It’s not always easy to pick one skin type. Want our tips? Answer 3 quick questions and we’ll give you our thoughts.
How soon after you cleanse your face does
your face feel oily and look shiny?
What part of your face is oily?
If you didn’t use moisturizer in the morning or during the day, how dry would your skin be?
How would you describe your pores?
Does your skin ever feel tight?
ACNE
What type of breakouts do you experience?
When your skin breaks out which of the following apply? Check all that apply.
How often do you experience breakouts?
Hyperpigmentation
Hyperpigmentation, a condition that causes patches of skin to take on a darker color than the rest of your skin, can be left behind by acne, hormonal shifts, or sun exposure.
When looking for products for you we love the powerhouse ingredients for pigment correcting, lightening, and brightening.
Well studied popular depigmenting agents we stand behind include kojic acid, retinoids, glycolic acid, and vitamin C.
If you have hyperpigmentation with acne, anti-inflammatory ingredients, AHA’s and BHA’s (Alpha and Beta Hydroxy Acids) help to slough off pigmented cells.
Sun damage/Age spots
This type of discoloration occurs from unprotected and/or prolonged sun-exposure and appear on your skin in the form of brown spots or patches.
We’ll be looking for a SPOT TREATMENT to address your sun damage/age spots with skin lightening and brightening ingredients including retinoids, vitamin C, kojic acid and licorice roots products.
The #1 most important skin care step for your sun protection to prevent further damage.
Redness
Many things can turn our faces temporarily red from sunburn to embarrassment to intense exercise, cold weather, stress, wine, or spicy food. Serums or foundations with green undertones can help reduce the appearance of redness.
However, redness can also be caused by irritation from the products you are using. We will seek out products for your redness-prone skin that do not contain known skin irritants such as added synthetic fragrances, certain citrus ingredients, or harsh astringents.
Redness can also be caused by various skin conditions such as acne, rosacea, eczema, and others – typically diagnosed by a dermatologist. In general, but especially in these cases we look for products that contain calming, soothing, and anti-inflammatory ingredients – to reduce redness and prevent it from re-occurring.
Just because you have redness does not mean you cannot use exfoliating ingredients. In fact, a seasoned esthetician can perform glycolic acid peels to remove dead cells from the surface of the skin, brightening the exposed layers. Salicylic acid peels are good for treating redness and blemishes caused by acne.
We got you!
Rosacea
While redness can be brought on for a number of different reasons, rosacea is a skin condition diagnosed by a dermatologist that occasionally needs prescription-level medication. However, before and after, or even with no prescription medication, the correct at-home use products can have a big impact on controlling and managing your rosacea AND bring about the visibly improved results you desire for your skin.
First, we will help you avoid products with ingredients that can be harsh for your skin such as added fragrances and any ingredients potentially too harsh for your skin.
Rosacea, considered an inflammatory condition, responds well to products containing anti-inflammatory ingredients coupled with calming and soothing ingredients. This combination will help reduce the visible appearance of redness or acne-like bumps.
Good news! Recent reports indicate that you CAN use powerful ingredients such as glycolic and salicylic acid to remove dead skin cells and improve cell turnover - so long as the product comes in a formula balanced with skin healers and soothers.
We will look for ingredients that build up your skin’s barrier against environmental pollutants that can aggravate rosacea including antioxidants and collagen-boosting ingredients.
Most important is sun protection. For rosacea-prone skin we recommend physical sunscreens such as zinc oxide or titanium dioxide vs chemical sunscreens such as oxybenzone or avobenzone, the latter likely to irritate your skin.
SENSITIVE SKIN
When your skin gets irritated how does it look and feel – select any that apply.
How often do you have a bad reaction to new products?
Do you have any of the following?
Benzoyl Peroxide
Benzoyl Peroxide works to kill acne-causing bacteria and is an effective exfoliator and promotes skin cell turnover. It is effective against all types of acne, but can be drying to the skin, cause redness and excessive peeling. A sunscreen is a must when using Benzoyl Peroxide because skin will be more sensitive to sunlight. If pregnant or nursing, check with a health care professional before using a product that contains Benzoyl Peroxide.
Glycolic Acid
Glycolic Acid is an alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) with the smallest molecular weight which means it can penetrate more easily. It works by helping the skin to slough off dead skin cells and to assist in rebuilding collagen. It can be, but is not always, irritating for those with very sensitive skin and it will make skin become more sensitive to sun damage, so a good sunscreen is a must.
Hydroquinone
Hydroquinone is a topical treatment for skin lightening, hyperpigmentation, age spots/sun damage, melasma and brown spots caused by acne. It works by reducing the production of melanin, the pigment that gives skin its color. It does take several weeks to work, and sunscreen is required, otherwise spots will return. Care must be taken when applying because skin around the treated area may become lighter. Most experts agree that hydroquinone shouldn’t be used during pregnancy or while nursing.
Retinol
A form of Vitamin A that accelerates cell renewal, helping with acne, wrinkles, skin texture, and hyperpigmentation. Retinols can be irritating and if you’re new to retinol, use only once or twice a week to start to see how your skin reacts, then increase usage after a few weeks. Retinols should be used at night because they make skin more sensitive to sunlight and sun damage. If pregnant or nursing, check with a health care professional before using a product that contains Retinol.
Salicylic Acid
Salicylic Acid is a beta-hydroxy acid (BHA), that exfoliates pores from the inside out by dissolving the dead skin cells that clog pores, helping with acne and oily skin. It can be irritating for those with very sensitive skin and it will make skin become more sensitive to sun damage, so a good sunscreen is a must. If pregnant or nursing, check with a health care professional before using a product that contains Salicylic Acid. Don’t use if you’re allergic to aspirin.
Synthetic Fragrance
Synthetic Fragrance will be listed as “Parfum” or “Fragrance” on the label, while not inherently bad, many people develop allergies or sensitivity to these ingredients. Natural fragrances will be listed as a plant or flower extract and may be included both for fragrance and for their antioxidant, soothing or other beneficial properties.
Prescription Retinols
Prescription Retinols are chemical exfoliators and we want to make sure you aren’t doubling up on these types of exfoliators unnecessarily.
Additionally, there are a few ingredients that when paired with retinols can cause additional irritation. We want you to have happy glowing skin!
We want to make recommendations like using a great SPF (a must while using retinols/chemical exfoliators) and others to help you with a balanced skin care system.
If you’re going to be discontinuing these meds soon and want an over-the-counter alternative, deselect this button.
Using Facial Topical Steroids
Prolonged use of these ingredients, such as Hydrocortisone, can cause thinning of the skin. We want to avoid recommending products (AHA’s/BHA, retinols, benzoyl peroxide, scrubs and peel pads) that will compromise your barrier function while using topical steroids.
If you are using Hydrocortisone its mainly because you’ve had a skin reaction of some sort, we will take the time to recommend products that will be calming, hydrating and protective to your skin.
Prescription Acne Meds
Prescription acne care can be aggressive on the skin and we want to make sure we aren’t recommending anything that will throw your skin balance off while you are using your prescriptions.
If you’re going to be discontinuing these meds soon and want an over-the-counter alternative, deselect this button.
Pregnant/Nursing
We will identify ingredients that are contraindicated for use while pregnant/nursing
There may be a contraindication for Hydroquinone and Retinols during pregnancy and nursing, so we have only recommended products that do not contain those ingredients.
If there are other ingredients you want to avoid, you can indicate those on Question #4.
Whether you’re filling in your existing regimen, or hand-picking what you want today, here are the products we recommend for YOU based on everything you’ve told us about your skin. Pick and choose which work for you!
If you crave simplicity, this 3-Step Regimen would be great for YOU.
Cleanse, Treat, Hydrate & Protect by day. Cleanse, Treat, Hydrate at night. Since this moisturizer does not contain SFP, you can use it for both day and night.
SIMPLE
Hydration & Protection in one step for daytime. Cleanse & Treat at night. This is a great cleanser for your dry skin that combines cleansing with exfoliation in one easy step.
Targeted
Add a SPOT Treatment and Treatment for the delicate EYE area for day and/or night.
If you’re looking for a new and complete regimen, we like this 5-Step combination curated for YOU.
Want to try almost everything!? YOU CAN!
Home Facial Kit
From your 3-step cleansing, to treatments including a mask and peel/exfoliator; through eyes, lips and final moisturizing steps – you can have it all in one facial in the privacy of your home.
Price includes everything you see in the display on the left PLUS:
Complementary Jade Roller!
Free instructional video – your own HOW TO DIY Facial!
Free phone or video chat with one of our 40+ seasoned estheticians.
For a limited time only, get your Kit at the Introductory Price of $89 and get FREE samples curated for you.
$89.00
Your complete facial includes:
OUR PROMISE
We’re so confident you’re going to like our recommendations; we’ll stick with you until it works!
Our recommendations are made based on decades-long research of skincare ingredients, backed by review of InSpa’s team of 40+ Licensed Estheticians. Over the past 20 years InSpa has performed 400,000+ facials, giving us the expertise to custom tailor product recommendations just for you.
You’ll get skincare recommendations we’re confident will work for YOUR skin!
BUT! Nothing is perfect and no two people are the
same. If a product doesn’t give you the results you’re
looking for? We’ll swap it out for another product until
you’re happy.
