Sometimes navigating the world of skincare can be overwhelming. There's an endless barrage of expensive products, conflicting advice, and a lack of results.

But here’s the good news: you don’t have to figure it out alone. The right skincare pro can change your skin and your confidence. The trick is knowing who to turn to.

But even that process can be confusing: What the heck is an aesthetician vs. an esthetician? How do you know what type of specialist to turn to?

You’ve probably seen the terms "esthetician" and "aesthetician" used almost interchangeably and it’s no wonder, since they differ by only a single letter. But as similar as they sound, the two specialties differ in a few key ways.

So when it comes to an aesthetician vs. esthetician, which expert do you need?

​We’ve all heard the saying: When it comes to how old you are, age is really just a number. There are a lot more factors to your health (and more interesting aspects of who you are) than how long you’ve been alive. Nevertheless, it’s hard not to notice subtle changes in the mirror as we age, and to long for the youthful skin of your past.

While aging is a natural process, there are plenty of ways to keep your skin looking youthful, firm, and radiant without chasing unrealistic perfection.

At Simply Skin, we combine custom homecare with advanced, non-invasive treatments like Jet Plasma, the Dermasound Elite Ultrasonic Facial, and more to help skin age beautifully and naturally.

​In this post, Lori shares her top tips for getting younger-looking skin, inside and out.

After this uncharacteristically rainy season in San Diego, it’s hard to believe that summer is right around the corner. But as those first few 75-degree days start to pop up on the forecast, we’re all probably ready to emerge from our winter cocoons and start basking in the sunshine again.

However, while the sun is a source of life and vitality (and zoo days, and backyard barbecues), its rays can also be extremely harmful to our skin — causing a variety of skin problems, including premature aging, sunburn, and even skin cancer.

So, before you pull those beach towels out of storage, this is a great time to refresh your memory on the best ways to protect skin from the sun.

​Gone are the days of thinking that facials are just for women. As the importance of good skincare has become more understood in recent decades, men are taking better care of their faces even beyond the bathroom mirror. While we try to maintain healthy skin with an at-home routine, there are some things — like taxes and automotive repairs — that are just best left to the professionals.

Enter the men’s facial, a spa treatment that feels luxe but can also be found at accessible prices. Even Men’s Health Magazine now recommends facials as part of a regular grooming routine. If your complexion is in need of some maintenance and you want to transform your skin from rough to smooth, a men’s facial might be just what you need.

​Here in San Diego, men’s facials are particularly common — but they’re growing in popularity everywhere. That’s because facials for men focus on issues common to male skin. Research has shown that men and women’s skin can actually be very different — from hormone metabolism to hair growth, sweat rate, oil production, and more. So for men, facial care might work to address common issues like razor burn, ingrown hairs, flaky skin, or sensitivity.

Not to mention, the term “thick-skinned” is not just a metaphor: Men’s skin can be up to 20-25% thicker than women’s, which can make men facial treatments even more important to ensure that products are able to penetrate the skin effectively.

More great reasons that men should get facials:

​Typically, men have higher testosterone levels than women, which helps explain why they produce more oil. Combined with the fact that men also tend to have rougher skin and larger pores, this creates a high exposure to dirt and grime… and when not cleaned properly, that can lead to pimples and blackheads.

During a men’s facial, most estheticians will perform extractions — which is the very precise removal of oil and dirt that’s clogging pores. Facials for men can also help avoid further skin problems like skin tags, age spots, breakouts, and more.

​Whether it’s every day or every two weeks, the continuous dragging and scraping of a razor across your sensitive skin can cause irritation — from razor burn to inflammation to ingrown hairs.

Fortunately, a good men’s facial treatment will help deep clean bumps and soothe irritated skin. The combination of exfoliation, essential oils, masks, and moisturizers that an esthetician applies during your session will address shaving’s side effects. And the smoother your skin, the smoother your shave.

​A professional esthetician makes it their business to learn about your skin and how to address the problems that concern you the most. They can look at your skin and see things you won’t from looking in the mirror. It’s like having a mechanic peek under the hood of your car.

If you’re new to men’s facial treatments or skincare in general, they can teach you about your unique skin type and how to take care of it. They’re also able to give you advice on the best facial care products for men to incorporate into your skincare routine at home.

​And of course, while men’s facial care has plenty of benefits to skin health, it can also just be a luxurious way to spend an hour. Like a good barbershop visit, getting a men’s facial means laying back in a relaxing environment while an expert gets to work helping you look your best. And while a spa facial for men might sound a little intimidating, you can get the same services from your local esthetician’s office for a fraction of the price.

​One note of caution on facials for men (or anyone, really): Don’t do your first facial before any kind of a big occasion (your wedding, a media appearance, your TED talk). As with virtually any treatment, there are potential side effects — and this is especially a factor for those with sensitive skin. If you’re prone to having reactions to certain skin care ingredients, be sure to talk to your esthetician beforehand about the treatments they’ll be using.

Don’t feel the need to shave before your appointment — whether you have a full beard or slight stubble. In fact, some facial care products for men can actually benefit your facial hair, making it look healthier and feel softer. That said, if you do prefer a clean shave, make sure to do so at least 24 hours beforehand — since shaving can leave skin feeling tender, sore, and especially sensitive to products.

​Here at Simply Skin, I provide facials for men, women, and children of all ages. Whatever your skincare goals, I can recommend a facial treatment that will help you look and feel your best. If you’re ready to improve your complexion and enjoy your newfound confidence, schedule your free consultation to see if a men’s facial is right for you.

​Rosacea (pronounced roh-ZAY-sha) is a facial skin condition that causes flushing and redness affecting over 16 million Americans and as many as 95% of people don’t even know they have it. This makes it one of the most common but poorly understood disorders.

So, what is rosacea, how do you treat it, and what are the best facials for rosacea sufferers? Today on the Simply Skin blog, we’re going to explore everything you need to know about rosacea skincare.

​For many people, rosacea causes more than just facial flushing and redness. Symptoms of the skin condition may also include acne-like bumps, eye irritation, and thickened skin. In fact, there are four different types of rosacea to explain the various signs and symptoms:

​Because of its appearance, some types of rosacea are associated with (and often confused for) acne. This is why it’s important to speak with a dermatologist to confirm your diagnosis, because rosacea acne treatment can look much different than traditional acne treatment.

​So, how do you treat rosacea and get rid of your facial redness? Because rosacea is a medical condition, some rosacea treatments — like topical creams, lotions, gels, or oral medications — can be prescribed by a dermatologist. They can tell you about what type of rosacea you have, and make recommendations for how to treat rosacea based on your symptoms and triggers.

​However, if you’ve already been to a dermatologist or you’re looking for a different type of rosacea skincare, you may be surprised to learn that facials for rosacea can also help to get rid of facial redness. A licensed esthetician can provide a facial rosacea treatment to help reduce and prevent flare-ups.

It’s important to note that when it comes to facials for rosacea, you need to be extremely careful. Rosacea-prone skin is much more sensitive and dries out more easily… which means that many facials, chemical peels, and treatments like microdermabrasion will just dry and irritate your sensitive skin further. So, it’s critical to work with an esthetician experienced with rosacea who has proven success treating your unique skin type.
  
Face treatments for redness caused by rosacea should be soothing services using gentle products aimed at calming irritation. These facials for rosacea are designed to protect, correct, and boost the skin by strengthening delicate capillaries and evening skin tone.

When talking about how to treat rosacea, it’s important to acknowledge that there’s also plenty of good rosacea skincare practices you can adopt at home.

First, commit to a daily skincare routine that includes cleansing and moisturizing. Often, rosacea sufferers don’t do this enough because they’re wary of irritating the skin further. You can avoid this by only using rosacea-friendly ingredients. When shopping for products, check labels and avoid irritants like alcohol or camphor — and test them on a small patch of skin before applying.

Also, be gentle with your skin! It can sometimes be tempting to buff out facial imperfections, but anything that irritates your skin is guaranteed to make rosacea worse. Avoid rubbing or scrubbing your face — that means no washcloths, facial sponges, or exfoliating.

Most importantly, get to the bottom of what’s irritating your skin in the first place. While there’s no cure for rosacea, treatments will be most effective if you know your triggers for flares and do your best to avoid them. Spicy food, alcohol, sun exposure, extreme heat or cold, and even stress have been known to trigger rosacea flare-ups. Keep a journal or make mental note of when symptoms arise to see if you can identify trends or patterns.

​As with any skin condition, the challenge (and solution) often starts from the inside out. That’s why as a holistic esthetician, I consult with my rosacea clients on everything impacting their skin health — from diet to lifestyle to sleep schedule. Whether you’re curious about facials for rosacea or just looking to take better care of your skin in general, I can help. Schedule your free consultation today to learn more.