Photographer @Cameronperry

Mua @kvn.luong

We had the chance to ask all the questions you will want to know about mailing a beautiful skin this winter.

How can we Keep our faces from breaking out?

Having a skincare regimen is of utmost importance during these times, and having several masks in rotation to ensure you always have a clean one should also be a priority.  The goal with any skincare routine is to be predictive & proactive as there's no foolproof way to "stop" a breakout.  They'll either come or they won't.  Being predictive means to know your skin type and the phases it goes through and pay attention to changes no matter how small so you can make adjustments in your routine.  If you start to notice flakiness, redness or irritation that means it may be time to make changes in your routine or in the type of mask you're wearing.  Perhaps the product you're using is too harsh with the constant friction of a mask and you need to reduce active products or use products that create a non-comedogenic barrier.  Being proactive means to have the correct products available ahead of time so you can modify your routine as needed.  I incorporate PCAs Oily Problem cleanser whenever I need to switch up and manage breakouts or anticipate one approaching and I recommend this cleanser for most normal/acne prone skin types as it does a great job at cleaning deep into the pores without stripping the skin.  A good cleanser is the Captain of every skincare routine as it sets the tone for the products that follow.  This cleanser + PCAs Acne Cream + skin icing with my ice dice help reduce the number of breakouts and their severity greatly.

What techniques can you share for lightening dark marks  and mela(s)ma in the fall/winter times?

Diligence!  Consistent use of a Vitamin C antioxidant serum during the day & night + alternating between retinoids/retinols and melanin suppressants like kojic acid, alpha-arbutin, even hydroquinone (when used properly) will yield the greatest results when it comes to brightening and "evening" complexions during these seasons.  Proper barrier hydration will minimize the chance of the skin becoming compromised which can induce new or darken current hyperpigmentation.  SPF is a necessity for every single skin complexion, ethnicity, & season, and people need to be hyper vigilant about using SPF when using any actives or brightening/lightening agents on their skin.  If you're not closing out your AM regimen with SPF, you may as well not do anything at all.  

‘Many love to opt for a good peel, however I caution the overuse of medium & deep peels during winter seasons as that's the time when our skin needs to keep its protective layers intact the most.’

 I recently read an article by an amazing Esthetician who's also a chemist and she stated that these types of peels are like taking the roof off of your house in the middle of winter due to the fact that they can in fact reach the lower level of the dermis.  This causes instability in the skin barrier and you end up trying to repair all of the damage that's been done due to the roof (epidermal layer) being removed.  Personally I love a good peel, but this perspective makes complete sense.  So I just say use caution, and stop buying peel solutions off of Amazon and other retailers and trying to be a DIY pro, or not, it just creates more business for the professionals.

What is the best cream or oil for a night time treatment?

My all time favorite nighttime cream is "Elixir" from Alex Cosmetics.  It's an intensive emulsion blended with wheat germ extract, hyaluronic acid (which so happens to not be at the top of my list for MY skin, but it works amazingly when paired with other ingredients for me) and Vitamins A&E.  It doesn't weigh my skin down, yet it provides it with the perfect balance of hydration to get me through the chillier months no matter what climate I'm in.  Ultimately the best oil or cream is going to be one that is not comedogenic, and has a great delivery system that allows your skin to welcome the intended benefits.

Give me your top 5 don'ts for achieving glowing skin?

• Don't introduce a multiple step skincare routine at once if you've never tried the product/s.  Start slow, then grow.
• I always suggest starting out with 3 products, and then introduce active products at week
•   Good skincare is NOT cheap.  Don't go crazy on a 7 step routine only to learn your skin can't handle the products 2-3 weeks later.  

- Don't skip out on cleansing your face and body at least 2x a day.  There will be times when you may skip out on a shower here and there, but letting this turn into a bad habit may slow down your glowing skin goals.

- Don't over exfoliate or under exfoliate.  People often want to scrub, scrub, scrub, yet all that does is compromise the skin's barrier.  Be gentle when scrubbing, rub the skin as if you're rubbing a baby's skin.  There's no need to use medium or firm pressure - let the product do the job.  Also don't under-exfoliate.  If you're just getting started with a routine, start with once a month then move to 2x a month.  Remember, the type of exfoliant, your application method, and skin type dictate the frequency of use.  Directions on packaging are usually "best practices" for skin that has acclimated to a product.  If you purchase a new retinol and it says use it 2-3x a week, just know that's not intended for beginners.  Start slow, then grow.

- Don't get discouraged.  What works for someone else may not work for you.  I always say "You have people that can bathe in beer and butter and have the most wonderful skin you've ever seen, and people who put on fragrance free, supposedly clean ingredients products and have crazy inflammatory responses".  Everything is not for everyone which is why it's important to consult someone who is trained to treat skin, and has successfully treated a variety of skin types, conditions and backgrounds.

- Don't forget; the closer you are to compromised skin, the further away you are from glowing skin.  Products take time.  Skincare is a marathon that you run for a lifetime

There's a great article on my blog where I ask

"Is Your Skin in Shape"

And I cover the basics that everyone should know about when it comes to making sure that skin as a whole is in great shape and how to put together a perfect regimen for yourself.  This can be found at www.bdrbeautydoneright.com/blogs

What's your beauty routine?

I'm a Licensed Esthetician so my routine varies from simplistic to “girl that’s a lot” depending on the day of the week. I have an am/pm + travel routine and it doesn't just include products as I always start my day by icing with my ice dice from my own brand, beauty done right to depuff my upper and lower eye area followed by a few minutes with a facial massage using my hands or the BDR Rose Gold Sculpting Massager.  I usually follow with one of my favorite cleansers from PCA Skin or Alex Cosmetics, toner, an antioxidant & youth preservative serum, and end that with moisturizer and sunscreen.

In the evenings I'll generally add a retinol cream to the am routine and I also sleep using eye pillows from my brand, beauty done right as well.  I like to use these at night so the under-eye area can fully absorb the product vs popping them on for a few minutes in the morning.  I suffer from allergies and genetic under eye bags so I'm fully invested in doing everything I can to manage those bags around the clock.

When I'm preparing for a trip I begin to prep my skin about 14-21 days in advance.  This is where being predictive and proactive come into play. 

I'll generally give myself a thorough facial using enzymes to help accelerate anything that's planning to work its way up and make a grand entrance (insert acne breakout in the middle of my forehead).  This allows me to treat it and get it out of the way before my travel comes up.  I also pack products and tools that will help me quickly address anything that may pop-up while I'm on the road. 

How often should a person visit a dermatologist in a year?

Dermatologists are trained to treat skin diseases and often have about 15 minutes with you before writing you a  prescription and then off you go, so I would say as needed for infectious skin conditions, or suspicious lesions that seem to never heal, or continuously reoccur.  If you don't suffer from anything mentioned then there's no real reason to see a dermatologist as Estheticians are trained to treat skin non-infectious, non-contagious, & non-cancerous skin conditions.  

We treat skin without the need for oral or topical medications.  From healing high grade acne, erasing the darkest discoloration, and providing botox free youth restorative results we have the hands-on experience & dedication to making sure we help clients achieve their desired results.

How can people follow you via social or any other way? Do you have any projects you'd like to share for 2022?

‘I'm anticipating a late winter to early spring release of my "PYBG: Pack Your Bags & Go’

which is an incredible blend of peptides & hyaluronic acid that absorb really well into the eye area to smooth out puffiness.  I'll also be dropping my Shower Steam Elixir, a mist that transforms the shower into a spa oasis.  I'm all about enhancing our daily rituals no matter how routine they are.  These moments are transformative and they guide our steps throughout the day so I really encourage people to slow down and appreciate every opportunity to indulge in themselves.

I can be found @bdr_beautydoneright