Can you see the pep in my step?? Last week when I was back in Dallas, I got the opportunity to stop by Essentials Med Spa for a Dermalogica Skin Consultation and facial. Once a season or so I love to treat myself to a really great facial, so with Spring about to be in full swing I have been itching to have one done. Being a blogger, I get sent a fair amount of product and thought that I really knew my stuff when it comes to my skin. I was so impressed with the level of knowledge the team brought to the table (make sure to ask for Elizabeth – she’s amazing)! I left the appointment feeling relaxed, refreshed, and ready to apply everything I learned during my appointment to my everyday routine – not to mention a custom map of products to use on my face!

What I learned…

Use what you need, where you need it. I’ve been using masques all wrong. In the past I’ve applied all over my skin, which has helped the problem areas, but made the parts that tend to be dry super flakey. Because I have combination skin (oily t-zone & chin break outs with drier cheeks), I should spot treat in my broken out or most oily areas with masques like the Charcoal Rescue. I can also have Rosacea tendencies so this type of masque which contains niacin amide, known to reduce redness and inflammation, will seriously help even my skin’s pigment out.

Work from the inside out.
Supplements I should be taking daily: Fish Oil (anti-aging), Magnesium (helps with inflammation, sleep, and digestion), & Zinc (great for clearing breakouts).

Exfoliation is my frenemy.
I have skin that is more on the sensitive side, so in the past I have avoided exfoliation in general because I thought it was too harsh on my skin. But avoiding it all together wasn’t doing me any favors as it was causing buildup which leads to even more flakiness and breakouts. Elizabeth recommended the Daily Microfoliant which is a rice-based powder formula that activates upon contact with water, releasing Papain, Salicylic Acid and Rice Enzymes that micro-exfoliate dead cells, instantly leaving my skin smoother and brighter. It also has a super-soothing blend of Green Tea, Ginkgo and Colloidal Oatmeal that helps to calm my sensitive skin, so it is great for daily use. Bottom line exfoliation is great for me in moderation.

The Charcoal Rescue Masque is the Beyonce of beauty products – it does it all!
This masque really is the quadruple threat. It reduces redness & works great as a spot treatment for break outs / blackheads and to detox your skin, as mentioned above. It also has great natural exfoliants like volcanic ash, hot spring, marine silt (mud), and Bamboo stem extract (which are gentle enough for my skin). And it includes three acids in this product: Phytic acid, lactic acid, and mandolin acid, which all aid in cellular turnover & collagen production…aka beaucoup anti-aging benefits!

PS. The first 50 readers to use the promo code ASHLEYA will receive 20% off their Dermalogica.com purchase 🙂 As always feel free to comment with any questions or email me direct via sidesmile.style@gmail.com!Charcoal Rescue Masque | Daily Microfoliant | Striped Romper | Heels | Jean Jacket | Clutch | Sunglasses

Photography by Mary Summers

Thank you to Dermalogica for partnering on this post #BrighterDayswithDermalogica – All opinions remain my own.