As an esthetician at Skin Bar, I have a passion for skin care. I love learning about the skin and about all the different types of products and technologies to treat different skin conditions, and concerns. I knew this was a passion for me at a young age. I would buy 20 different products at once to experiment with; and I always had the latest beauty magazines in tow. I have learned while experimenting for most of my life, that different products treat different skin types and that you should always change up your regimen according to the time of year and how your skin is reacting.
Growing up, I had another passion in my life, which I am lucky to still be doing today – this passion is dance. I started my first dance class at the age of 4, and loved it so much that my mom had me try out for a competitive dance program shortly after. I placed in the program and practiced no less than 10 hours a week, and was constantly competing in dance competitions. I loved it so much I continued dancing and competing all the way through college. After graduating with a B.A., I decided I wanted to pursue my passion for skin care, and enrolled in Esthetics School in Woburn, MA at Catherine Hinds Institute of Esthetics. All the time I continued to dance in a performance based group in Boston. I was so happy to be able to pursue both passions in my life. Now, I have lived in the Big Apple for almost 2 years and am working as an Esthetician at Skin Bar. I am so happy to say that I have still found a place in my life for dance – today I dance for a performance based dance company in New York where we rehearse multiple nights weekly and perform in the Spring and the Fall.
Living an active lifestyle can take a toll on your skin if you do not care for it properly. Armed with the knowledge I have as an Esthetician, I know just what to do to care for my skin while being active and dancing.
During my dance rehearsals, I am not afraid to admit that I get SWEATY. I try to wash my face BEFORE going to dance rehearsal, to get all of my make up off. That way when I sweat and need to wipe my face with a towel, the makeup and the oils don’t get wiped into my pores – I have found that when I leave my makeup on before working out or dancing, I get breakouts. AFTER rehearsal, when I am back home, I always make sure to shower and pay extra attention washing my face to make sure all of the sweat is cleaned off. Also, when I know I will be dancing a lot, I usually try to wear light-weight products, nothing too heavy. Here’s my routine:
Before dance:
Cleanse: with a cleansing oil to remove makeup; I like Murad cleansing oil – it is a lightweight oil that you put on dry skin to break up the makeup, then I wash it off with warm water. After that I cleanse with Ormedic Cleanser from Image – I like this cleanser because it is almost all organic and is pH balanced, so I don’t have to use toner after. I like to have these items in sample size, that way I can use them in the bathroom before rehearsal. If I don’t have time to do this, I will use Burt’s Bees cleansing wipes because they are very natural. I wipe off the makeup quickly and put on my next step which is moisturizer.
Moisturize: after cleansing. I always make sure to moisturize. It is important for the skin to be hydrated even if your skin is naturally very oily. My skin can be quite dry, but I prefer to use a light weight moisturizer before dance rehearsal such as Ormedic Balancing Crème from Image or Daily Moisture from Skinceuticals. Both of these are light weight enough to allow my skin to breathe during my work out. However, if the sun is still out before my rehearsals, I always put on my sunscreen. My favorite is Daily Ultimate Protection SPF 50 from Image, it is lightweight enough and smells incredible!
After dance when I get home:
I cleanse again to remove sweat, dirt and oil: usually with Max Stem Cell cleanser – it is lightweight and has many anti-aging stem cells in it to help soften fine lines and wrinkles (prevent, prevent, prevent!), also stem cells promote healthy cell growth. If I am feeling drier, during the winter months, I LOVE Vital C Hydrating Cleanser from Image.
Corrective: At night, I like to use a corrective serum after cleansing because at night our skin repairs itself while we sleep. The product I am using currently is Metacell Renewal B3 from Skinceuticals which helps reconstruct collagen and lighten hyperpigmentation. I also like Ageless Hyaluronic Filler Serum from Image Skin Care, because it is extra hydrating, but use it more in the colder months.
Moisturize: In the late fall and winter I prefer to use Vital C Hydrating Moisturizer from Image, and in the warmer months, Spring and Summer, I usually use Ormedic Balancing Crème or Max Stem Cell Creme.
Eye Cream: I love Max Stem Cell Eye cream! It is very moisturizing and luxurious for the delicate eye area. It helps to de-puff and brighten the eye area while fighting lines and wrinkles.
Along with using the correct products for your skin while living an active lifestyle, appropriately hydrating your skin is key. Our skin is the largest organ of our body, but it is the last organ to receive any water once it goes through our system. I try to drink at least 64oz of water a day to hydrate myself and my skin. Whatever hydration your skin is missing can be hydrated with products, but drinking water will help with overall lymphatic flow which reduces puffiness and dull skin, and will allow our skin cells to look and feel plump and not tight and dry. Dancing causes me to lose a lot of water through sweat, so I always make sure I’m drinking even more water while being active.