Much too soon, summer is waving goodbye as the sweaters and pumpkin treats make their appearance once again. As the humidity dips in the air, this is the perfect time to start preparing your skin for the harsher winter months. Drier air means that the outer layer of your skin can get damaged more easily, but there are a few things you can do to keep it balanced as the weather shifts. Remember, a little bit of prevention goes a long way!

1. Gentle exfoliation. While very important and effective when used properly, it can be tempting to over-exfoliate as skin shows more signs of dryness. There are two types of exfoliation: physical and chemical. Whichever one you use, make sure to be gentle so that you just remove the very top layer of dead skin cells. Aggressive exfoliation can lead to micro-abrasions in your skin that leave it open to bacteria and other irritants. For physical exfoliation, try our Intensive Face Scrub, made with finely ground peach granules. For chemical exfoliation, try our Brightening Exfoliator or our Skin Refining Enzyme Peel.

2. Hydration. When the winds pick up, the furnaces kick on and the wood stoves are lit. Cozy fall is right around the corner! Unfortunately, the wind and dry heat also suck the moisture from our skin so much faster! Stay ahead of the game by switching to a richer moisturizer now. For more mature skin, try our Rich Recovery Cream, and for more sensitive skin, try the Night Replenisher. For the ultimate luxurious experience, try our Night Cream, with colloidal platinum, silk acacia extract, lipid complex and more. We promise you will feel pampered and immediately refreshed!

3. Don’t slow down on sunscreen. Just because the sun is filtered through the beautiful yellow and orange trees instead of beaming down on us with the summertime intensity doesn’t mean that it is doing any less damage to our skin. Sun protection is just as important in the fall (and winter!) as it is during the summer months. Our Face Guard uses a mineral shield rather than a chemical sunscreen to protect your skin from the harsh UV rays, no matter what time of year it is.

4. Take extra care with certain areas. Some skin is thinner and more sensitive, such as the skin under our eyes, on our eyelids, and our lips. Look for products that are specially made for these areas, and that focus on hydration! Try our Rich Eye Contour Cream around the delicate eye area. With oat extract, macadamia nut oil, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin A, this lightweight cream works hard to hydrate all day or all night long! Our Tricare Eye Cream shares those benefits, but is also formulated for mature skin, and contains ingredients that help combat fine lines and wrinkles.

With the right care, and a couple of easy prevention steps, you can assure that your skin will enjoy the fall season as much as you do!

Many are looking for the fountain of youth through the latest photo filters or even plastic surgery. But what many don’t know is that the secret to beautiful, long-lasting skin is a consistent regimen designed to protect your skin and keep it healthy. Janssen Cosmetics provides top of the line skincare products that leave your skin beautiful from the inside out. Here’s how you can incorporate our products into your daily routine:  

Cleansing

Cleansing is the first and most important step in your skincare regimen. Without it, you are just asking for a breakout to happen. This is especially important if you wear makeup on a daily basis. You need a clean slate free of oil and dirt to be able to absorb subsequent products properly. Opt for a gentle cleanser that won’t strip away the natural oils from your face. Make sure to wash your face twice daily.

Some products to consider:

• Mild Creamy Cleanser. Excellent cleanser for dry skin. It is thorough, helps retain moisture, and leaves your skin feeling clean.
• Clarifying Cleansing Gel. Mild cleansing gel for oily skin. It is specially formulated to tackle excess oil, inflammation, spots, and blackheads.

Toning

Toners are the next products you might want to reach for after you cleanse your face. Contrary to popular belief, toners are actually very gentle on the skin, and they don’t shrink pores. They provide you with a bit of initial hydration and further prime your skin to absorb other products later on. Unlike the other steps in the process, toners are optional. They used to be needed back when facial cleansers were too basic or harsh on the skin. Toners helped bring the skin’s pH back to normal. Nowadays, cleansers are well-formulated enough that toners aren’t as necessary anymore.

Some products to consider:

• Radiant Firming Tonic. Helps to smooth out the appearance of your skin and refine your pores. You can use this toner and be confident that your skin is ready to face whatever comes next.
• Purifying Tonic Lotion. Optimized for oily skin. It helps to prevent inflammation, blackheads, and excess oil production.

Exfoliating

At night, you also want to add in exfoliation as an extra step into your skincare process. While you might not realize it, your skin also has its own battles throughout the day. At the end of the day, it is filled with dead skin and clogged with impurities. The cleansing and exfoliating steps help to take this load off.

Some products to consider:

• Mild Face Rub. A mild peeling cream that gets rid of dirt, oil, and debris on the face for dry skin.
• Bio-Fruit Gel Exfoliator. Fruit acid peel that promotes new skin cell growth.

Moisturizing

The next absolutely essential step next is moisturizing. Like cleansing, you want to apply moisturizer twice daily, even if you have oily or acne-prone skin. It keeps your skin barrier healthy and lets the products you’ve applied before work their magic! If possible, apply moisturizer while your skin is still damp. This helps lock in extra hydration in addition to the hydration provided by the moisturizer itself.

Some products to consider:

• Day Vitalizer. Daily moisturizing cream that hydrates, smoothes, and protects dry skin.
• Clarifying Cream Gel. With this gel, those with oily skin can worry less about inflammation, oil, and blemishes.

Protecting

Last but not least, you want to seal the deal with sunscreen when finishing off your morning skincare routine. Sunscreen acts like a shield for your face, preventing UV rays from penetrating through. This is also a non-negotiable step. Sunscreen is vital to the longevity and health of your skin. It helps prevent skin cancer and premature aging down the line.

Some products to consider:

• Face Guard Advanced. Although this is an emulsion and not technically a sunscreen, it protects all skin types from UVA, UVB, IR, oxidative stress, photoaging, and many more.
• Sun Shield SPF 30. Sunscreen with SPF 30 that protects skin from UVA and UVB rays.

There are those who prefer to purchase all of their cosmetic needs exclusively from dermatologists and renown aestheticians. Then there are some who would prefer to purchase what they need at drug or department stores at a fraction of the price. Whatever you may prefer, there is a broad difference between what standard cosmetics brands offer and what is deemed professional grade.

Wherever you shop, one can find an endless array of cosmetics to meet whatever need there is. Whether you are seeking a quick fix or something more beneficial for the skin, you can become a more savvy shopper by knowing these key differences in professional grade cosmetics and their standard counterparts so that you can look and feel your best.

Professional Grade Higher Standards

When it comes to seeking out the best skincare or makeup, ingredients reign supreme to give your skin the best. Since most skincare is worn all day long and night, it only makes sense that healthy, beneficial ingredients that feed the skin will provide vitality and nourish.  Professional grade products typically mean that the products are held to a higher standard and are typically found in your dermatologist office or spas. professional grade is unbeatable as more money is spent on research of ingredients, rather than marketing a name.

Natural ingredients, such as jojoba oils, vitamin C and minerals help to feed the skin while enabling it to breathe, unlike some products that are full of fillers that block pores and cause skin conditions such as blackheads and acne, as found in many standard products.. This is not to say that every professional grade skin care line out there is natural, as some only boast their name and won’t necessarily deliver as promised, but a good quality brand, such as our Janssen Cosmetics line, speaks for itself- sleek and simple, yet big on natural and dermatologically-tested ingredients that impart very effective results.

Pros and Cons of Standard Brands

Although professional grade cosmetics containing naturally-derived ingredients with scientifically backed research has its merits, there is something to be said about drugstore brands, especially for those on a budget or who don’t necessarily care for the  latest and greatest thing on the market. However, drugstore and department store  brands don’t always live up to their promise. For one, standard brands are typically market driven and will constantly change, depending on the latest and greatest trend.

While standard brands may look beautiful  in their packaging and smell wonderful, the benefits are sometimes few, lending very little results. These products also tend to contain ingredients that do not feed the skin, but are filled with artificial ingredients that act as fillers that may harm the skin. If you have sensitive skin, you may notice that standard products may irritate the skin.

Another drawback to standard cosmetics is their one-size-fits-all approach. Unlike a dermatologist or med spa esthetician who may examine your skin and make recommendations based on your needs, standard brands aren’t customizable. Asking a skincare consultant at a department store for advice, while useful, is not always as in-depth as something who can take a closer glance and offer products that will help with their own specific needs.

While professional grade cosmetics are typically pricier, the money goes further than with standard cosmetics. Not only are you paying for something that will help your skin further down  the road, but money well spent on professional grade products will actually spread further than paying for product after product, seeking out the one thing that will improve your skin. While both have their merits, it’s important to think long term if you want the skin of your dreams.