The “no makeup movement” began several years ago, but occasionally is brought back into the spotlight in a big way. For instance, when the entire cast of the Today Show and Kathy Lee and Hoda bared it all on air with No Makeup Monday in February.
For those who routinely wear makeup, going au naturale’ can be very uncomfortable initially. If you have clients who have been wanting to go makeup free, scale back or simply feel better “naked” (meaning the face), there are several ways we can support them.
1. Youthful eyes
The eye area requires special treatment. It is thinner, has less fatty tissue, and is more delicate and sensitive than any other area of the face. To maintain a bright, youthful appearance, the eyes want extra hydration, cell-regeneration, circulation and collagen support.
The right topicals applied morning and night will transform the eyes in a matter of weeks. For home care, arm clients with a combination of nourishing and corrective ingredients like peptides, hyaluronic acid, antioxidants, natural brightening ingredients, retinols. For a quick perk-me-up for tired eyes a small dab around the eyes the Moisture Eye-Zyme followed by a cocktail of Eye & Lip Renew Serum, Drop of Essence and the Peptide 3-N-1 Eye Cream as a mini mask with light steam, it will work wonders.
In the treatment room you can refresh, tighten, and reduce inflammation, puffiness and fine lines with the Deluxe Eye Treatment.
2. Brighten up the skin tone for all-over radiance
While correcting pigmentation issues will vary greatly by client, ingredients that work to correct the issue include bellis perennis flower (daisy flower), L-arbutin, kojic acid, L-lactic acid, and azelaic acid.These will work to inhibit melanin synthesis, brighten, and treat post-inflammatory hyperigmentation. In the treatment room you’ll want to combine both brightening and skin-building ingredients, as the goal is to correct the issue and reset the skin on the right path.
Brightening formulas that work well in the treatment room include, Brightening Pigment Lotion, 10% TCA/AHA, Melanin Suppressant, and the Hibiscus Peel.
For home care, you might prescribe some of the following: Brightening Cleanser, Brightening Scrub, Mega Brightening Serum, and/or Brightening Cream Enhanced. This too will vary based on client need. But a good buff with Brightening Scrub will leave skin glowing and ready for that au naturale’ look.
3. Clear acne and blemishes
Acne is one of the most common skin challenges in the U.S. Help clients get to the root of the problem by first breaking the skin down, then rebuilding it with nourishing, hydrating and healing formulas. Blemish-reducing ingredients such as green tea, salicylic, glycolic and L-lactic acids, retinol and growth factors will elilminate bacteria, bring the skin back to optimal health and prevent future breakouts and scarring.
4. Firm up the skin
Our cells are continually subject to a barrage of environmental stressors and free radicals, which threaten the collagen structure. To help repair the damage, firm up the skin and refine lines, direct clients to topicals rich in antioxidants like ascorbic acid, tocopherols, retinoids, and L-lactic acid to name a few. Some topicals providing a healthy dose of antioxidants include:
In the treatment room, restore the skin and get clients started on the right track with antioxidant-rich treatments such as:
- Mitoprotect DN-Awake Facial
- Facial Extraordinaire
- Pumpkin Peptide Peel
5. Plump up with hydration
To get clients healthy, hydrated skin provide them with a home care system of cleansing, nourishing, moisturizing, and protection. This will vary by client, so a customized approach will be in order, but a few ingredients that support hydration include antioxidants, growth factors and hyaluronic acid, and sunscreen is absolutely essential.
In the treatment room milk-based masks rather than clay will work best, and follow peels with nourishing and skin-building antioxidants, vitamins, essential oils and growth factors. A couple of treatments that work well to rehydrate skin include:
- Refresher Peel – increases blood flow exfoliates dead cells, and saturates the tissue with pure oxygen. The H2O2 Emulsion, Growth Factor Serum and 20% L-Lactic Acid enhance the effects of the microdermabrasion in the treatment. Skin will be hydrated, smooth and radiant.
- Perk Me Up – uses wine extracts and AHA to firm, tone, soften and leave skin feeling smooth and polished. It is a relatively quick procedure, but it makes a noticeable different in the skin.
Whether clients are shifting to completely makeup free or simply want to feel more confident with their skin, be sure they remember the sunscreen in the process. Many women rely on the SPF in their makeup products to provide the protection, but that is not enough, and we want to put the healthiest protection in their hands such as Daytime Defense or eZinc Protection Cream.