Introduction to skincare

Where to Start: The ABC’s of Skin Care

Skincare can be overwhelming when you first get into it. From serums to exfoliators it can be hard to know what your skin needs. We’ve made it easy by creating a list of the first three ingredients you should implement into your skincare routine. No matter what your concerns are or what type of skin you have, these products are for you! These products are guaranteed to give you healthier glowing skin. As part of our honey approach, we believe that everyone should be on a medical-grade skin care regimen to ensure optimal skin health. After implementing the basics, you can move on to products targeting more specific needs, but that's for another time. The three products that everyone should be using are retinol, an antioxidant, and sunscreen.

What is Retinol?

The A in our ABC’s stands for vitamin A. This will be your retinol. Retinol works by increasing cell proliferation or cellular turnover. This helps to clear out your pores and stimulate collagen production. Retinol has a wide range of benefits from treating acne to minimizing ne lines and wrinkles. Retinol also has been found to help treat acne scars and sunspots by reducing pigmentation.

How to Use Retinol

Retinol should only be applied at night. Retinol shouldn’t be applied in the morning due its tendency to make your skin more sensitive to the sun. It is a pretty active ingredient, so it is best to start slow. A “baby retinol” at 0.25% is a great starting place. Cleanse, tone, apply serums, retinol, then moisturize. Start applying it every other night and work it up to every night. From there, if your skin can handle it, you can stride towards a stronger concentration up to 1%.

Potential Irritation That Can Occur

Starting off on a retinol you may experience purging. Purging happens when your skin goes through a temporary breakout phase after starting a new skincare product or routine. It happens because your skin is accelerating the shedding of dead skin cells and brings underlying congestion to the surface, ultimately leading to clearer skin in the long run. Although purging is totally normal, it can make you panic at first. It is temporary and can last up to a month. Dryness and redness may also occur as your skin acclimates to using a retinol. Ensure you are wearing sunscreen in the mornings to minimize possible irritation.

Our Products with Retinol:

♡ ZO wrinkle and texture repair

♡ ZO retinol skin brightener

♡ DEJ Night cream

♡ AlphaRet Overnight Cream

♡ AlphaRet Clearing Serum

♡ AlphaRet Exfoliating Pads

Why Sunscreen?

The B in our ABC’s stands for broad spectrum protection also known as sunscreen. Sunscreen is a protective shield against harmful UVA, UVB rays, and blue light. Sunscreen is your best friend year-round. Why is sunscreen a non-negotiable??? Because it protects and prevents. UV exposure accelerates your skin’s aging process. By wearing sunscreen daily, you're not just protecting against skin cancer, you’re also preserving your skin's youthfulness! SPF also helps to prevent pigmentation and photodamage caused by excessive UV exposure. Lastly, sunscreen is very soothing to your skin; minimizing irritation to help calm your skin.

What Sunscreen is Right For Me?

It doesn’t matter whether you wear chemical or physical sunscreen. Both are great options for protecting the skin. It depends on personal preference for one over the other. We at Honey recommend an SPF 50 or above to ensure proper protection from UVB rays. Another important aspect to consider is that you want a high-quality SPF. You want one that is separate from makeup, water resistant, and non-comedogenic. For maximum protection, sunscreen should be applied every two hours to your face and neck.

Our Sunscreens:

Revision Intellishade TruPhysical

Revision Intellishade clear

Sunbetter TONE SMART SPF 75 sunscreen lotion

Sunbetter TONE SMART SPT 68 sunscreen compact Sunbetter SHEER SPF 56 Sunscreen Stick

What is an Antioxidant?

The C in our ABC’s stands for Vitamin C or another type of antioxidant. Antioxidants promote overall healthier skin. Antioxidants like Vitamin C shield your skin from harmful free radicals, including blue light, and pollution. Antioxidants also are great at reducing inflammation in the skin. Inammation is usually caused by some type of imbalance in the skin. Inammation can lead to redness, irritation, and acne. By using an antioxidant, you reduce inflammation and promote homeostasis within the skin. Say hello to a brighter, more radiant complexion with Vitamin C!

How to Use an Antioxidant?

You can use your Antioxidant/Vitamin C every day in the morning. You will apply your products from thinnest to thickest. Apply your Vitamin C onto clean skin then seal with a moisturizer and sunscreen.

Our Products with Antioxidants:

♡ ZO illuminating AOX serum

♡ Skinbettter Alto Advanced

♡ Revision C+ Correcting Complex 30%

♡ Daily Power Defense