from Cosmetic Chemist & Celebrity Esthetician Elina Fedotova
To achieve healthy skin, Elina provides the following insight. “Achieving the most effective transformation hinges on tailoring skincare practices to meet the specific needs of one’s complexion. Regardless of individual requirements, I always advocate for the liberal use of antioxidants in skincare routines,” she advises. “These potent compounds offer a wide array of benefits, ranging from combating signs of aging to alleviating issues such as acne, hyperpigmentation, and rosacea. Operating at a cellular level, antioxidants play a pivotal role in rejuvenating the skin, fostering a holistic approach to anti-aging, healing, and revitalization.”
For an optimal antioxidant boost, turn to the vibrant spectrum of colorful fruits and vegetables, each brimming with potent sources of these invaluable compounds. “From the robust aronia berries to the succulent mango, and the enriching properties of rose hips, these natural wonders offer a diverse array of antioxidants that effectively nourish and fortify the skin,” she advises. “Additionally, the incorporation of naturally extracted vitamins further amplifies the skin’s natural resilience, ensuring a comprehensive and enduring restoration of the skin’s natural vitality.”
Below are Elina’s 8 Healthy Skincare Tips:
1. Routine Matters: Make sure you cleanse your skin and never sleep with makeup on. When you cleanse your skin, ensure the cleansing product you use is natural and not overly stripping your skin with conventional surfactants like sulfates. It is essential to cleanse your skin in the morning, but the most critical time is at night. The second important tip is to see results. You have to use a treatment product. Very often, people think if we cleanse and moisturize, that is enough. Still, most of us have a combination complexion, which usually consists of some dry and sensitive areas, like around the eyes or neck. Some areas could be oily and prone to breakouts, like your t-zone, so make sure you are addressing each area of your face with the correct treatment product that it needs. Then after that, use a hydrating cream with sunblock. The best result is sunblock based on zinc oxide. Main take: treatment serums are what produce results.
2. Exfoliate: It is important to do weekly thorough exfoliation but not to overdo it and harm the skin’s protective barrier and microbiome. I prefer natural polishing scrubs with organic fruit extracts, berries, fermented butters, and honey. Those ingredients can help to gently remove the excessive shell of dead skin cells from the surface of your skin. At the same time, they will also support your skin’s protective barrier, hydrate, and reduce inflammation. I recommend exfoliating three times a week for oily, congested complexions, and for dry and sensitive skin, I recommend at least once a week. When you exfoliate at night, they have more time to nourish the skin, but it is also nice to exfoliate in the morning because your skin regenerates as you sleep so you may notice dead skin cells more in the morning.
3. At-Home DIY Skincare Masks: I love making a cleansing mask with fermented foods like Kiefer and yogurt for morning cleansing. They not only gently exfoliate your skin with natural acids and balance your skin’s pH but will also help to brighten, heal your skin and improve your skin’s microbiome. You can use Kiefer or yogurt to decongest your pores. Mix one teaspoon of baking soda, half a teaspoon of honey, and one teaspoon of organic Kiefer or yogurt (dairy or non-dairy) and apply to congested areas for 5-8 minutes. Once removed, you will notice that your pores are clean because the baking soda absorbs impurities from your skin. The honey will soothe, hydrate, and calm your skin, and the Kiefer/yogurt will gently exfoliate, brighten, and improve your skin texture.
4. Professional Treatments: I truly believe that if we change the oil in our cars and mow our lawns regularly, we deserve the same approach to our only face! I recommend facial treatments once a month. During a perfect professional facial, your skin will be deeply detoxified, vacuumed, and exfoliated. All your skin imperfections and breakouts will be addressed with specialty formulations. Sophisticated equipment will be used, including rejuvenating photo devices and muscle tone-stimulating microcurrent treatments. Freshly made masks can be penetrated into your skin with ultrasonic devices to nourish the deeper layers of your skin. At the end of a really good professional facial, you will feel nourished, relaxed, and like you lost 5 lbs. of environmental pollution and toxins which could present in your pores.
5. Nutrition Choices Reflect on Skin Health: Remember that sugary, starchy, processed foods and heavy daily intake are very unhealthy and can lead to skin inflammation, congested pores, and premature wrinkles. Colorful fruits and vegetables are rich in antioxidants, and healthy fats like butter or plant oils help improve skin immunity and protect against environmental UV damage. Liquid collagen is popular as a skin-rejuvenating food or supplement but when you do that, make sure you are making the smoothie with collagen peptides. The collagen is broken into small pieces called peptides which absorb much better and signal your body to regenerate collagen.
6. Effective Ingredients: Each person can be unique, and different areas on one face can have individual requirements. I think every complexion needs to be hydrated, and tremella mushroom extract will hydrate any complexion and even perform hyaluronic acid. My other top ingredients are extracts of fresh water and marine sponges because they all have a powerful combination of antioxidants and are anti-inflammatory. My favorite is the extract of Lubomirskia from Lake Baikal. Another ingredient I love is the extract of rose hips because they contain a beautiful blend of vitamins and one of the highest concentrations of Vitamin C. They polish and nourish the skin and have a high concentration of beta keratin, a precursor of Vitamin A.
7. Not all Ingredients are Beneficial for Skin: The top ingredients I believe people should avoid are silicone-based ingredients and ingredients that end with “cones.” Despite making your skin feel smooth, you may not realize that it is not your skin but the layer of silicone. I wouldn’t say I like this idea because it produces a greenhouse effect on your skin and does not allow your skin to breathe. I do not think people should use silicone in makeup or skincare.
8. Use the Most Effective Skincare Products with Sponge and Spicules Extracts: Increasingly, individuals seek anti-aging solutions that are minimally invasive and entail minimal risk. While the efficacy of micro needling is widely acknowledged, a safer and more natural alternative has emerged, offering comparable benefits without the associated risks. This groundbreaking facial treatment harnesses the potent healing properties of oceanic and freshwater spicules, meticulously derived from the renowned Lubomirskia sponge. Extensive research has underscored the remarkable antioxidant, healing, and rejuvenating capabilities of this unique ingredient, positioning it as a cornerstone of this innovative facial therapy.
The incorporation of spicules serves as a targeted delivery system, effectively penetrating skin imperfections and triggering a pronounced surge in collagen and elastin regeneration. I firmly believe that the key to achieving transformative results lies in nourishing live skin cells and facilitating the optimal delivery of nutrients directly into these vital cellular structures. While formulators often employ various techniques, including liposome encapsulations, I have found that spicules not only nourish the skin but also create a gentle micro needling effect, sans the associated risks.
Beyond their role in delivering skin-restoring actives to the live skin cells, the extracts derived from these sponges play a pivotal role in bolstering the skin’s microbiome and enhancing its overall resilience. By striking this delicate balance between nourishment and stimulation, this facial treatment epitomizes a holistic approach to anti-aging, promoting not just a youthful appearance but also ensuring the enduring vitality and robust health of the skin.
