The most important thing we can give ourselves as an act of self-love is time. Time to rest, time to heal, and time to dive deeper into your skincare routine. Are you making enough time for your skin? We know that at the end of the day it can seem almost impossible to squeeze in that 10-minute skincare routine, but self-love means self-care. Here is a list of 5 ways you can show your skin some extra love this Valentine's day.

1. Double Cleansing

 This is a topic that is talked about a lot but not practiced enough. Take a little extra time to incorporate different cleansers that serve different functions.  Clean skin is healthy skin. Double cleansing is important at night if you wear sunscreen or makeup to remove all the dirt, grime, and products applied throughout the day.  My favorite combination is Micellar Water to remove any makeup on the surface and Purify Cleanser to really deep clean the skin and remove any excess debris left behind. This allows better penetration of your skincare products and optimizes cell renewal overnight. Check out my youtube video dedicated to this topic!

 2. Incorporate A Mask

Elevate your skincare routine by adding a mask once or twice a week. Not only is this a relaxing form of self-care but masks can be substantial for targeting many different concerns such as

• Reducing redness or inflammation
• Minimizing the Appearance of Fine Lines and Wrinkles
• Reducing Pore Size
• Brightening Up Complexion
• Removing Impurities, Toxins, and Oils 

 The perfect time to de-stress. Stress can cause heightened cortisol levels in the body, ultimately leading to breakouts, flare-ups, and inflammation. Take an hour to relax and decompress by having a professional treat your skin for you. Your Esthetician can help with skin-care maintenance by performing deep cleansing and hydrating treatments as well as incorporating LED, microcurrent, or radiofrequency therapies customized to your individual needs. 

4. Preventative Skincare

 Incorporate comprehensive anti-aging products into your routine to keep your skin feeling refreshed and looking younger. 

• Tinted Moisturizer with SPF: Applying SPF every morning can prevent sun damage; a step that your skin will love you for in 20 years. If you have sensitivities to sunscreen, try switching to a mineral based SPF.  Iron oxide offers greater protection and defense against Blue rays (HEVL) that come through windows and screens contributing to hyperpigmentation and redness.
• Vitamin C: A staple anti-aging product. Promotes a healthy glow, reverses the signs of aging, protects, and repairs the skin from environmental damage. 
• Retinol: A derivative of Vitamin A that helps reduce fine lines and wrinkles by stimulating collagen and elastin production, protecting your collagen, boosting circulation, reducing pigmentation, minimizing pores, and brightening your overall complexion. Best used at night. Make sure to follow with a moisturizer. 

Taking care of our bodies and making sure the necessities are being checked off are vital to overall skin health. Your everyday lifestyle can make or break your skincare routine. A few ways to maintain a healthy lifestyle include

• Adequate Sleep: Lack of sleep deprives your skin the chance to repair itself. Our skin renewal peaks overnight and stimulates new collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid. However, if you’re not getting enough sleep, this process can’t happen. As the body’s largest organ, skin is usually where the first signs of damage appear, and we’re not just talking about dark circles and eye bags. Signs of inadequate sleep include heightened cortisol levels, dark or puffy under eyes, dry-dull skin, and wrinkles.

Pro Tip: Lavender pillow mist and chamomile herbal tea before bed for calming

• Healthy Diet: What you eat in a day can make a significant difference in the appearance of your skin. Sugary treats trigger glycation, which accelerates skin aging and breakouts. Glycation is when sugar binds to other molecules in your body and stops your skin cells from functioning properly. The elements that keep your skin looking tight and young like collagen and elastin no longer do their job right 

Pro Tip: Eat Berries. They are chock-full of powerful antioxidants, berries can help protect your complexion from aging, environmental aggressors and more. 

• Adequate Water Intake: the skin is the largest organ and has one of the largest water percentages in the human body. Make sure your drinking tons of water throughout the day. 
• Consuming alcoholic beverages can produce free radicals that cause flushing and blushing, ultimately causing flare ups in skin conditions like Rosacea. 

Pro Tip: Instead of a booze-filled holiday drinks, try a wine spritzer with sparkling water and a splash of red wine. Red wine spritzers are a great way to satisfy a craving without overdoing it. Not to mention: Red wine is full of antioxidants and a splash of it can actually be great for your skin!

Dr. Azi’s Recommended Products:

Self Love Bundle: Relieve stress and clarify your complexion with a full-sized Detox Mask, a custom applicator brush in our luxe, and a silk sleep mask in our limited-edition AziMD bag.

Hydratint BB Cream: Mineral based SPF44 that hydrates & protects the skin against damaging UV rays while providing coverage with a universal sheer tint. 

L'Oreal Paris Pure Clay Face Mask with Charcoal: this mask has a creamy texture at a great price point and can be found at most drugstores. 

Purify Cleanser: Antioxidant calming cleanser to gently remove makeup, prevent buildup in pores, and restore the skin.