dermalogica: pushing knowledge instead of product

Sometimes the route to finding the best skin products is about tuning out the noise and listening to yourself. Smug brands, dime-store estheticians, clever packaging (of course we want that crystal jar and the bejeweled case! It’s healing properties are on the verge of mythic!), are not only confusing, but can lead to us spending an extraordinary amount of money on products that don’t work, or don’t need. I’m a casualty of this bullying, and have the barely used products to prove it. Did I really need that night cream? No, I did not. Should I be using that creme cleanser on combination skin? Only a lunatic would. And more importantly – should I have drop-kicked that Equinox facialist who told me I had dry, “terrible” skin when four estheticians and a dermatologist politely inquired if that woman was smoking something (not their words, my retelling)?

If only I had the nun-chucks.

Although I consider myself pretty tough, laying supine while someone dissects all of your flaws has the ability to reduce me to a whimpering, credit-card-relinquishing, mess. Chalk it up to my type-A personality, but my knee-jerk response to a problem is: How do I fix it? And it’s only after my visit to the Dermalogica concept store in Soho did I realize that I’ve never really been educated about my skin; I’ve only been sold products that promised to fix nebulous conditions. When I visited the spacious, sleek, and modern Soho space, I checked out the Skin Bar, where a skin therapist cleaned my skin and delivered a very detailed analysis of my 13 facial zones. Although I have normal/combination skin, what fluctuates is the condition of my skin. One’s skin type is simply the foundation and not reflective of stress environs, age, stress, etc. My therapist diagnosed and mapped areas of my skin which were sensitive and prone to redness, areas of congestion, and breakouts. My therapist proceeded to explain what specific ingredients I should be using on my skin (gel cleansers, nix the granule exfoliants as it’s been actually encouraging breakouts and opt for a gentle pore cleanser containing salicylic or lactic acid). Did I neglect to mention that this consultation was free?

It was key to learn about the kinds of ingredients that were efficacious for my skin rather than relying on individual products in the Dermalogica line (recommendations were made, but it was secondary), because the underlying concept of the Skin Bar is about arming the consumer with information so they can make educated choices at Dermalogica or their local drugstore.

Post face-map, I was treated to a MicroZone treatment ($35), which is a 20-minute, quick fix for targeted problem areas. It’s not a facial or spa treatment per se, rather it’s for men, women, and teens who need a speedy skin care refresher. So whether you need rapid-flash breakout recovery or an intense lip treatment, this is definitely for you. Because I’ve been lathering pore-clogging creme cleansers on my skin and over-exfoliating, my skin therapist hit my forehead, hard! Using BT Micro Bladz, a hand-held device that utilizes ultrasonic and microcurrent technologies, my therapist lifted my dead skin cells, which then allowed the cleansing products an even deeper level of penetration. This isn’t a surface cleanse, this tool allows your therapist to get under the layers of your skin through non-evasive technology. In short: I LOVED IT.

I loved everything about my Dermalogica experience because I finally have definitive information about my complexion and the kinds of products I should be using and the kinds from which I should be fleeing. After the jump, I’m sharing my new skin care regimen, which after a few days has already shown remarkable results.

•PreCleanse (daily, add on to dry skin and then rinse)
•Special Cleansing Gel (daily): I absolutely adore the cleanser. Not only did it leave my skin incredibly soft, I felt clean!
•Gentle Cream Exfoliant (2x/week, leave on for ten minutes and rinse): along with the MicroZone treatment, I’m already seeing a marked change in the woeful forehead situation.
•Sheer Tint Moisture with SPF 15 (daily): a lightweight moisturizer? What else can I ask for.
•Special Cleaning Booster (spot treatment)

Click here to find out where you can snag these products!

images courtesy of Dermalogica & Dermstore.com

This entry was posted on Friday, April 24th, 2009 at 10:21 am and is filed under beauty, fashion & style. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.