ALICIA MILLS OF Method Skin Studio offers skin care through Genesis Salon and aims to provide result-driven healing treatments with exceptional plant-based products. Her goal is to guide her clients toward what they can do from home to make a major difference in the health of their skin, as well as its appearance.
What’s the single most important thing a person can do to take care of their skin for the long term?
Having a daily consistent routine. A simple regimen both morning and night is the best way to not only maintain a healthy skin, but to achieve successful results. The needs of your skin change as you age, and seeking guidance from a licensed professional can help you determine the best products for your skin type and conditions.
photo courtesy Method Skin Studio
At what age should a person start using anti-aging products?
There’s a great rule of thumb that I go by: prevention over correction. With this in mind, your 20s are a great time to incorporate active ingredients that will help maintain a
balanced, youthful skin. Your skin is damaged by internal and external factors so preventing your skin at an early age from being compromised is best. If you wait to use products that address aging once you have deep set lines and hyperpigmentation, you’ll find that it takes much longer to reverse those effects.
What would an ideal home regimen for anti-aging skin care look like?
Your #1 most important anti-aging product to own is a broad-spectrum sunscreen of 40 SPF or higher. You can have a 10-step routine of products, and none of them will do you any good unless you are married to a solid daily sunscreen (yes even on cloudy and rainy days in Washington). I prefer a mineral based formula for the best protection and healing qualities.
Additionally, there are different components to a day vs. night routine, and it’s important to know that recommendations are unique to each person. The morning should look like a gentle cleanse, a toner if desired (something with brighteners/hydrators or even bacteria treatment or prevention), an antioxidant-rich serum like a vitamin C, a moisturizer meant for your skin type and conditions, followed by an SPF.
I’m a firm believer in a double cleanse for the night, which might mean beginning with an oil cleanse to melt makeup and debris, followed by a gel or cream cleanser to clean. your pores. A toner is optional, and then an active serum. An example and main staple to use several times a week at night would be a Retinol product, which is a gold standard in skincare. On opposite nights I might recommend using some Alpha Hydroxy Acids which stimulate the skin, or a hydrating serum to firm/tighten/reduce inflammation. A night cream with vitamins and antioxidants to feed the skin is the perfect item to seal in everything else you’ve layered.
Photo Courtesy of Method Skin Studio
Do you have any favorite products to recommend?
My favorite products come from two different companies, Comfort Zone and Skin Moderne. They are both plant based and exceptional with high quality standards. The combination
[of] the two offers solutions for all skin types and concerns.
What professional treatments can help with aging skin? How often should these be done?
My personal favorites that I work with in my treatment room are NanoFusion (a microneedling alternative), Microdermabrasion, Dermaplane, Oxygen Therapy, UltraFusion (a facial ultrasound device), as well as peel services. Overall, monthly professional treatments are always advised so that your provider can accelerate your results. As we age, the processes which keep our skin youthful and help with repair are rapidly slowing, and in-office treatments help stimulate these functions. Using supportive products at home is essential.
