Ladies, today we have a treat…

Make-up professional Christa Ohia of Blush Hawaii is guest blogging for us an exclusive topic – how to treat yourself to radiant and supple skin!  From brides to mama’s, I’m sure all of you will find something to take away… like her best kept secrets for skin care AND her favorite picks too!

Skincare is the most underutilized and underappreciated part of our daily routine. With the glitz and glam of social media such as YouTube and Instagram, many women are gaining more interest in wearing makeup. Although there is nothing wrong with a little mascara and blush, skin care is a MUST if you want the end result to be flawless.

When I talk with clients, many don’t know or have a daily skin care routine. Some use hand soap and water. Let’s put it this way. Why wait until you have to reverse the damage and aging, rather than prevent it? You will look more youthful longer, and your skin will thank you for it. I have provided a basic skincare routine that everyone should adopt. It may add a few more minutes in your routine, but you will be glad you took those extra minutes to take care of yourself.

UNDERSTAND YOUR SKIN TYPE: So you now know the importance of using skin care, but first, you need to understand your skin type. This is crucial to choosing the right products and let me tell you from experience, if you use something that is not made for your skin type, your skin will look worse.

There are 5 general skin types: normal, dry, oily, sensitive, and mature. You may be a combination which is normal, but you definitely don’t want to be using skin care suited for dry skin on your oily skin, or sensitive as it may cause irritation, excessive oiliness or breakouts.

Step 1: Cleanse

Cleansing is one of the most important steps of skin care and whether you wear makeup or not, it is a must in any skin care regimen. Cleansing will remove all of the oils, dirt, and bacteria that has built up on your skin throughout the day. What you use will be determined by your skin type, but you want to ensure that you do this both morning and night. Before I continue, please DO NOT USE A BAR OF SOAP. This is not made for the face and will harm your skin in the long run. For my skin, which is oily (oily all over) I highly recommend the GlamGlow SUPERCLEANSE Daily Clearing Cleanser. It is a deep cleaning cleanser that removes dirt and oils that are in the skin and leaves a slight tingling feeling on the skin.

Step 2: Tone

Toning the skin with a toner will restore the skin’s pH balance. Dependent on what your skin type is, it is okay to leave this step out. For those who have oily or acne prone skin, I highly recommend using a toner to help remove any additional oil that may still be in the skin to avoid clogged pores and breakouts. If you have dry skin find a toner that is alcohol-free to avoid skin losing additional moisture and cause further dryness and irritation. There are many types of toners that are suited for different skin types. MAC Cosmetic’s Lightful Essence is a great toner that suits most skin types as well as reduces dark spots such as hyperpigmentation and sun damage.

Step 3: Serum

Serums have increased in popularity in the last few years, and for good reason. Serums are the most concentrated products and will produce results quicker than if not used. Like toners, these are a great step, but not necessary. Using a serum will allow you to achieve optimal results faster because of its rich concentration, but if you are just looking to start a basic skin care regimen, serum is something you can incorporate later. There are serums for almost every skin care concern out there; dark spots, radiance, anti aging, lifting, firming, wrinkles and fine lines, the possibilities are endless. My main skin concern is anti-aging, and I love the Tatcha Deep Hydration Firming Serum as it immediately produces firmer, more hydrated skin.

Step 4: Moisturize

Moisturizer is a crucial step to preserving your skin’s youthfulness and overall health. Many people, especially those with oily skin, skip this step. Many people believe that moisturizer makes the skin oilier which is why they skip it altogether. The truth is if the skin lacks moisture, it will overcompensate by producing more oil thus making the skin even oilier. The skin needs to constantly be rehydrated in order to stay plump, radiant, and youthful. As we are sleeping the skin loses almost half of it’s hydration so it is so important to moisturize both morning and night. Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Moisturizer is a nice, lightweight moisturizer that is great for day for all skin types and can be used for normal to oily skin at night. It is highly used amongst celebrity makeup artists and a staple in my makeup kit.

Step 5: Protect

If you incorporate anything into your routine, it should be regularly cleansing, moisturizing your skin, and using sun protection. Sunscreen is one of the most important steps in skin care. It will protect your skin from sun damage, hyperpigmentation, and skin cancer. It is also important to ensure your sunscreen is “Broad Spectrum” meaning it protects from UVA and UVB rays. Kiehl’s also has a UV Defense of SPF 50 that is lightweight and absorbs quickly.

There are endless possibilities to creating a good skin care routine. You can find a product for almost any concern, skin type, or age. Although there are great options at the drugstore, I truly believe skin care is an investment and if you want to age gracefully you need to put good things into your skin. I believe the saying “you get what you pay for” is very true when it comes to skin care. Once you are on a regular skincare regimen you will notice your skin looking more plump, radiant, and youthful. So get out there ladies and start caring for your skin!

• – Christa Ohia

If you’d like to indulge in more beautiful brides, visit Christa’s website at Blush Hawaii.  Now, I’d like to hear from you!  Which daily regimen do you practice?  Maybe even more importantly, which regimen do you omit from your daily routine?  Please leave a comment below!

Now, excuse me while I skip to Sephora.  I need me some Kiehl’s UV Defense.  Thanks for the shopping tips, Christa!