Here are helpful skin tips to reduce breakouts after pregnancy.

Schedule a professional facial or chemical peel. Put your skin in the hands of a professional – don’t try to go it alone. You’re a busy mom, focusing on adjusting your new baby into the world, so trying to take time out to figure out for yourself how to handle your skin is not where your time is best spent. A licensed esthetician can perform soothing problem skin treatments to the skin, as well as recommend tips and tricks and a home care regimen that you can easily follow. (Read: What Are the Benefits of Getting a Facial?) Visit the Renée Rouleau Skin Care Spas in Dallas and Plano, Texas.

Avoid picking at the skin. While this tip may seem obvious, it is imperative that we understand that although breakouts cannot always be avoided, you CAN control what happens once you get the breakout. The truth of the matter is, a blemish usually lasts 5-7 days, but the red or dark scar from picking at the blemish, can linger for weeks—or even months. Read: Are You Guilty of Picking at Your Skin?…

Use skin care products containing Salicylic Acid. This ingredient is a keratolytic beta hydroxy acid (BHA) and suggested to avoid while pregnant, but once the baby is born it can be used safely. It is commonly known for its ability to smooth the skin without causing irritation while it reduces acne-causing bacteria and oil. Salicylic acid helps to prevent blemishes and penetrates the pores to help clear out impurities. These properties not only help prevent acne, but salicylic acid is an excellent ingredient that also prevents blackheads after a deep pore cleansing facial. Because of its skin regulating properties,you will usually find salicylic acid in cleansers and moisturizers formulated for breakout prone skin as well as in acne spot treatments. It’s a fabulous ingredient with proven results. See Renée Rouleau products that use Salicylic Acid: AHA/BHA Cleansing Gel, Triple Berry Smoothing Peel, Daytime Blemish Gel and Tea Tree Anti-Blemish Lotion.

Avoid using harsh products that leave the skin feeling dry and irritated. Especially if you are nursing, you may experience dehydration and many cleansers and toners, formulated for problem skin, are designed to dry out breakouts and so they contain strong detergents and alcohols. Drying out infected breakouts where active blemishes are present may be helpful for destroying acne-causing bacteria, but the harsh ingredients will dehydrate non-broken out areas resulting in dry skin cell buildup. This layer of dehydrated skin cells will trap oil and acne-causing bacteria under the skin, which will ultimately cause an increase in breakouts–the last thing your skin needs! Be sure to purchase cleansers that are labeled ‘sulfate-free’ and avoid the ingredients Sodium Laureth (or Lauryl), Sulfate, and Ammonium Laureth Sulfate. These ingredients can be extremely dehydrating to the skin. See our collection of gentle, sulfate-free cleansing gels and cleansing lotions and alcohol-free toners.

Read: Five Tips to Reduce Oil Production

Identify your blemishes and treat them accordingly.Not all blemishes are equal so before you apply a spot treatment, you need to identify what kind of blemish it is.

Acne cysts- These are those hard, sore bumps under the skin (most often occurring in the chin and jaw area) that linger for weeks. Your best bet is to leave it alone. Since the infection is not on the surface, traditional spot treatment drying lotions will only dry out your skin, which will cause peeling. Instead of making matters worse, apply ice or use Renée Rouleau Anti Cyst Treatment.

Whiteheads/closed comedones- Little clogged bumps under the skin that aren’t red or sore, just little white-ish bumps under the skin also known as “clogged pores.” Since these have no infection (meaning they aren’t sore), using harsh acne products will only make whiteheads worse by causing dry skin cell build up, which will trap oil in the skin longer. Exfoliate! Steer clear of the dead skin cell buildup to help the clogged pores purge naturally. A good deep pore cleansing facial is also beneficial for removing the impurities within the pores.

Papules- The next stage past a closed comedone (whitehead) where bacteria has caused inflammation and infection resulting in a painful, red blemish. The main difference between a papule and a pustule is that pustule is the next stage where dead bacteria and dead skin cells rise to the surface causing yellow pus. The main symptom of a papule is inflammation and irritation so the goal is not to dry it out with acne products but rather to calm down the inflammation by using topical cortisone cream (found at the drug store) and ice compresses followed by a soothing mask like Renée Rouleau Azulene Gel Mask. These both will reduce the painful inflammation.

Pustules- These are inflamed blemishes that contain pus. Pustules are your traditional “zits” that are most likely to cause post-breakout red or dark scars IF you don’t properly know how to care for them. You MUST NOT touch these until you can see a whitehead. Then you can carefully extract the infected pus and immediately spot treat with our Night Time Spot Lotion. Our Daytime Blemish Gel works very well, too.

Read: Are Your Acne Products Causing More Acne?

Which skin care products are right for you? See our nine skin types and get products recommended.

For expert skin advice, check out Skin Source–the A-Z guide on all things skin. Also sign up here for our skin tip e-newsletter, follow Renée Rouleau on Twitter and like our Facebook page. You’ll be your own skin care expert in no time!

Due to increased blood pressure, as well as carrying extra weight from the baby, it is common to get increased redness and visible dilated capillaries on the skin.

Here are three helpful tips to calm down pregnancy-induced redness.

Schedule a professional facial. Put your skin in the hands of a professional – don’t try to go it alone. You’re a busy mom, focusing on adjusting your new baby into the world, so trying to take time out to figure out for yourself how to handle your skin is not where your time is best spent. A licensed esthetician can perform soothing anti-redness treatments to the skin, as well as recommend tips and tricks and a home care regimen that you can easily follow. (Read: What Are the Benefits of Getting a Facial?) Visit the Renée Rouleau Skin Care Spas in Dallas and Plano, Texas…

Use skin care products formulated to decrease redness. Ingredients such as white tea, azulene, and chamomile are all very effective for constricting capillaries to reduce pregnancy-induced redness. I recommend using White Tea Soothing Complex underneath moisturizer to give calming relief. (Read: What is a Serum and Do I Really Need One?)

Keep your toner in the refrigerator. Using an alcohol-free toner after cleansing is essential for hydrating and balancing the skin, but by leaving it in the refrigerator, when applying to the skin, the cold can help reduce redness. Elderberry Toner is very nice for soothing post-pregnancy redness. (Read: Five Reasons to Use an Alcohol-Free Toner)

Read: How Do I Get Rid of Broken Capillaries?

Read: How Can I Prevent Stretch Marks While Pregnant?

Which skin care products are right for you? See our nine skin types and get products recommended.

For expert skin advice, check out Skin Source–the A-Z guide on all things skin. Also sign up here for our skin tip e-newsletter, follow Renée Rouleau on Twitter and like our Facebook page. You’ll be your own skin care expert in no time!

Here are several points of differentiation compared to many of the skin care lines to help you decide if the Renée Rouleau products would be a good choice for you and your skin.

The Renée Rouleau line is based on nine skin types.

Hands down, this is the one area where my line is especially unique. In this day and age where everything is about ultra customization, it amazes me how many companies can still say their line is “suitable for all skin types” when all skins have different needs. How is it possible that the needs of a 60 year old woman with dry, flaky, rosacea-prone skin could possibly use the same products as a 25 year old who has oily, acne-prone skin? If you’re truly looking for results, it’s imperative that you use products exclusively formulated for the unique needs of your skin, and it all begins with my nine skin types…

When you read each of the nine skin types, you’ll notice that each type has 6-8 characteristics listed that describe that skin type.

For example, skin type #2 is for Oily/Combination/Occasional Breakouts/Anti-Aging.

The characteristics include:

-enlarged pores and produces oil mostly in t-zone

-skin feels tight or irritated when harsh products are used

-needs hydration, but without heavy oils or pore clogging ingredients

-may get occasional breakouts and cysts (weekly or monthly)

-may get clogged pores and blackheads

-post-blemish red or dark (discoloration) marks that linger

-wants to keep skin healthy and smooth

-concerned about aging

For many skin care lines, they might simply call this type of skin “combination.” But as you can see, this type of skin has many different needs and so each and every product in this routine has its own unique purpose and uses ingredients exclusively for treating that condition. When you use the recommended products, you get the synergistic effects, and therefore the best results for your skin to achieve healthy, glowing, beautiful skin. Makes sense, right? I sure think so.

The Renée Rouleau line has 65 skin care products…and growing.

Of course, having nine skin types must require each of the types to have a routine catered to the needs of that skin, and having an extensive line of products allows for this. But even my line of 65 skin care products is still not always enough, which is why I continue to come out with new formulas, as well as updating older formulas to take advantage of the latest technology. Our newest products include Post-Breakout Fading Gel, and our Mint Buffing Beads, Firming Eye Therapy, and Soothing Eye Makeup Remover were all recently launched and/or updated to new and improved formulas.

Read: What is a Serum and Do I Really Need One?

As your skin changes, the Renée Rouleau line can change with you.

Another benefit of having such an extensive array of products to choose from is that as your skin changes (which it always does) there’s room to grow within the line. It’s not uncommon that someone used to be a skin type #2 and now their skin is a type #6. The skin is always changing from season to season, moving to a different city, and with hormones that come from age, so our line is very flexible that way. And truthfully, even if you’re bored and want to try something new, you can! Our clients stay with us for years and years because we’re always able to give their skin what it needs at any time in their life.

Read: Is It Helpful to Change Up My Products Occasionally?

Read: My Six-Step Plan for Evaluating Your Current Skin Care Products

Every product is unique in its ingredients and benefits for the skin.

Many skin care lines have a theme or a story. For example, there is a company whose entire line is based on seaweed (algae) and the healing effects that it can bring to the skin. While I think seaweed can definitely be beneficial for certain types of skin conditions, what happens if you’re allergic to seaweed? (As many people can be.) Or what if your skin has other needs than what seaweed can do? While I realize that other ingredients can be added along with the seaweed to allow the product to achieve other effects, I’m just personally not a believer that having a theme among all products can give the best results. In the Renée Rouleau line, every product is its own unique formula. Sure, you’ll see some of the same ingredients carried over into a few products – but not all. So even if your skin doesn’t agree with a certain product (perhaps because of an ingredient that your skin doesn’t agree with), we have so many other products to choose from that your skin will agree with.

Read: How to Avoid a Negative Reaction to New Skin Care Products

So those are the main points where I feel Renée Rouleau is different from other lines. Choose your skin type now!

Here is more information about Renée Rouleau.

-We combine the best of nature and the best of science to give you healthy, glowing skin without being harsh and irritating.

-We avoid harsh and irritating ingredients like sulfates, synthetic dyes and fragrances so your skin’s health and balance won’t be disrupted. See the list of ingredients we use and avoid.

-We know skin. We’re not just sales people, but licensed estheticians who work with the skin every day in our Dallas skin care spas and truly understand its function.

-We never, ever test our products on animals – and never will.

-We’re honest, smart, funny, hardworking people.

-We believe you are, too.

And lastly, we pride ourselves on giving amazing customer service! Many skin care companies return emails within 48 hours or longer on business days and we think that’s way too long. Our estheticians are standing by to answer your skin care questions and offer our expert advice–promptly. See our customer service page.

BONUS: Free shipping on all orders over $100 and if you live outside of Texas, you’ll never pay sales tax, so that’s anywhere from a 5-9% savings every time you order!

Read: Is the Clarisonic Brush Harmful or Helpful to the Skin?

Read: How Can I Lessen the Amount of Chemicals I Use On My Sensitive Skin?

Sign up here for our skin tip e-newsletter, follow Renée Rouleau on Twitter and like our Facebook page. You’ll be your own skin care expert in no time!

Shower Often
The people that are most likely to get back breakouts are the ones that produce excessive oil. Generally, those who have oily skin on their face will also have excessive oil production on the back as well. Since oil is a breeding ground for bacteria, one of the ways to reduce back breakouts is to shower often – and that means twice a day. Keeping the skin clean can make a huge difference.

Use an Antibacterial Cleanser
Every time you shower, I suggest using a powerful antibacterial cleanser to deep clean the skin, remove oils, and reduce acne-causing bacteria. It is hard to find a body cleanser on the market that will do the trick, so using a face cleanser for acne-prone skin is recommended. Look for a cleanser that is sulfate-free (that does not contain Sodium Laureth Sulfate) and uses acne-fighting salicylic acid. AHA/BHA Cleansing Gel works very well to help fight breakouts without over-drying the skin.

Be Sure to Exfoliate
Since back breakouts can be made worse when the skin has an abundance of dead skin cells on the surface, it is crucial to gently remove the cellular buildup by exfoliating the back every time you shower. It can be hard to reach all the way on your back to do it yourself, so a simple solution to that is applying your antibacterial cleanser directly to an Exfoliating Body Cloth. It’s similar to a loofah, but much thinner. Regular loofahs, due to the thick texture and their weaving pattern, do not dry very well, making them a breeding ground for bacteria. The last thing you want to do is add bacteria to your back when you are trying to get rid of it. The Exfoliating Body Cloth is very thin, and can dry easily, thus avoiding bacteria growth. But, due to its stretchy material and square shape, once you apply the cleanser to it, if you hold opposite corners, with your right hand holding one corner over your top right shoulder, allowing the cloth to come diagonal down the back, with the left hand holding the opposite corner down on your left side by your waist, you can easily move it in a back and forth motion. When doing this, be sure to bend forward and curve your back. This will allow the cloth to work well on the top of the back which is usually where most back acne occurs.  By using the Exfoliating Body Cloth along with the acne-fighting ingredients, it allows the cleanser to work much better and deeper within the skin…

Apply a Acne Spot Treatment When Necessary
When you have larger and inflamed blemishes such as cysts, the type of blemishes that are sore, painful, and under the skin, rarely coming to the surface, Anti Cyst Treatment works to penetrate deep within the skin to dissolve and digest the infection. In my experience, I have found that men are more likely than women to get cystic acne on their back. So applying this treatment as needed after showering can give excellent results.

For regular blemishes where the infection does come to the surface in the form of a whitehead, applying a drying spot treatment such as Night Time Spot Lotion can help heal those quickly. A lot of acne spot treatments on the market contain Benzoyl Peroxide. While this can be beneficial, you run the risk of bleaching out your clothing that comes in contact with it.

See the entire collection of problem skin spot treatments.

Perform Weekly Mask Treatments
If your back acne is really severe, once a day, after you shower, cleanse your back, and exfoliate with the Exfoliating Body Cloth and when you’re finished bathing, apply a thin coat of a mask formulated for problem skin. Leave on and let dry for 15 minutes, shower, and finish with an antibacterial lotion like Tea Tree Anti-Blemish Lotion. By applying a mask on freshly cleansed and exfoliated skin, it will allow the active ingredients from the mask to get into the skin and work their blemish-fighting magic. Look for a mask with ingredients like sulfur, camphor, salicylic acid, tea trees, and clay like Detoxifying Mask. To avoid drying out the skin, especially in winter, you can apply moisturizer as necessary, but make sure it is one that is formulated to fight breakouts, having similar ingredients as the mask.

Read: How to Squeeze a Blemish

Avoid Panthenol in Hair Conditioner
An ingredient that I have personally found that gave me problems with back acne during my teenager years is Panthenol. Because of the high percentages of this ingredient in many hair products, it can increase the likelihood of breakouts and acne along your hairline and on your back. It is important to remember that when used in skin care products, due to the low percentages present, Panthenol will not cause increased breakouts so no worries there.

Schedule a Back Facial
While all of the suggestions listed above are great things you can do for yourself at home, to get even better results schedule an appointment to get a back treatment with a skin care professional such as an esthetician. What is a back facial? A back facial is a treatment designed to clean out clogged pores, as well as give a powerful professional strength exfoliation to enhance the results of your home care. Plus, your esthetician may offer his or her expert advice based on what they observe with your condition. Visit the Renée Rouleau skin care spas in Dallas and Plano, Texas.

Read: A 3-Step Plan for Reducing Blackheads

Use Medication – If Necessary
If you have been diligent about caring for the acne on your back in the ways that have been described above, including getting back facials, and you’re seeing no improvement, you may want to consult with a dermatologist about the possibility of temporarily getting on antibiotics. Some cases of back acne, particularly those with extreme cystic acne, may find that antibiotics is more powerful and may be needed to avoid long-term scarring.

Read: Is a Cortisone Shot the Only Option for Treating Acne Cysts?

Which skin care products are right for you? See our nine skin types and get products recommended.

For expert skin advice, check out Skin Source–the A-Z guide on all things skin. Also sign up here for our skin tip e-newsletter, follow Renée Rouleau on Twitter and like our Facebook page. You’ll be your own skin care expert in no time!

It’s really important to adjust your skin care routine is important, especially when you can feel or see that your products aren’t working as well as they used to.

Read: Does Your Skin Get Used To Products and Stop Working?

Now that winter is here and despite what many people think, here in North Texas we get cold, ice and snow! Granted, it’s in short bursts unlike my days of growing up in Minnesota and Boston where the cold winters linger on and on for months, but my heat is definitely cranked up in the house so my skin is feeling the drying effects of winter and letting me know it needs hydration.

About my skin: I’m a skin type #2 so I still get breakouts (a few a month) and my skin definitely still produces oil. My skin is dehydrated, not dry which it’s important to know the difference…

Read: Dry Skin Vs. Dehydrated Skin. What’s the Difference?

Here are the changes I’m making in my own skin routine this summer.

My Morning Routine:

Step 1: While I love using Luxe Mint Cleansing Gel in the winter, I find that I want something a little milder in the winter so I switched to Purifying Face Wash. Especially because lately I’ve been experimenting with a new Retinol product that we’ll be launching and along with the dry air, my skin has been feeling tight. But if I’m really tired in the morning and need a pick-me-up, I’ll always grab for the Luxe Mint Cleansing Gel.

Step 2: I use the Elderberry Toner year round as it works very well for my skin. I apply it to our popular Toning Cloths for an easy application. I love the scent.

Step 3: I always use the Vitamin C&E Complex under my sunscreen for my daily dose of skin-brightening antioxidants, but I’ve been adding a layer of Intensive Firming Serum over it on the days where I feel especially dehydrated. This also has ingredients in it that make the skin look really smooth under makeup. My aging skin loves it.

Step 4: My very favorite sunscreen, Daily Protection SPF 30 is used year round. It never feels greasy on my skin and doesn’t clog my pores at all. A good sunscreen that is lightweight is hard to come by, so if you haven’t tried this, I highly suggest it!

Step 5: I then dust on a mineral powder foundation and then do a second dusting with ColoreScience SPF 50 Mineral Powder. I will reapply this powder throughout the day (yes, even in the winter you still get damaging UV rays) not only on my face, but my neck, chest and hands too.

Read: Which is Better? SPF 30 or SPF 100? The Answer May Surprise You

My Evening Routine:

Step 1: Rosemary Mint Cleanser is my go-to evening cleanser to remove my makeup. Plus our new Soothing Eye Makeup Remover is so great to remove mascara and shadow for my sensitive eyes.

Step 2: I use the Elderberry Toner and of course, I always leave it damp on the skin before applying my next step. In the winter when the heat is on, the dry air is looking for moisture wherever it can get it so leaving your toner damp allows for an extra boost of hydration.

Step 3: I use the Skin Correcting Serum at night as my serum when I’m having breakouts but generally I use Skin Drink. Both are oil-free so they give excellent hydration without adding the oil.

Step 4: At night, I change it up quite a bit. If I’m experiencing some breakouts and not feeling very dehydrated, Sheer Moisture always works very well on my skin. If I need more hydration, I’ll go with the Hawaiian Nourishing Cream. And if my skin is feeling especially dehydrated, I’ll use a small amount of Phytolipid Comfort Cream. With the new Retinol product, there are nights when I feel like I need even more and that cream is perfect.

Step 5: I’m a huge believer in eye creams so I never, ever go without one. I actually only use it at night, but you can certainly use it during the day time. The Firming Eye Therapy is what I’m using now but I’ll change up to the Synergy Eye Cream when I’m done. I love them both.

Extras:

Year round, I adore our Triple Berry Smoothing Peel used a few times a month and Mint Buffing Beads is always used on my skin at least twice a week. When I have extra time, I’ll use Vitamin C Mask after the peel. These are my definite glowing skin staples!

Professional Treatment:
My skin really loves the Moisture Infusion Facial in the winter. We use this wonderful collagen-infused mask that is soaked in antioxidants and skin hydrators to drench the skin with comforting moisture. We use warm ultrasound to essentially iron it into the skin for maximum absorption. It feels soooooo good. See the list of our facial treatments here.

Read: Five Winter Skin Care Tips

So there you have it, my winter skin care routine!

Which skin care products are right for you? See our nine skin types and get products recommended.

Want to have a skin consultation with skin care expert, Renée Rouleau? Click here to see which cities and countries Renée will be making appearances this year!

Read: Are You Using a Skin Serum? If Not, You Should Be

While I have not personally seen any studies proving that theory, I suppose it could make sense. The goal with skin care products is always to get them to penetrate deeper within the skin and I have seen data that applying a serum or moisturizer to damp skin can enhance absorption up to 10%. This is why I always suggest leaving an alcohol-free toner damp before applying your serum or moisturizer to allow for that effect.

See the collection of Renée Rouleau toners.

A circular rubbing motion when applying creams and serums, depending on how much pressure you apply to the skin, can help increase blood flow and help with lymphatic drainage, which for certain skin types (not overly red type skins or those with Rosacea) may benefit from this minor increase to blood flow.

Read: How Do I Get Rid of Broken Capillaries? …

So to answer which technique is better – rubbing or pressing? It truly depends on your skin type. If your skin is more tired and you’re looking for a glow, rubbing may work better for you. If your skin is more sensitive and already has a lot of redness, your skin may work better with a patting technique.

Eye creams work well with a patting motion but when it comes to applying sunscreen, I recommend that you rub it into the skin as I feel that you’ll get a more even application to properly protect your skin from the harmful UV rays.

Ultimately, it’s a personal decision, and the choice is yours.

Which skin care products are right for you? See our nine skin types and get products recommended.

Read: 3 Mistakes People Make When Choosing Their Skin Type

For more expert skin advice, check out Skin Source–the A-Z guide on all things skin. Also sign up here for our skin tip e-newsletter, follow Renée Rouleau on Twitter and like our Facebook page. You’ll be your own skin care expert in no time!

Clogged pores typically are small closed bumps that may be white in color and often can be the result of previous large pustular blemishes where the infection did surface but some residual oil and bacteria stayed behind within the pore.

Exfoliating skin care products work to remove surface skin cells making way for blockages inside the skin to come to the surface, possibly resulting in a purging effect. Typically, the breakouts are minor and should subside within 2-4 weeks, making way for clearer, smoother and healthier skin…

Read: Do You Have Whiteheads, Blackheads, Pustules, Milia or Cysts?

For some, breakouts and blemishes can occur when using the Clarisonic brush, since Clarisonic gives an aggressive manual exfoliation (via the bristles of the brush) to the skin which, for some, can be too stimulating to the skin.

Read: Is the Clarisonic Brush Harmful or Helpful to the Skin?

TIP: If you’re experiencing a significant amount of blemishes, you may want to cut back the usage slightly to slowly introduce exfoliation to your skin. Also, using round particles like jojoba beads in your facial scrubs are far less likely to cause exfoliation-induced breakouts due to their gentle nature. See our popular Mint Buffing Beads, Micro Crystal Cream and AHA/BHA Cleansing Gel. Avoid facial scrubs with apricot kernels and walnut husks as they can scratch and irritate the skin causing bacteria to spread.

If your skin continues to have more than normal breakouts for more than two months, then it either may just be your skin (breakouts that coincidentally were going to occur anyway), or the exfoliating products are not agreeing with your skin.

The challenge will always be to determine which it is. It’s just so hard to know. If you suspect it’s the exfoliating products, keep in mind that not all formulas are equal so don’t rule out exfoliation completely because the benefits to the skin are huge – you just may want to try another product. When you do introduce a new product to the skin (whether it’s an exfoliating product or not), patch testing your skin is always a good idea.

Read: How to Patch Test Your Skin 

Read: Exfoliating Acids: Skin Tips for Using them Correctly

Read: How to Make Your Exfoliating Acid Serum Multitask

Which exfoliant products are right for you? See our nine skin types and get products recommended.

For expert skin advice, check out Skin Source–the A-Z guide on all things skin. Also sign up here for our skin tip e-newsletter, follow Renée Rouleau on Twitter and like our Facebook page. You’ll be your own skin care expert in no time!

Mistake #1: Only focusing on one or two of your skin’s needs, instead of looking at the big picture.

People mistake their skin type, therefore choosing the wrong skin care products because they are usually hyper-focused on just one or two things going on with their skin, choosing products just for those issues, instead of focusing on ALL of their skin’s needs.

For example, a 40-year-old woman may start to get occasional hormonal cystic breakouts and because acne cysts are so painful and can linger for a few weeks, she may now start thinking her skin type is “acne-prone” (understandably so) and purchase products for “problem skin” and and completely ignore that her skin has anti-aging needs. Harsh products for acne-prone skin will only leave her skin dry, irritated and flaky. Her best bet is to use a spot treatment for acne cysts, because cystic acne rarely responds to regular blemish products anyway, so she may not even be helping the breakout after all. Renée Rouleau Anti-Cyst Treatment works best as a spot treatment for controlling stubborn hormonal acne cysts…

Read: Are You an Adult but Still Treating Your Skin Like a Teen?

Mistake #2: Not understanding the difference between dry skin and dehydrated skin.

Dry skin means there is little to no oil being produced and the skin can appear rough and flaky. Therefore, oil-based products (albeit using non-pore clogging oils) are needed to keep the moisture barrier intact.

Dehydrated skin means there is little water in the skin (you can still be an oil producer) and the skin can feel tight. Water-based products using powerful humectants are needed to keep water content within the skin’s cells.  If you are someone who gets breakouts and uses harsh products to treat the acne, it’s normal for the skin to be left feeling tight, which people then associate as being dry. So they start using a moisturizer formulated for dry skin which may contain ingredients that further aggravate the acne problem. Oily skin tips would benefit from Reneé Rouleau Sheer Moisture or Matte Moisture.

Read: Are You Avoiding Moisturizer to Avoid Breakouts?

Mistake #3: Misunderstanding the true meaning of sensitive skin.

When people are asked if they have sensitive skin, most people will say “yes.” However, sensitive skin has different meanings to different people. There are those who get blemishes easily from using pore-clogging products and consider this to be a symptom of sensitive skin. (Use water-based, oil-free products to eliminate products contributing to breakouts.) Then there are those whose skin gets red and irritated easily from harsh products. (Avoid using harsh products so you don’t irritate your skin. Problem solved!) And then there are those whose skin gets red and flushed easily (like someone with rosacea) and to me, this is definitely considered sensitive skin.

Read: How Can I Lessen the Amount of Chemicals I Use On My Sensitive Skin?

What’s the solution for determining your skin type? Don’t go it alone, put your skin in the hands of a trusted skin care professional who can help you determine your true skin type and suggest a skin care program (both for at-home use and professional treatments), so you can get the best results for your skin’s needs. But the quickest place to start is by choosing your skin type here.

WATCH VIDEO: What’s Your Skin Type?

Powder foundation:

Who it’s best for: Normal, oily, combination, sensitive and acne prone skin, and those who don’t like to feel anything heavy on their skin. (Like skin types #1, #2, #3, and #4.)

Which skin type are you? See our nine skin types here.

Benefit to the skin: Powder foundations generally shouldn’t have a pore clogging effect since they aren’t occlusive on the skin, and since powders have oil-absorbing properties, they can lessen shine during the day…

What to look for: I suggest mineral-based powders since they give a smoother, luminous look to the skin and usually have SPF-protecting properties. They also don’t settle into fine lines and wrinkles as much as talc-based powders.

What to avoid: Talc-based powders, as these may accentuate lines and wrinkles and give a chalky, dull look to the skin.

Tip: Be sure to wash your powder brushes regularly. Once a week is ideal. Read: How to Wash Your Makeup Brushes

Read: Don’t Let Your Skin Marinate in Makeup

Liquid Foundation:

Who’s it’s best for: Normal and dry skins, and those who like a dewy look to the skin. (Like skin types #5, #6, #7, #8 and #9.)

Which skin type are you? See our nine skin types here.

Benefit to the skin: Liquid foundations can fill in lines, wrinkles and pores, making them less noticeable so the skin appears smoother and they do also provide excellent coverage. They also help to create a layer of protection to help retain moisture in the skin, especially in drying environments like the winter months and airplanes.

What to look for: There have been amazing advancements in liquid foundations, so there are many good ones available. Look for one that is lightweight and contains the ingredients dimethicone or silicone, as they do an excellent job in making the skin look exceptionally smooth. A liquid makeup should also contain sunscreen to give added anti-aging protection. (However, makeup with sunscreen should NEVER take the place of a sunscreen moisturizer like Daily Protection SPF 30.)

What to avoid: Ingredients such as mineral oil, petrolatum and isopropyl palmitate may cause clogged pores in the skin due to size of the molecular structure and the heavy, oily texture they can give – especially when used in large quantities and listed as the first few ingredients of the formula.

Tip: More so than powders, liquids must be an exact color match to avoid an obvious color difference with a demarcation line on the jaw.

Read: How to Determine Your True Skin Type

What does Renée Rouleau use for makeup on her own skin?

Every day I use Renée Rouleau SPF 20 Mineral Powder (sold exclusively in Renée Rouleau Skin Care Spas, not available on our website) and then I dust the surface every few hours throughout the day with ColoreScience SPF 50 Mineral Powder to ensure proper sun protection.

When I’m on TV or being photographed, I use an oil-free liquid foundation from MAC, as it provides more coverage and makes my skin appear smoother. I don’t wear it every day because although it’s oil-free, some of the ingredients in the formula can still feel heavy on my skin and may contribute to my clogged pores or breakouts. So far, it never has, but I don’t wear it enough to find out.

Read: How to Have Great-Looking Skin for High Definition TV and Videos

Which skin care products are right for you? See our nine skin types and get products recommended.

For expert skin advice, check out Skin Source–the A-Z guide on all things skin. Also sign up here for our skin tip e-newsletter, follow Renée Rouleau on Twitter and like our Facebook page. You’ll be your own skin care expert in no time!

New Years’ Skin Resolution #1: Wash Your Skin Nightly
Touching your face all day long, without intentionally doing so, is making your face one of the dirtiest parts on your body. Not only will cleaning your skin at night help to reduce acne-causing bacteria that thrives inside the pores but since your skin repairs itself at night, removing dirt and makeup allows for maximum skin healing and repair needed for youthful-looking skin.

Read: How to Wash Your Face

New Years’ Skin Resolution #2: Get Your Beauty Sleep

Did you know that your skin always looks better after a good night’s sleep? Sleep can reduce dark circles because a lack of sleep compromises your body’s circulatory system and you get stagnant blood in the vessels under the eyes because it hasn’t properly drained. Sleep can also make your skin glow because a lack of sleep causes the skin to look pale and tired because the circulation has been impaired. So if you want your skin to glow–get some sleep!…

Read: Can Getting a Good Night’s Sleep Reduce Acne?

New Years’ Skin Resolution #3: Don’t Pick at Your Skin
Picking at your blemishes in an attempt to make them heal faster is a guaranteed way to scar your skin. You have to realize that although you can’t always control breakouts from appearing, you CAN control what happens when you get the breakout. The truth of the matter is, a blemish usually lasts 5-7 days, but the red or dark scar from picking at the blemish, can linger for weeks— or even months.

Solution: Your first step in your picking recovery is to thoroughly understand this concept. Do you want to have a spot that you have to cover up for only week or two— or a few months? The answer is obvious, but now you must recite that in your head when the urge comes to pick. That’s truly how I got over picking. When I would head to the mirror to start squeezing at a blemish, I would literally say to myself, “Renée, you’re only going to make it worse and scar up your skin. Have some self control and keep your hands off.” And that’s really how I got over my picking! I talked myself out of it and then I started to see the result of how much less scarred my skin was and how much less I had to hide under makeup. You have the control and power—are you willing to practice self control for the sake of clearer skin?

Remember: A closed bump from a blemish is a lot easier to conceal (and less noticeable) with makeup than a red, oozy, scabbing wound. The choice is yours.

Did your blemish leave a red, dark or purple mark? Our Post-Breakout Fading Gel works very well to fade acne marks and spots.

Read: Got a Blemish? To Pick or Not to Pick

New Years’ Skin Resolution #4: Wear Sunscreen Daily and Re-Apply Mineral Powder Sunscreen Every Two Hours
Did you know that number one cause of premature aging (wrinkles, lines and brown spots) is caused from UV exposure from daylight and sunlight? It’s not genetics, it’s not smoking and surprisingly to many, it’s not even age. In addition to wearing a moisturizer with sunscreen every morning (my favorite is Daily Protection SPF 30 since my skin is very sensitive), protecting your skin every day by reapplying sunscreen is the very best way to slow down the effects of skin aging and wearing an SPF mineral powder makes it very easy to do so.

So here’s how it works. Apply a sunscreen moisturizer every morning of every day. Be sure to apply a good coat of it because it’s not about the SPF number, but how generously you apply it that really matters when it comes to defending your skin from daily UV damage. Next apply your regular foundation liquid or powder makeup and then dust a coat of a good SPF mineral powder on top.

Every two hours throughout the day (even in the winter) re-apply a light dusting of the SPF mineral powder. By doing this, you’ll be sure to really protect your skin and therefore protect against wrinkles and brown spots. I personally use ColoreScience SPF 50 Mineral Powder because it been awarded the Active Seal of Recommendation by The Skin Cancer Foundation. See the entire collection here. I also use the Eyescreen SPF 30 made exclusively for the delicate eye area.

Read: The Powerful Effects of Sunscreen

New Years’ Skin Resolution #5: Determine Your Skin Type–Once and For All
People mistake their skin type, therefore choosing the wrong skin care products because they are usually hyper-focused on just one or two things going on with their skin, choosing products just for those issues, instead of focusing on ALL of their skin’s needs.

For example, a 40-year old woman may start to get occasional hormonal cystic breakouts and because acne cysts are so painful and can linger for a few weeks, she may now start thinking her skin type is “acne-prone” (understandably so) and purchase products for “problem skin” and completely ignore that her skin has anti-aging needs. Harsh products for acne-prone skin will only leave her skin dry, irritated and flaky. Her best best is to use a spot treatment for acne cysts, because cystic acne rarely responds to regular blemish products anyway, so she may not even be helping the breakout after all. Renée Rouleau Anti-Cyst Treatment works best as a spot treatment for controlling stubborn hormonal acne cysts.

What’s the solution for determining your skin type? Don’t go it alone, put your skin in the hands of a trusted skin care professional who can help you determine your true skin type and suggest a skin care program (both for at-home use and professional treatments), so you can get the best results for your skin’s needs. But the quickest place to start is by choosing your skin type here.

Read: How to Determine Your True Skin Type

Bonus Tip! Sign up for my skin tip e-newsletter here, subscribe to my blog RSS news feed here, follow me on Twitter and like our Facebook page. You’ll be your own skin care expert in no time! Also, in your spare time, be sure to read Skin Source–over 700 of my blog posts filled with skin tips and tricks.