As busy entrepreneurs we are constantly juggling so many hats in the air all the time. The reality of the matter is that we are the business. We are the face and the production. Like Jay Z said, “I’m not a business man, I’m a BUSINESS, MAN!” He understands that in order for his businesses to run optimally, he has to be able to put his best foot forward and look the part. A better example is his wife Beyonce, or any celebrity for that matter. When it is your business to be on camera, in front of clients or social media it is best to put some effort into your health, skin and lifestyle. I was listening to a podcast the other day where Shark Tank’s Robert Herjavec was saying that small business owners are an extension of their business when the business is small. If we are struggling to hold it together, the business will suffer. This doesn’t mean that we need to be put together 24/7, we all have down times but if we want people to take us seriously, [bctt tweet=”we should give effort into looking and feeling our best, Mind – Body – Soul” username=”purestheticspro”]
I’m not going to tell you that there is one product you can use that will change your life and make you look like Ariana Grande, but I will say that the first step in any skin care regime is the proper cleanser for your skin type. Cleansers are extremely important because they keep our skin balanced, hydrated, in a healthy state so that everything that follows will work it’s best.
So let’s start with a good quality cleanser. I said ‘Good Quality’ because quality matters, it really does. If your skin is dry, you want to use a cream/lotion type cleanser. I have some clients who have severely dry skin but they can not get used to the feeling of a cream cleanser, it’s psychological. The skin should feel soft and dewy at all times, not tight and dry. This is how wrinkles are formed, when the skin gets dehydrated to the point that it sets down deep in the collagen layers and eventually dehydrates the collagen and elastin fibers. So for dry/sensitive skin I recommend Little Barn Apothecary’s Blue Yarrow and Geranium Cleansing Oil. This coconut oil base cleanser is to be applied on a dry face, make up and all, massage in a bit to break up dirt and oil, then take a warm washcloth and lay over face. The warmth from the cloth will dissolve the oil and then can be wiped away. This cleanser really leaves the skin so soft and all traces of make up are gone! (Definitely follow up with a toner to make sure the face is free of any residue. I have even been using this cleansing oil for myself and I have an oily, acne prone skin type (in the winter I get super dehydrated so I switch between an acne cleanser and this gentle oil).
If you suffer from an over production of oil and acne, let’s first talk about diet. We all know what is good for us and what is not, but I will tell you that sugar and caffeine are the 2 main aggravators of acne. I treat it every day in my office and I suffer from it myself. Eliminate all processed sugar (not every ounce, I’m talking cupcakes, cookies, chocolate, candy, etc…) from your diet and drink water or herbal tea 95% of the time and your skin will clear up within 2 weeks. When we do break out using cleansers that are antibacterial, anti fungal and reduce inflammation will keep our skin healthy and clear. One that I always keep on hand is Vivant’s Mandelic Acid 3 in 1 Exfoliating Cleanser. Mandelic Acid is one of the Alpha Hydroxy Acids (like Glycolic Acid, you may be familiar) it comes from bitter almonds and it is my one of my favorite AHA’s to treat acne, oily skin and hyperpigmentation. I use this acid in my products at home and in the treatment room as chemical peels and more. Just an overall wonderful treatment cleanser.
Green Tea is also a great gentle cleanser for normal skin types. This cleanser removes all dirt and oil without disturbing the delicate Acid Mantle (skin’s natural protective barrier). We should try to get into the habit of washing our face 2x a day, unless we are super dry, then I recommend only washing at night and using a gentle toner in the morning to wipe the face and neck down, followed by your protective serums, moisturizer, sunscreen.
So to keep it simple for all of us busy business owners (in this post, because I could go on and on, lol) I am only going to mention using a quality cleanser to start and the next thing that I talk about all the time is Eye Cream.
[bctt tweet=”The eye area is very thin and it looses moisture super fast” username=”purestheticspro”].
It’s the first area to show the signs of aging. We all need to begin using eye cream in our 20’s and continue FOREVER! Even if it is something as simple as a vitamin e stick, or an eye cream that was given to you from you Aunt Sue, use it day and night. Eye cream is tricky because in order to see the results from it, you have to use it consistently 2x a day.
Running a business online, being in front of clients, on camera, we want the eye area to look bright and awake. 
Even if we don’t wear a bunch of make up, the eye area should be treated and respected. A few of my favorite eye creams that I use (also use these on clients after facials) are Vivant’s Wink, super tightening and firming and Hydropeptide’s Eye Authority. The peptides and crushed pearl in this luxurious cream are extremely hydrating and illuminate the eye area, excellent for camera/film/photography. And lastly, for mellennials who are getting started with an at home skin care regiment I recommend Little Barn Apothecary’s Carrot Seed and Rosehip Eye Serum. Comes in a little roller bottle for easy application. Great for low maintenance ladies who need a little moisture around the eye area.
This should be a great start for busy lives, running a business, taking care of family and all, but let us not ever forget ourself. Self care should be number one in our lives, when we feel and look great, we have more energy to put into our businesses and share with our loved ones. If you have any questions or comments, please let me know. If you are ever in the Raleigh/Durham area NC, and would like to schedule a skin care appointment with me, you can do that here
xoxo
Elle