my face.

Wait, I thought chocolate was bad for your skin?

Turns out, it’s actually really great! The chocolate enzyme Megan used is designed to exfoliate dead skin, and helps with acne lesions and redness. Oh, and it smells amazing. It took all my willpower not to try and lick my own face. The enzyme is activated using steam, so by the time it was over I basically smelled like a chocolate soufflé.

It was awesome.

After removing the chocolate enzyme/soufflé, she added a layer of lactic acid, something that I currently use at home. Lactic acid is from sour milk, but before you go “eww!” remember this: Cleopatra used to bathe in it. If it’s good enough for the queen, it’s good enough for me!

Megan finished off my facial with a few different PCA skincare products – serums, hyaluronic acid, eye products, and sunscreen. By the end of it, I was feeling like a new woman! Well, at least a woman with a new (and improved) face.

After the treatment, we headed over to a local restaurant to grab some lunch and chat. I had the opportunity to ask Megan some of my burning skincare questions, and I’m here to share the knowledge with you!

Rachel: As a skincare professional, what does your daily routine look like?

Megan: Because I’ve used professional products for so long, I my skin doesn’t need a lot of correction (lucky me!). So I tend to keep my routine pretty simple. I use PCA Skincare which is also what I use in my practice and sell as well. Morning and evening, I start with a creamy cleanser. I also use an eye gel. In the morning I use a vitamin C and E product, which helps to reduce any inflammation or free radicals. It’s also very calming. My skin tends to be dry, so I add a hyaluronic acid serum and a hydrating serum. Then, I finish off with sunscreen!

R: Ah yes, sunscreen! My mom has been nagging me to use it every day since I was a kid. Why is this so important?

M: For me, sunscreen is a life rule. When I teach my students or speak to my patients, I always say that sunscreen is the number one product you should be using. The best advice I can give anyone is to make sure you have a good sunscreen and that you’re using it! Beyond just not getting burned, sunscreen can reduce inflammation and pigmentation, and prevent early signs of aging.

R: So using professional products and sunscreen everyday, got it. Anything else I can do to keep my skin looking awesome?

M: Yes! Diet is also super important. Everything stems from your gut. Essentially, you have what’s called “healthy flora” in your gut. When you have an imbalance, it can cause inflammation and pigmentation, and your collagen and elastin can be broken down because you’re consistently inflamed. Diet/nutrition and skin health really go hand in hand. Certain foods (like sugar, gluten, dairy, even peanut butter) can be really aggravating to the skin because they can spike your hormone levels and cause androgen levels to rise, which then causes acne to occur.

R: And we should probably be getting professional help once it a while, right? How often do you recommend getting a facial or professional skincare treatment?

M: Well, your skin regenerates completely about every 28 days, so getting a treatment once a month is sufficient. If you have a severe case (like acne), you’ll want to come every other week until it’s cleared up.

To get you started on your journey to better skin, Megan is offering Guru of Nothing readers 20% products and services! If you’re in the Bay Area, mention this blog post now through the end of June and receive 20% off your total service. The best part? Every service comes with a free post-procedure solution kit, which includes 7-day samples of 5 different PCA Skin products.

Not in the Bay Area? You can still take advantage of the discount on products! Megan will ship anywhere in the U.S. (and offers free shipping for orders over $100)! Simply visit www.meganroseskin.com between now and the end of June and enter the code guru20 to receive 20% off purchase price. I’ve been using the PCA Skin Pigment Bar and the PCA SKIN Weightless Protection Broad Spectrum SPF 45, and I’m absolutely in love! The Pigment Bar has done wonders for the breakouts I’ve been having on my back and chest, and the sunscreen is unlike any other I’ve ever used. It’s light, super effective, and not at all greasy like the other sunscreens I’ve used on my face. I’ve also absolutely loved the facial wash and the ReBlance and Collagen Hydrator moisturizers that came with my post-procedure kit… I might just have to stock up on more!

What does your skincare regimen consist of? Drop me a comment below and let me know!