Have you ever wanted to start a skincare regimen, but you just did not know where to begin? 

I am in this position. I have been in this position many times. 

In this blog post, I am going to bust some skincare myths and talk skincare facts with the help of Britt Johnston from Palm Beach Facials in Palm Beach, Florida. 

Skincare Myths and Facts

Best Skincare for Oily Skin

1. Use a balancing cleanser. 

Britt told me people with oily skin like cleansers that strip the skin and leave them with a squeaky clean feeling, but what that does is really dry out the skin which causes your skin to produce even more oil. 

Your skin will go into overdrive because it feels like it’s dehydrated, so your skin will start to produce even more oil. 

Britt recommends finding a cleanser that has the word “balancing” on it. 

2. Use a moisturizer.

Use a moisturizer every day – morning and night, no matter what your skin type is. 

Again, if not, your skin will start to produce oil on its own and this helps control that.

Hydrojelly Deluxe Facial

This facial is definitely unique. 

You can see Britt giving me this facial in this video here.

It’s a 90-minute long facial and it includes everything you could ever ask for and includes a deep cleanse, extractions, lymphatic massage, enzyme treatment for deep exfoliation, high frequency, cold rolling, and a hydrojelly face mask. 

Hydrojelly masks have grown in popularity amongst celebrities due to their ability to hydrate and leave you with a red-carpet glow! 

It covers the eyes and it covers the mouth while sitting on the skin for about 15 minutes while it hardens up. 

It peels off in one satisfying piece. (That’s everyone’s favorite part!)

Britt loves this facial because it’s super hydrating, full of antioxidants, and leaves the skin plump, juicy, and glowy. 

For more about the hydrojelly mask, click here.

Best Skincare Masks and Peels

Peel-off facial masks work by gently removing the outermost layer of your skin to relieve dullness and dead skin. 

This produces a smoother skin texture, and can also help balance out pigmentation. 

Plus, peel-off masks can assist in fading fine lines and cleaning out pores.

One thing Britt likes to mention to people is to follow their directions on their products. 

She knows so many people like to put their masks on and leave them on for hours or use them daily.

She said you can definitely overdo it when it comes to masking at home, so it’s important to follow the directions that are on the packages because you can either strip the skin or cause irritation. 

Britt recently made news for a 24-karat gold facial she offers. You can read about it in the Palm Beach Post here.

Best Skincare Regimen

Start with the basics, which would be a cleanse, and Britt prefers a double cleanse.

1. Start with an oil-based cleanser 

This helps to break down any oil, dirt, debris, sunscreen, makeup, etc. – anything that’s left on the skin.

The oil helps melt it away. 

2. Follow up with a foaming face wash

The foaming face wash helps remove the oil from the first cleanser. 

To ensure your skin is clean and you’re getting those pores nice and cleaned out, I would recommend doing a double cleanse process. 

3. End with a moisturizer and sunscreen

Ending with a moisturizer and sunscreen is a must. 

You can get a moisturizer that has sunscreen in it and Britt recommends an SPF of 30 or higher.

At night time, you can use a basic moisturizer without sunscreen. 

4. Amp it up with extra skincare products

Britt suggests adding an eye cream. 

You can include toners and serums that target whatever skin issues you are concerned with. There are masks you could use weekly. 

Of course, there are professional treatments with an esthetician, like Britt at Palm Beach Facials.

You can always advance your skincare routine, but as long as you’re getting your skin clean every day you’re hydrating it and you’re protecting it from the sun, those are the basic things that everybody should be doing – no matter what their skin type, no matter their age.

Britt also suggests using retinol every night because it’s great for so many things, especially for someone like me who has oily skin. 

If you’re worried about hyperpigmentation, fine lines, wrinkles, congested pores, etc., retinol is the gold standard, especially when it comes to anti-aging.

You can get it in prescription strength, but there are plenty over the counter that are just as effective. 

How do you Layer Skincare?

Britt says, generally, go from thin to thick.

After your double cleanse, go in with your toner (which is basically a liquid), and then a serum.

Then, work it up to your moisturizer. 

Finish with retinol.

All the instructions on retinol will tell you to cleanse your skin and then apply retinol and then go in with your moisturizer, but Britt tells all her clients to moisturize first, and then use retinol. 

This helps cut back the dryness and irritation that you might experience from using retinol because it is a very drying product.

Skincare Ingredients to Avoid

Britt says this is a personal preference and it’s really up to the individual, so she suggests everyone do their own research. 

People get caught up on parabens, fragrances, etc. but such a small amount of people have irritation caused by these ingredients. 

In addition, parabens are preservatives. We need them in skincare to keep items fresh and from growing bacteria in them. 

Labeling of “clean” skincare or “natural” skincare is a huge trend.

Britt told me those terms are not regulated by anyone, so anybody can make a product and call it “clean” or “natural” or “pharmaceutical grade”. 

Who’s to say what really is clean or natural? Poison Ivy is natural, but would you rub that on your face? No.

Take the packaging and all of the labeling with a grain of salt, because nobody is regulating these labels and they are just marketing terms. 

Best Drugstore Skincare 

Britt is a huge fan of the Differin line. different line. 

They started out with one product, which was Differin gel, and was available by prescription only. (I remember being on this in high school.)

It’s very inexpensive, great as an anti-aging product, and has expanded its line to offering cleansers, masks, toners, moisturizers, and SPF. 

It’s got a track record, unlike the other drugstore skincare products. 

Palm Beach Facials

For more on Britt at Palm Beach Facials, visit her website here and see what she’s posting on Instagram here.

You can sit in on my facial and eavesdrop on our conversation about skincare here.