Skincare

Skincare is important all year round! But depending on the season, your skincare requirements will change. Winter – with its dry, cold air – requires a heavier hand to get healthy skin. On the flip side, there are certain skincare tips that are exclusive to the summer months.

In the summer, the air is hotter and more humid. This changes what your skin needs, in order to stay happy and healthy. In lieu of summer’s official arrival, here are 8 fantastic tips for keeping your skin looking its best from now until autumn!

Don’t overdo it!

Summer is a time to go lighter on your overall skincare routine. Avoid heavy cleansing/moisturizing products, and let your skin breathe! When it comes to cleansers, go for a light, foaming solution instead of a heavy scrub or mask. For moisturizers, find a lightweight day/night formula and apply sparingly.

This goes for makeup products as well! Try not to cake on heavy products in the summer. This will only clog your pores and make your skin angry. Whenever possible, go for lightweight powders instead of heavy creams.

Your skin will take on a natural glow in the summer. Let that shine through!

Moisturize!

Summer air is more humid compared to dry winter days. Most people would use this as an excuse to save a few bucks on moisturizer. But that’s a mistake!

As mentioned above, you’ll want to switch to a lighter product in the summer. But continuing to moisturize is extremely important, even in the height of summer. Remember, even though the air might be more humid, the harsher summer sun and hotter days will work on drying your skin all the same!

Care for your pores!

Remember: you might be sweating more in the summer. So, make sure that whatever moisturizer or makeup products you choose don’t clog your pores. Clogged pores + heat will lead to acne and other skin afflictions that you want to avoid! Use a cleanser that works on flushing out your pores without drying your skin.

Exfoliate!

I don’t know about you, but I’m a beast when it comes to scrubbing my skin. Well, good news: you have permission to up your exfoliating game in the summer!

Don’t overdo it, of course! Increase your exfoliating routine gradually, and stop if your skin starts reacting negatively. That being said, you can definitely increase both the intensity and frequency of your exfoliating routine during the summer.

This is especially important after a day in the sun! Scrub and use exfoliating products to remove dead/damaged cells. This will help reveal the healthy skin just beneath the surface. Trust us, your skin will thank you!

Nourish your skin!

Antioxidant-rich serums are important all year long, but even more so in the summer! This is because they help minimize sun damage.

A skin nourishing regimen will reduce the appearance of irregular pigmentation, and help combat the appearance of wrinkles. Specifically, opt for a serum that’s high in vitamin C. For best results, apply daily before bed, after you’ve exfoliated.

Drink lots of water!

This might not sound like a skincare tip, but when you get dehydrated, the first organ to suffer will be your skin. So-called “combination” dry/oily skin is a myth! In reality, that means you actually have oily skin and you are dehydrated, which is why your skin appears dry.

When you think about it, it makes perfect sense. Summer is hot. You’re likely sweating. This means you’re putting out water, and that water needs to be replaced somehow. So, increase your daily water intake to help your skin glow during the summer!

As a general rule of thumb, drink at least 8 glasses of water per day. If you’re exercising and/or if it’s exceptionally hot outside, drink even more!

Pro tip: Drinking soda, sugar-packed juice, hot tea, alcohol, coffee, etc. won’t hydrate you. Some of those actually contribute to dehydration! Nothing compares to drinking good old water. And hey, water’s cheap! So, drink up!

Sunscreen (duh)!

Sunscreen is important, even in the winter. (Yes, you heard us!) But while in the winter, you can possibly get away with an SPF-enriched daily moisturizer, summer won’t be as forgiving.

Gone are the days of lathering baby oil on your skin and sitting in the sun to bake until you get a golden tan. We know now that a tan is basically damaged skin. Not to mention, skin cancer doesn’t look good on anyone.

So, for the summer, invest in a good quality sunscreen. When shopping around, look for something that’s at least SPF 30. Then, make sure to apply it often!

Even if you have higher SPF, you should apply your sunscreen on exposed skin every 2-3 hours. Look for products that won’t clog your pores. This is especially important on the face! Rich and heavy sunscreen can lead to acne breakouts.

Take a Skincare Course!

The best way to become an expert in anything is to become properly educated. So, why not take an accredited Skincare Course and become an actual pro? These days, you can do makeup school online – which is PERFECT when staying at home is especially important (such as during a pandemic). Any online makeup school worth its salt will offer some sort of skincare training.

QC Makeup Academy, for example, provides an internationally-leading Skincare Course that will actually certify you as a professional skincare consultant! Could there be any better way to learns the ins and outs of happy, healthy skin?

Plus, you can then add it to your career and help others with their own skincare needs! Talk about a win-win!

Skincare is a science, and clients pay handsomely for this type of personalized advice. Adding skincare services to your makeup business can increase your reach AND raise your salary! For more information, check out QC’s Skincare Course!

Fun fact: I’ve been dealing with acne since I first hit puberty. The first few years were pretty horrible. As I entered high school, it at least tapered down enough that I no longer appeared perpetually shiny.

Growing up, I clung to the precious belief that one day, once I was older, my skin would finally start cooperating. But now that I’m nearing 30, I’ve realized that “perfect” skin doesn’t magically come to all of us with age. Many of us require additional, professional assistance.

This is where a dermatologist can come in!

Let me start by making the following very clear: if you experience skin issues, there’s nothing wrong with you. You’re still beautiful, just as you are! And hey, don’t feel like making any changes. Nothing wrong with that at all!

But if you are someone who wants a little extra help, this article is for you. Together, let’s take a look at 7 things you should consider when searching for your ideal dermatologist.

Finding the Right Dermatologist in 7 Easy Steps

1. Determine Your Skincare Needs

If you’re considering the aid of a licensed dermatologist, it’s likely because your skincare concerns exceed the qualifications of a certified skincare consultant. That being said, not all dermatologists can help you with the same things.

So, it’s important to narrow down what exactly it is you’d like help with. This will allow you to narrow down the type of dermatologists you should research.

For example, any of the following skin conditions would require medical assistance from a dermatologist:

• Severe acne (i.e. Nodulocystic acne, acne conglobata, acne fulminans, Gram negative folliculitis, etc.)
• Rosacea
• Psoriasis
• Actinic keratosis
• Aggressive skin allergies and/or sensitivity
• Eczema
• Melasma
• Contact dermatitis
• Vitiligo
• And much more

In the case of medical dermatological assistance, you may be prescribed some type of topical or oral treatment to help your condition. Creams, peels, and medicated ointments may be the recommended ministration.

On the other hand, any of the following would indicate the need for surgical assistance:

• Benign growths
• Impetigo
• Melanoma
• Squamous cell carcinoma
• Basal cell carcinoma
• And much more

Narrowing down the type of dermatologist you need will help you find your perfect match a lot faster. Your primary care physician should help by recommending dermatologists in your area.

2. Do TONS of Research

It probably goes without saying that your skin is a vital part of your body. The way it gets treated can have a direct affect on your overall well-being. With this in mind, you don’t want just anybody messing with your skin, right?

When searching for the perfect dermatologist, make sure you don’t skimp on your research! When you find a professional that catches your interest, go full detective and gather as much info as you possibly can.

Scour their business website and social media. Importantly, ensure to read their reviews! What past clients have to say about their professionalism and conduct will be critical in helping you decide if this dermatologist is worth your consideration.

Note: Don’t just read the reviews listed on their website. After all, no business is going to purposely market themselves in a negative way. As such, the reviews you see on their website may not always be telling the full picture. Search on more objective platforms for other reviews. Google, Facebook, and Yelp are great examples. Glassdoor offers an easy way to see what past employees have said about the business as well.

Here are some red flags to watch out for when reading reviews:

• Rude and unpleasant staff
• Hidden fees
• Poor bedside manner
• Unsatisfactory results
• Lack of professionalism
• Unrealistic promises
• Suspicious pricing structures

Some doctors and dermatologists can be known to discriminate based on gender, sexuality, race, etc. They may dismiss some individuals’ concerns as being ‘exaggerated’ or ‘hysterical’. It’s worth carefully paying close attention to reviews, in order to find a medical professional who’s willing to take ALL patients seriously!

3. Make Sure They Have Experience with ALL Skin Tones and Types

Not all dermatologists are thoroughly familiar with wide varieties of skin colors and/or types. If you have a specific skin type, or a medium to dark skin tone, this can have an impact on your dermatology needs.

As part of your research, take extra care to find a professional who has plenty of experience dealing with such issues as:

• Hyperpigmentation
• Excessive scarring
• Keloids
• Different skin types (i.e. dry skin, oily skin, combination skin, etc.)
• Different skin tones (i.e. light skin to darker skin tones, etc.)

If your dermatologist isn’t equipped to handle your unique needs, the results could potentially be disastrous. The last thing you want is for your issues to get worse, thanks to a misinformed skincare expert.

4. They Should Factor in Your Medical History

Most skin conditions are not isolated in nature. That is to say, there are often additional medical factors that need to be considered as well.

For instance, what is your diet like? Do you get enough sunlight, or drink enough water? Do you smoke, or drink excessively? Are you currently on any medications that could be contributing to the state of your skin? Do you have a history of disease or hormonal imbalance to consider?

If a dermatologist doesn’t seem to care about your medical history or general lifestyle, this is a BIG red flag! These are all major components in skincare. A proper expert will know this.

5. Check their Qualifications

A professional skincare consultant will most often have either a cosmetology license, or a reputable certification (such as from an online makeup school). Similarly, you want to make sure that you ONLY work with a dermatologist who has the proper credentials.

Most skincare experts will publicly list their qualifications right on their website. Of course, there are other ways you can double-check their credentials. The simplest option is to check into your country’s dermatology association or board. This will allow you to verify their certification(s), as well as the legitimacy of their expertise.

6. Schedule a Consultation

If it’s possible to safely meet with a dermatologist for an in-person consultation, this is always a smart move. However, if social distancing rules are still in effect, or you’re not yet comfortable making this kind of in-person appointment, check to see what other options they offer.

For instance, virtual consultations can be extremely effective, too. In the midst of a pandemic, they allow you the opportunity to speak directly with your dermatologist of choice – all from the comfort of your own home!

Consultations are important for a number of reasons. They give you the chance to tell the dermatologist about you and your skincare needs, as well as ask any questions you wish to have answered. The purpose of this consultation is for you to get a proper feel for one another.

Can this dermatologist successfully address and assist with your specific needs? Do you get a good vibe from them? Do you feel you can trust them to provide you with satisfactory service?

These are all questions that a consultation will help answer. If, after your meeting, your gut is telling you that this ISN’T the right dermatologist for you, don’t hesitate to listen to it! It’s better to take your time and find the right match, than to rush it and be disappointed with the outcome.

7. Take a Skincare Course

Another excellent way to know whether a potential dermatologist is the right fit for you is to gain some professional skincare knowledge yourself! Many accredited online makeup schools and beauty academies will offer extensive skincare training. This way, you can earn your own certification, and become well-versed in matters such as skin types, conditions, and various different treatment options.

No, you won’t have the exact same understanding of skincare as an expert dermatologist, but it’s definitely a start. Plus, having a foundation in skincare training will ABSOLUTELY help you better select the ideal expert, who can best tend to your personal needs!

So, what are you waiting for? Check out QC’s leading online Skincare Course and get started today!

I’ve been using makeup remover wipes and similar products over the course of my whole life. I’ve tended to look over the fact that they sometimes irritated the sensitive skin around my eyes, or left my cheeks unnaturally dry.

Not to mention, the amount of pressure alone that’s required to scrub off a smoky eye is always enough to leave my face downright raw.

If I’m being honest, makeup removers often leave my skin feeling straight-up gross. When I stop and think about it… Should anything masking itself as a skincare product really be making my skin feel this way?

So, I decided to do some digging. As it turns out, makeup removers aren’t nearly as good for our skin as we think they are. That’s not necessarily to say that EVERY makeup remover should be avoided. Rather, it may simply be time to be a little pickier about the product we choose – or perhaps switch to a natural alternative altogether.

Let’s take a look at some of the reasons why certain makeup removers are damaging to our skin, and the healthier options that are at our disposal!

Makeup Removers Aren’t Adequate Cleaning Products

Plenty of makeup removers out there claim to be multipurpose skincare products; capable of cleaning off your makeup and cleaning your skin. Unfortunately, for most brands, only the first promise is actually kept.

Yes, makeup removers are good at doing exactly that: removing your makeup. But they do a lousy job of actually cleaning your skin itself.

This is in large part because makeup remover wipes have a tendency to smear makeup, dirt, and dead skin over the epidermis (the outer layer of your skin), rather than properly removing them from the skin’s surface. For many of us, this is a big reason why our skin feels so irritated afterwards.

If we’re thinking strictly in terms of what a proper skincare routine is supposed to do, this seems a bit counterproductive, doesn’t it?

Makeup Removers Can Leave Behind Grime on Your Skin

Here’s the thing: it’s true that makeup removers and actual cleansers share the same active ingredients: surfactants, emulsifiers, and solubilizers. These are the things that dissolve your makeup, lift oil, and remove dead skin.

The key difference is that when you use a cleanser, you rinse afterwards. This is crucial to actually removing these unwanted things from your skin. With makeup removers, on the other hand, a lot of us have a tendency to skip this critical step.

This also adds to why your skin may feel uncomfortable in the aftermath. If you don’t properly clean away all those active ingredients in the makeup remover, they’re going to continue sitting on your skin, often in high concentrations.

So, should you wish to remain faithful to your makeup remover wipes, feel free to do so. But you might want to start thoroughly rinsing your face afterwards – otherwise, there’s still an adequate layer of grime still lingering in your pores.

Makeup Removers Often Contain Worrisome Ingredients

In order to increase shelf life, many makeup removers contain added – and unwanted – preservatives. Particularly, they may have formaldehyde-releasing chemicals. To put this into perspective: formaldehyde is classified as a carcinogen when under high exposure, and carcinogens can eventually lead to things like cancer.

Maybe this is a bit of a stretch. Still, even if we step back and look through a more realistic lens, there are other causes for concern.

For starters, many makeup removers contain alcohol, which is known to be particularly drying to skin. If you happen to have dry or sensitive skin, this is one of the last things you want to be coating all over your face!

Some other common examples of worrisome ingredients often found in makeup removers include:

• Mineral Oil – This is the holy grail ingredient in most makeup removers that does the job of actually removing your makeup. If properly rinsed and wiped away afterwards, this in itself isn’t so bad. However, if it’s left behind on your skin, it clogs the pores and makes it unable for the skin to breathe. Hello, breakouts!
• Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and Diazolidinyl Urea – Both can be prone to causing irritation, swelling, redness, and even allergic reactions.
• Cyclopentasiloxane – While it claims to promote healthy skin regeneration, it’s also considered a mild carcinogen.
• Benzalkonium Chloride – This is a very common makeup remover ingredient that just so happens to be banned in both Japan and China. This should probably tell us everything we need to know.

I’ve got to be honest, all of these ingredients sound shady in one way or another. If you wouldn’t be comfortable ingesting them (and I can definitely say I wouldn’t), why would you risk putting them on your skin?

There are Healthier Alternatives!

This article isn’t meant to completely bash makeup removers as a whole. There are ones out there that do their job without compromising your skin. If makeup removers are a staple in your skincare routine and you have no interest in changing that, maybe it’s just a matter of switching things up a bit.

First, try to ditch the makeup wipes altogether. Sure, you can have some on-hand in case of an emergency, but your skin will benefit from removing them from your regular routine. Instead, switch to a different type of makeup remover product, such as an oil or serum.

This part’s important: aim for products that ONLY have natural ingredients! Choose unscented products, or ones whose fragrant component is made from natural resources.

I was once told, “If an ingredient is so long and complicated that you can’t pronounce it, it’s probably an unwanted chemical.” I try to keep this in mind when purchasing any beauty product.

Here are 3 examples of brand-name makeup removers that are made from 100% organic ingredients:

1. MV Skincare Pure Jojoba Oil
2. Aromatica Natural Coconut Cleansing Oil
3. La Foglia Lavendar Makeup Remover

I’ll let you in on a fun little secret, though: there are natural makeup removers that are not actual cosmetic products, but they work just as effectively AND will often cost you next to nothing!

For instance, did you know that sesame oil and coconut oil can both be used to effortlessly wipe away your eye makeup? It’s true! Coconut oil can also be used as a general makeup remover, too.

(Let’s be real… Is there anything coconut oil can’t do?)

Plus, you can also add things like organic raw honey to these all-natural makeup removers, to add extra softness! Raw honey contains antibacterial, anti-septic, and antioxidant properties. It helps promote healthy collagen growth, and is known to be extremely hydrating.

If you want to see just how awesome raw honey is as a skincare alternative, check out this blogger’s experience washing her face with nothing but raw honey for 2 weeks!

Proper Skincare Training is Important

In retrospect, I can probably chalk up my negative experience with makeup removers to a lack of proper skincare knowledge. I mean, just look at how much I learned through a simple Google search! Imagine how much more I’d discover if I took a legitimate skincare course from an accredited makeup school!

Proper skincare courses will not only teach you about various skin types, products, and what works best for which kinds of skin – it’ll also qualify you to work as a certified Skincare Consultant. You’ll be able to use all that education and knowledge to help others for a living!

As it so happens, I’ve actually just enrolled in QC Makeup Academy’s leading online Skincare Course. I intend to get started within the next week. Pretty exciting stuff!

As I work through the program, I’ll ensure to check back in to share my thoughts on the course, and provide an update on all the amazing stuff I’m learning! So, make sure to stay tuned! 😊

With social distancing still in effect, your skincare routine is more important now than ever. Keep reading to discover the top 4 reasons why!

As famous Youtuber, Thomas Sanders, would say: “Story time!”

For a while, I was suspiciously optimistic about just how well I was taking this whole COVID-19 thing. That is, until last night. I came across an article – no different than any of the articles I’d been reading for weeks beforehand – and for some reason, it hit me differently this time.

I suddenly felt so overwhelmed! I legit thought I was about to lose my marbles.

Since it was already getting late, I decided to go upstairs, do my skincare routine, and then head to bed. Amazingly, as I worked my way through each product and enacted my typical nighttime routine, I found that I was actually starting to feel a bit better. By the time I’d applied my face serum, I’d calmed down entirely.

Was it out of the ordinary that doing something as simple as my skincare routine could boost my mood in such a big way? After looking into it, it turns out that I’m not alone in this! With much of the world undergoing social distancing and self-isolation, it seems like a LOT of people are turning to their skincare regimens to improve their overall mental health.

Why is this? Let’s take a look…

The Skincare Market is on the Rise

So far this year, sales for skincare products have been beating out the makeup market. The fact that makeup sales aren’t booming right now isn’t that big of a shocker. After all, with so many people staying at home, a lot of us have put our personal makeup routines on the back burner.

But it is interesting to see how well the skincare market is thriving, despite being in the middle of a pandemic!

To put this into perspective: the NPD Group released statistics recently that showed how by the final week of February, skincare products had seen an increase in dollar and in-store sales by 13%! Makeup and other beauty products, on the other hand, only grew by 4%.

It didn’t lose its momentum in March, either! Amazon alone saw an additional 8% sales increase in their skincare inventory last month, whereas color cosmetics actually dropped by 1%.

The facts are in: the importance of skincare is especially popular right now! But what’s the reasoning behind this? Why, with everything currently going on in the world, are so many of us seeking solace in this practice?

Here are a few of our hypotheses…

1. Our Skincare Routine Gives Us Control

The world is chaotic and upside down right now – and that’s putting it lightly. The media is struggling to find a balance between giving us the facts, and feeding into our fears. Many are going into ‘fight-or-flight’ mode. While some are refusing to take this crisis seriously, others are just as guilty of taking it a bit too far.

Sometimes, it can feel as though there’s very little that’s still in our control. Our skincare routine, however, allows us to regain that sense of power back.

While it may sound a little silly, it makes total sense! For just a few minutes (or hours, depending on how thorough you get – hey, we don’t judge) every day, you can focus solely on YOU.

It’s a routine you can always rely on, no matter how hectic things around you may get. While you can’t control everything, you can always control this. By extension, working through your skincare routine can help ground you and bring back perspective. It can help remind you that there are in fact many aspects of your life that you still do have full control over.

That despite the bumps in the road, there are still things that can bring you peace.

2. It Provides a Sense of Normalcy

To build off this: another important reason why your skincare routine is so critical right now is that it’s a sliver of your normal life that you can always hold onto. While it can be said for certain that some day, life will go back to normal, we still don’t really know when that’ll be yet.

Personally speaking, I can sometimes be a Monica Geller. I like being in-the-know. I’m a creature of habit. Because of this, I don’t like when things are disorderly or uncertain.

When I do my skincare routine, it brings me back to a more familiar place. It’s something I’ve been doing long before this pandemic, and it reminds me that it’ll be something I’ll do long after it’s over, too. This sense of normalcy not only will help ground you in the moment – it’ll keep your sights set on a brighter, more positive future to come.

3. Routine Eases Anxiety

This is a proven, behavioral fact in both human beings and animals alike. Regular life is already stressful enough as it is. But these days, the consequences of COVID-19 have made us that much more anxious, fearful, and even depressed.

But having a faithful routine in place gives us a healthy way to cope! This, in large part, is due to what we’ve looked at above.

On top of this, being cooped up at home can lead to boredom. You might sometimes feel a bit stagnant. Your skincare routine gives your brain a chance to be productive. Most importantly, it guarantees at least ONE time during your day where you get to focus on something that brings you happiness.

4. Your Skincare Routine Teaches You How to Do Things Right

The longer you do something, the better you become at it. Like with makeup, there’s a certain level of trial-and-error that comes with perfecting the right skincare routine for you.

(And even then, there’s always room for it to transform and grow!)

Chances are, you’ll need to try out different types of products to figure out which ones react best to your skin type. For instance, the right cleanser for dry skin may not be the ideal fit for combination skin. Similarly, someone with oily skin may require different moisturizer than a person with a normal skin type.

As time passes, you’ll learn what your skin responds to favorably, and which products you should avoid. Before you know it, when it comes to your skincare routine, you’ll be an absolute expert!

That Being Said…

Just because you’ll know your own skin inside and out, doesn’t mean you can say the same about anyone else. But there IS a way you can become an actual expert, and make a career out of helping others with their own skincare routines!

You can become a certified Skincare Consultant!

The single best way to achieve this is by receiving professional training from an accredited beauty school. Since social distancing and self-isolation is in effect, in-person classes aren’t a safe option.

But online beauty school will allow you to get this expertly-taught education AND a professionally-recognized certification… all from the comfort of your own home!

Chances are you’re already at home anyways; looking for something creative and productive to do to pass the time. Now’s the perfect opportunity to maximize that spare time by focusing on your career goals!

By devoting just 1-2 hours of your week to an online Skincare course, you can graduate and be a certified expert in as little as 3-6 months!

Just make sure to do thorough research when looking into online beauty school. Your course should be thorough. They should teach you not just about the foundation of skincare, but how to build on those skills at a more advanced level.

QC Makeup Academy and their professional instructors, for example, will educate you on the following information:

• Skincare basics
• Skin types and anatomy
• Different skincare products and tools
• Understanding skincare labels
• The difference between morning and nighttime routines
• Skin conditions and how to work with them
• Aging skin and the best practices for it
• Natural skincare basics, organic products, and DIY recipes
• And so much more!

A good online beauty school will also ensure to arm students with a certain level of business training. This way, if you have dreams of starting up your own business, you know how to do this properly.

For instance, QC Makeup Academy teaches client relations, consultations, and problem-solving as part of their Skincare Course!

Just remember:

Things may be difficult right now, but the sun is ALWAYS there behind the clouds! We’ll all make it through this together, and come out stronger on the other side.

In the meantime, find what makes you happy. If it helps you get through this a little bit easier, then it’s a blessing, whatever it may be.

If that just so happens to be your skincare routine? Awesome!

You do YOU. We’re here for you!

Why is QC Makeup Academy the best online beauty school for your skincare training? Find out here!