Dermatology-Inspired Approach to Anti-Aging and Skincare

Thanks to Rodan + Fields for sponsoring this post! 

Remember back in March when I got on a skincare and anti-aging kick? I began researching all the recommendations I could find, trying to figure out what was worth splurging on and where I could save. 

 

Did I need a $300 eye cream to get results? 

Did the drug store moisturizer work as well as the luxury option? 

What the difference in price caused by anything besides packaging and marketing budgets? 

 

My biggest takeaway from everything was to be wary of huge ad spends and never skip sunscreen. The other takeaway was to focus on a few key ingredients like Retinol and Vitamin C. 

Somewhere in the middle of this I was chatting with a good friend about skincare routines.

 

Do skincare products really work?

Do they really provide good results?  

Should we skip all the skincare products and just get Botox? 

 

She’d been using Rodan + Fields for a while but wasn’t sure there was a huge difference (she’s always had great skin so was it natural or was it R+F?). She confessed to splurging on a full line of other products after a blogger recommended them, only to notice her skin got much worse. She eventually switched back to Rodan + Fields and instantly noticed her pores looked smaller and her skin was better overall. These were results I wanted to hear – comparing two great brands, side by side, with drastically different results. 

She talked me into it. 

I’m in the middle of trying out a new product from Rodan + Fields launching this fall, and through the process I’ve learned a lot about picking products and how they work together. If you’re looking for a new skincare routine, here are 5 things to consider. 

5 Things To Consider When Choosing a Skincare Routine: 

What are your top skin concerns? 

 

Before you can figure out what you need for skincare, think about what your concerns are. Are you trying to improve discoloration or dull skin? Are you worried about large pores? Are you struggling with acne?  Maybe you aren’t struggling with anything in particular but are looking for a routine to strengthen your skin as you age. Whatever it is, start by identifying your concerns and going from there. 

 

For me, I’m focused on giving my skin what it needs to age well, and if I have smaller pores and less acne that time of the month, I’ll be really happy. 

 

 

What ingredients are in your skincare products?

 

Now that you’ve identified your concerns, the next step in finding the best skincare routine for you is paying attention to ingredients. Here are common ingredients in skincare routines and what each one does: 

 

• • Vitamin C: Often found in a serum or included in a moisturizer, Vitamin C brightens, hydrates, and reduces visible redness, evening out skin tone. It helps decrease the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. 
  • Retinol: Initially developed to treat acne in the 70s, Retinol clears pores and exfoliates, increasing skin cell turnover. This results in decreased discoloration, brighter skin, and a smoother skin texture. 
  • Hyaluronic Acid: Best known for hydrating skin, Hyaluronic acid is a big drink of water for your skin. Also working as a humectant, or sponge, hyaluronic acid draws in valuable water even after it has initially hydrated your face. This layer of hydration acts as a barrier from skin irritants, protecting your face all day long. 
  • Peptides: Peptides are amino acids that are the building blocks of certain proteins needed by the skin. Adding peptides to your routine can give you more full, supple-looking skin. Similar to collagen, elastin is the stuff inside your skin that keeps it tight and firm. Elastin is made up of peptides so adding peptides to your routine can also increase your elastin. 
  • Benzoyl Peroxide: Working to treat and prevent acne by killing bacteria underneath the skin, Benzoyl Peroxide also helps your pores shed dead skin cells and excess oil, leading to clearer skin.

 

Which of these ingredients would you like to add to your skincare routine?

How do the products work together? 

After reading that list of ingredients you’re probably raising your hand to add most of them into your regular skincare routine, but how? One important thing to consider when picking products is how the ingredients work together. It is relatively easy to patch together a skincare Regimen that checks of all of the boxes, but a skincare routine comprised of products culled from multiple brands may not produce the results you are hoping for. Cherry picking products can cancel some active ingredients out or reduce the effectiveness of products. 

 

Having a full skincare Regimen from the same brand cuts out the guesswork of how your products are affecting each other and gives you a comprehensive system. I love that Rodan + Fields has designed Regimens where each product is clinically tested alone and in combination to ensure they’re safe and effective to deliver the most visibly transformative results. 

 

Check out R+F’s Solution Tool to help determine your most pressing skin concern and then get matched up with the correct Regimen to target your specific skin needs. Rodan + Fields utilizes a Multi-Med Therapy approach to their skincare systems. Multi-Med Therapy combines over-the-counter drug and cosmetic ingredients as the basis of elegantly formulated products that deliver powerful results  Each Regimen contains the right ingredients, in the right formulations, used in the right order, with every step building on the last, to help you get life-changing results. 

Who supports it? 

 

I LOVE a great recommendation from a friend (bonus points if we have similar skin). I generally trust a great review from an influencer I follow. But, it is important to remember that everyone’s skin is different. My best advice is to look to the experts. What are dermatologists recommending? What are they using? 

 

Rodan + Fields was started back in 2003 by two female practicing dermatologists, Dr. Katie Rodan and Dr. Kathy Fields, who recognized that there was only one derm for every 30+ thousand Americans. Their mantra was “Derm to Doorstep,” offering professional level results to everyone. 

 

Today, their products go beyond something that simply feel good and smell nice, their products are formulated based on skin science. R&D experts incorporate cutting edge technology and academic research as part of the product innovation process (so when you’re paying for R+F, you are paying for all the research and development that has gone into a product that is tested to work!). Read more about their dermatologist-inspired to skincare known as Multi-Med Therapy – the right ingredients, in the right formulations, in the right order to deliver visible results. 

 

Will I use it? 

 

The best skincare routine is one that you will actually use consistently. If you have all the best products and they sit there on the shelf, they aren’t doing you any good. Know yourself. Know what you’re willing to commit to. What would it take for you to be all in with your skincare? Would before and after pictures help? Would seeing a difference in the first few weeks help you stick with it? 

 

R+F encourages all customers to take a before selfie so you can compare your skin along the way (although, word of caution, your skin takes a second to adjust to a new Regimen and products… initial breakouts doesn’t mean it isn’t working). In fact, they even have a 60-day, no questions asked, empty bottle, money back guarantee because they believe in the visible results the products can deliver with consistent use. 

 

I’ll keep you posted on how my experience with the R+F product I’m testing is going once I get a little farther into it but so far, I am loving my results and the science + testing that backs it up. 

 

So, I want to hear, how have you helped yourself stick with a skincare regimen? Was it making it a relaxing part of your evening routine? Was it photographing results? Tell me!